With the 2024 U.S. presidential election today (Tuesday), Indian-Americans, a large and influential demographic, are expected to have a significant impact on the results. Of the approximately 5.2 million Indian-Americans in the U.S., around 2.6 million are eligible voters, making their preferences especially important in key battleground states.
Although Indian-Americans have traditionally supported the Democratic Party, recent surveys show a shift. The 2024 Indian American Attitudes Survey found that only 47% now identify as Democrats, a drop from 56% in 2020, indicating rising discontent with the party, particularly among younger voters and men in this community.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate of Indian descent, is seeing a drop in support among Indian-American voters. About 61% of respondents from this community now intend to vote for Harris, marking a decrease of nearly 7 percentage points from the Democratic support seen in 2020. This shift suggests that, although Harris’s candidacy initially generated strong enthusiasm among Indian-Americans, it hasn’t retained the same level of backing as in previous elections.
Key Poll IssuesÂ
Healthcare and economy: Like many other voters, Indian-Americans prioritise domestic issues such as healthcare and economic stability over foreign policy concerns. These “kitchen table” issues dominate their electoral considerations.
Abortion and reproductive rights: Abortion rights have emerged as a significant concern for many voters within this community, particularly among women. The survey indicates that reproductive rights rank as a vital issue for Indian Americans, influencing their support for candidates like Harris.
Gender divide: A pronounced gender gap exists within voting preferences. While 67% of Indian-American women plan to vote for Harris, only 53% of men express similar intentions. This division highlights differing priorities between genders, with men increasingly leaning towards Republican candidates like Donald Trump.
How Indian Americans Are Likely To VoteÂ
Support for Kamala Harris: About 61% of registered Indian-American voters plan to support Kamala Harris in the upcoming election, while 32% lean towards Donald Trump, reflecting a slight increase in Republican support compared to past elections.
Gender divide in voting: A significant gender gap exists, with 67% of Indian-American women favoring Harris, compared to just 53% of men. Meanwhile, 22% of women and 39% of men intend to vote for Trump, highlighting distinct gender-based priorities.
Perceptions of Indian-American Republicans: Indian-Americans generally show mild support for well-known Indian-American Republicans like Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, signaling limited enthusiasm for these candidates despite the party’s outreach.
Significance of abortion: Abortion and reproductive rights are top concerns this election cycle, ranking as the second most important issue for Indian-Americans, especially among Democrats and women.
Policy differences and Republican challenges: The Republican Party faces challenges with Indian-American voters largely due to policy misalignments, particularly on issues such as minority rights and abortion, which many in the community feel conflict with Republican positions.
