Two potential contenders for the 2024 US Presidential elections, Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley, both of Indian American descent, have garnered significant attention. However, their campaigns have sparked division among Indian American voters.
Indian Americans constitute approximately 2.1 million individuals, accounting for roughly 16 percent of the 13.4 million Asian Americans eligible to vote. They rank as the third-largest Asian-origin group in the United States, following Chinese and Filipino Americans, according to a report by The New York Times. Historically, Pew Research data has shown that Indian Americans have leaned more towards Democratic affiliations compared to other Asian American subgroups.
Despite their relatively small share of the electorate, Indian Americans possess the potential to wield substantial influence, particularly in swing states and crucial constituencies like Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Nevada.
Indian Americans’ preferences in the presidential race have become a topic of debate. The New York Times report highlights the frustration and concern expressed by many Indian American voters regarding the strong stances taken by both candidates. Concerns have been raised that Ramaswamy’s promise to dismantle the Department of Education could jeopardize institutions crucial to the success of Indian Americans.
Suresh Reddy, a centrist Democrat and city councilman, expressed mixed emotions as he observed the Republican presidential primary. He voiced pride in the representation of Indian Americans in the political arena but wished for a more compelling message from the candidates.
Another Democrat, Venu Rao, a retired engineer and program manager in Hollis, acknowledged that Haley and Ramaswamy reflect the ideological diversity within the South Asian American community, even though he may not align with their positions.
Nikhil Voothkur, a 20-year-old student at Boston’s Tufts University, recognized the significance of seeing two individuals of South Asian descent on the national stage. However, he also noted the increasing ideological differences within the diaspora as it matures.
Nishant Kumar, along with his wife Smita Nishant and 17-year-old daughter Ankita Yadav, recently obtained US citizenship and reside in Waukee, west of Des Moines. Although they had previously voted for Democrats in past elections, they find Ramaswamy’s candidacy to be appealing, describing him as intelligent and refreshing.
