India Factor has Dominated American Elections: The Indian-American community has been in the news since former President Donald Trump announced who would be his running mate in the 2024 US presidential election. Donald Trump has nominated Ohio Senator JD Vance as his vice-presidential candidate. Usha Chilukuri Vance came into the limelight as the wife of Trump’s running mate JD Vance. Usha Chilukuri’s name has come up at a time when an Indian-origin Kamala Harris is already in the post of Vice President. Apart from this, two big personalities of Indian origin, Vivek Ramaswami and Nikki Haley, have decided to support the Republican Party’s candidate for the post of President.
Indian American community is important
This is the era of rise of Indian-Americans in American politics. In the current politics of America, the Indian American community has become important not only for Joe Biden, who is contesting for the second consecutive term as President, but also for Donald Trump, who is challenging him. Shalabh Kumar, founder of Republican Hindu Coalition, said, “Indians, especially Hindus, have come a long way.” He said that since coming to America in the late 60s, he has felt the increase in their population and political power. He said, “Now the time has come. Vance is going to represent the new generation of Americans.” Trump campaign sources said that they feel that Usha Vance can attract minority voters.
Also read- Why is the medical symbol a snake wrapped around a stick? Where did this symbol come from, what is its story
Indians in the race for the White House!
The 2024 presidential campaign saw three politicians of South Asian descent, or Indian descent, competing for the White House. Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswami both competed during the Republican primaries. While Vice President Kamala Harris is running for a second term with President Joe Biden. Now both Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswami have endorsed Trump-Vance. As Asian Americans take on a more central role in the 2024 presidential campaign, political activists from both parties say they hope the increase in representation will be in line with an effort to connect with a voter group that has long been overlooked.
The fastest growing voter group
According to a report, Chintan Patel, executive director of Indian American Impact, said the increase in South Asian representation in politics is ‘unprecedented’. Indian American Impact is a national organization that works to increase representation and civic engagement among Indian and South Asian communities. Patel said, “Since Impact’s founding in 2016, representation within South Asian communities has grown from approximately 50 elected officials to over 300 across the country, including Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Also read- Olympic Special: Paes’ passion and enthusiasm was seen in Atlanta Olympics, got India a medal after 44 years
Chintan Patel said that seeing Usha Vance in a position where she can become the first South Asian to become the ‘Second Lady of the Nation’ (wife of the Vice President). It helps people think about what is possible. Patel said that it is inspiring to see a South Asian woman in Usha Vance’s position. He said, “We are definitely proud that she can be in this position.”
More supporters of Democrats
A 2023 Pew Research Center study showed that, overall, 62 per cent of Asian American voters identify as Democrats or lean toward the Democratic Party and 34 per cent are Republicans. When broken down by demographic, the study showed that 68 per cent of Indian Americans identify as Democrats and 29 per cent as Republicans. In 2020, President Joe Biden won 69.6 per cent of the Asian American vote, while 76 per cent of Indian-Americans voted for him, perhaps inspired by Kamala Harris, according to a study by Loyola Marymount and the University of California.
According to a report, Preeti Pandya-Patel, co-founder of the New Jersey Republican Party’s South Asian Coalition, said that when she learned that Usha Vance is Indian and Hindu, she felt proud to know that someone who looks like her can reach the White House. There is a small group of Indian Americans and Hindus who are excited by the prospect of someone like Usha Vance being close to power.
Also read- Why did violence erupt in Britain over kidnapping of a child from the family, why is bad parenting a crime, why are only Asians targeted?
Why are Indian-Americans attracted?
According to a report by Guardian, it is absolutely justified to give importance to the Indian American community in America, because it is the fastest growing immigrant community. The population of Indian Americans in America is more than 14 lakhs and this community includes the most educated and affluent people of America. In the year 2016 also, a campaign called ‘Trump for Hindu Americans’ was run, but it was limited to events, it did not spread to advertisements. According to reports, in 2016, 80 percent of the votes of the Indian-American community went to the Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton.
Tags: 2020 United States presidential election, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, United States (US), United States of America
FIRST PUBLISHED : July 20, 2024, 18:21 IST