An independent who avoided politics is now organizing for Harris. She’s not the only Indian American coming off the sidelines
Indian Americans haven’t historically been a political force in US elections, but with Kamala Harris leading the Democratic ticket, 2024 could mark a turning point.
Indian Americans Embracing Kamala Harris: A Historic Shift in the 2024 Election
On a recent Sunday afternoon, a scene unfolded at Vineeta Gupta's Silver Spring, Maryland home that was unusual, even for a woman deeply invested in social justice causes. Gupta, a 61-year-old physician and human rights lawyer, along with 20 other Indian American women, gathered around a table laden with chana masala, naan, and rice pudding. Their purpose was not a typical social gathering, but a political one: writing hundreds of postcards urging fellow South Asians to vote for Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election.
Gupta, a registered independent who had never been politically active beyond voting, found herself galvanized by Harris' rise to the top of the Democratic ticket after President Joe Biden announced his retirement from politics. This newfound enthusiasm wasn't unique to Gupta. Across the country, Indian Americans are experiencing a surge of political engagement, driven by a shared sense of pride and a recognition of the stakes in the 2024 election.
The "LOTUS for POTUS" memes circulating on WhatsApp, the significant increase in donations to the Indian American Impact Fund, and the influx of volunteers joining the "Chitthi Brigade" – a grassroots group of South Asian women named after the Tamil word for "aunt" – are all testament to this shift.
Harris' Indian heritage, rooted in her late mother's Tamil background, is a key factor fueling this excitement. Growing up with stories of her grandfather in Chennai and visiting India as a child, Harris embodies a sense of familiarity and belonging for many Indian Americans. "There's more of a comfort level with her, partially because her mom looks like my mom," says Viraj Mehta, a physician from Bethesda, Maryland.
While shared identity plays a role, it's not the sole driver of this newfound enthusiasm. Many Indian Americans, like Gupta, see a more mature and experienced candidate in Harris this time around, resonating with her authenticity and understanding of the challenges faced by South Asian women.
"When she went into the race this time, there was something authentic about her," Gupta notes. "I identify with that myself, as a South Asian woman – how much implicit and explicit pressure we keep on our shoulders not to be our authentic selves."
The prospect of an Indian American holding the nation's highest office is also inspiring a sense of possibility and hope for the next generation. "It's easy to imagine, moving forward, that parents are going to be telling their kids, 'You should be a doctor. You should be an engineer. You should also be a president,'" says Chintan Patel, Executive Director of the Indian American Impact Fund. "It's really helping reimagine for the South Asian American community what is possible here in America for our kids."
However, the enthusiasm for Harris isn't solely driven by identity or representation. Indian Americans are also deeply concerned about issues like the economy, immigration, climate change, and reproductive rights, which are shaping their voting decisions.
The economic downturn has impacted many, leading to a decline in support for Biden, even though Indian Americans historically vote Democratic. The administration's policies on immigration, particularly those concerning illegal border crossings and asylum seekers, have also raised concerns among Indian Americans who have faced lengthy waits for green cards due to processing backlogs.
Additionally, the Republican Party's attacks on reproductive rights, culminating in the overturning of Roe v. Wade, have solidified Gupta and others' commitment to Harris. "After (Roe v. Wade) went to dust, I cannot imagine that we are going to restrict it even more," Gupta says. "That is not acceptable for me as a woman, as a women's health physician, as a mother."
Despite the overall enthusiasm, not all Indian Americans are fully on board with Harris. Some are hesitant due to Biden's handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while others, like Rasheed Ahmed, executive director of the Indian American Muslim Council, want to see Harris take a clear stance on the human rights situation in India.
While the Republican Party has tried to capitalize on these concerns, its efforts to attract Indian American voters have been unsuccessful. The party's embrace of Christian nationalism, particularly with the rise of Christian conservatives and the selection of JD Vance as Trump's running mate, has alienated many Indian Americans who are predominantly Hindu and religiously diverse.
Ultimately, the 2024 election will be decided by the margins, and Indian Americans have the potential to be a decisive factor in key battleground states. Grassroots organizers are leveraging technology and community networks to reach voters, experimenting with friend-to-friend outreach on WhatsApp and creating videos featuring young South Asians talking about their concerns. These efforts, coupled with traditional door-knocking, phone banking, and outreach at temples, are crucial to mobilizing this growing and influential voting bloc.
