Indian Americans, along with South Asians, are showing significant support for Vice President Kamala Harris in the lead-up to next month’s US election, according to two recent polls. The latest poll conducted by Indian American Impact (IAI) across five swing states reveals that 68% of South Asians favor Democrat Harris, giving her a 48-point lead over Republican Donald Trump, who garnered only 20% support within this community.
These swing states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania—are crucial as neither party holds a solid majority, making them pivotal in determining the election outcome. IAI Executive Director Chintan Patel noted during a community briefing that the South Asian voter demographic is substantial enough to influence tight race results in these states.
A second poll by Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAV) found that 69% of Indian Americans plan to vote for Harris, with 28% supporting Trump. This marks a rise in Democratic support compared to the 46% who indicated they would vote for Biden during the earlier April-May polling period.
When asked about the most significant aspect of Harris’s identity, only 23% of Indian Americans prioritized her Asian Indian or South Asian heritage. In contrast, 42% emphasized her identity as a woman, 34% noted her age, and 18% acknowledged her African identity. Interestingly, among other Asian American communities, her Asian Indian or South Asian heritage was more significant, with percentages of support ranging from 24% to 35%.
In terms of favorability, 76% of Indian Americans view Harris positively, and 66% have a favorable opinion of her vice presidential candidate, Tim Walz. Surprisingly, 31% of Indian Americans expressed a favorable view of Trump, while only 19% had a positive perception of JD Vance, who is married to an Indian American lawyer.
The APIAV poll, conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, indicated that 35% of Indian Americans were worried about election-related violence and 48% expressed concerns afterward. Additionally, 49% highlighted fake news as a significant problem, while 41% were concerned about legal challenges to the election process.
Regarding voter turnout, a robust 83% of Indian Americans stated they were absolutely certain to vote, with only 4% indicating they would not participate in the election.
The IAI poll revealed that 71% of South Asians hold a favorable view of Harris, contrasting sharply with Trump’s support of just 22%. The primary issues driving South Asian voters’ decisions include inflation and the economy (26%), followed by abortion (19%) and foreign policy (12%). Immigration, while emphasized by both parties, received only 6% as a significant factor.
When Indian Americans were specifically asked who they trust to manage India-US relations, 59% chose Harris compared to only 22% for Trump. The APIAV poll showed similar results, with 54% favoring Harris for handling India-US relations. Among Japanese Americans, Harris’s trustworthiness for this issue was even higher at 65%, while only 45% of Chinese and Vietnamese Americans felt the same.
Regarding US-China relations, 56% of Indian Americans believed Harris would perform better, while only 45% of Chinese Americans agreed. In both communities, only 21% opted for Trump.
The GBAO polling firm, known for its Democratic alignment, conducted the survey with a margin of error of 4%.