Whether or not Harris wins the presidency, the surge in political engagement among Indian Americans is a sign of their increasing influence and a testament to their commitment to shaping the future of the country they call home. The 2024 election could mark a turning point for this community, demonstrating their potential to be a powerful force in American politics.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, a scene unfolded at Vineeta Gupta's Silver Spring, Maryland home that was unusual, even for a woman deeply invested in social justice causes. Gupta, a 61-year-old physician and human rights lawyer, along with 20 other Indian American women, gathered around a table laden with chana masala, naan, and rice pudding. Their purpose was not a typical social gathering, but a political one: writing hundreds of postcards urging fellow South Asians to vote for Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election.
Gupta, a registered independent who had never been politically active beyond voting, found herself galvanized by Harris' rise to the top of the Democratic ticket after President Joe Biden announced his retirement from politics. This newfound enthusiasm wasn't unique to Gupta. Across the country, Indian Americans are experiencing a surge of political engagement, driven by a shared sense of pride and a recognition of the stakes in the 2024 election.
The "LOTUS for POTUS" memes circulating on WhatsApp, the significant increase in donations to the Indian American Impact Fund, and the influx of volunteers joining the "Chitthi Brigade" – a grassroots group of South Asian women named after the Tamil word for "aunt" – are all testament to this shift.
Harris' Indian heritage, rooted in her late mother's Tamil background, is a key factor fueling this excitement. Growing up with stories of her grandfather in Chennai and visiting India as a child, Harris embodies a sense of familiarity and belonging for many Indian Americans. "There's more of a comfort level with her, partially because her mom looks like my mom," says Viraj Mehta, a physician from Bethesda, Maryland.
While shared identity plays a role, it's not the sole driver of this newfound enthusiasm. Many Indian Americans, like Gupta, see a more mature and experienced candidate in Harris this time around, resonating with her authenticity and understanding of the challenges faced by South Asian women.
"When she went into the race this time, there was something authentic about her," Gupta notes. "I identify with that myself, as a South Asian woman – how much implicit and explicit pressure we keep on our shoulders not to be our authentic selves."
The prospect of an Indian American holding the nation's highest office is also inspiring a sense of possibility and hope for the next generation. "It's easy to imagine, moving forward, that parents are going to be telling their kids, 'You should be a doctor. You should be an engineer. You should also be a president,'" says Chintan Patel, Executive Director of the Indian American Impact Fund. "It's really helping reimagine for the South Asian American community what is possible here in America for our kids."
However, the enthusiasm for Harris isn't solely driven by identity or representation. Indian Americans are also deeply concerned about issues like the economy, immigration, climate change, and reproductive rights, which are shaping their voting decisions.
The economic downturn has impacted many, leading to a decline in support for Biden, even though Indian Americans historically vote Democratic. The administration's policies on immigration, particularly those concerning illegal border crossings and asylum seekers, have also raised concerns among Indian Americans who have faced lengthy waits for green cards due to processing backlogs.
Additionally, the Republican Party's attacks on reproductive rights, culminating in the overturning of Roe v. Wade, have solidified Gupta and others' commitment to Harris. "After (Roe v. Wade) went to dust, I cannot imagine that we are going to restrict it even more," Gupta says. "That is not acceptable for me as a woman, as a women's health physician, as a mother."
Despite the overall enthusiasm, not all Indian Americans are fully on board with Harris. Some are hesitant due to Biden's handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while others, like Rasheed Ahmed, executive director of the Indian American Muslim Council, want to see Harris take a clear stance on the human rights situation in India.
While the Republican Party has tried to capitalize on these concerns, its efforts to attract Indian American voters have been unsuccessful. The party's embrace of Christian nationalism, particularly with the rise of Christian conservatives and the selection of JD Vance as Trump's running mate, has alienated many Indian Americans who are predominantly Hindu and religiously diverse.
Ultimately, the 2024 election will be decided by the margins, and Indian Americans have the potential to be a decisive factor in key battleground states. Grassroots organizers are leveraging technology and community networks to reach voters, experimenting with friend-to-friend outreach on WhatsApp and creating videos featuring young South Asians talking about their concerns. These efforts, coupled with traditional door-knocking, phone banking, and outreach at temples, are crucial to mobilizing this growing and influential voting bloc.
Whether or not Harris wins the presidency, the surge in political engagement among Indian Americans is a sign of their increasing influence and a testament to their commitment to shaping the future of the country they call home. The 2024 election could mark a turning point for this community, demonstrating their potential to be a powerful force in American politics.