Trump defeats Harris: Why are Indian-Americans voting red in 2024 US elections?

Donald Trump is all set to be the first convicted felon to become President of the United States, defeating Indian-Jamaican origin Vice President Kamala Harris. The ‘most advanced’ superpower has once again maintained its track record of never electing a woman as President.

Trump has swept the swing states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, among others. In what was expected to be a close competition, VP Harris has already conceded the election. The most prominent issues in the limelight this election are inflation, jobs, immigration, and abortion.

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With VP Harris’s Indian heritage, Indian-Americans were expected to vote in large numbers for her. Historically too, Indian-Americans have sided with the Democratic Party. However, results from the Indian American Attitudes Survey show that although Indian-Americans stood behind Harris in the 2024 elections, they have started to sway towards Trump.

Since the 2020 US elections, the percentage of Indian-Americans with more left-wing ideologies has increased. While Indian-American women are standing behind Harris, an increased number of Indian-American men are appealed by Trump. Indian Americans are the second largest immigrant group in America, and have achieved remarkable professional and financial success, with strong social networks and political involvement. The Republican camp has tried to put the Indian roots of Usha Vance, VP candidate J.D. Vance’s wife, in spotlight to woo Indian-Americans.

Indian-Americans also feel an attachment towards Trump because of Modi’s preference for Trump and the two leaders’ friendship, which they believe will translate into improved US-India bilateral ties. Improved US-India ties will translate into an elevated status for Indian-Americans within the US. Recent condemnation by Trump of the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh has further cemented Indian Hindus’ proclivity for voting red. There has also been the widespread notion that Kamala Harris self-identifies as black rather than brown, which is believed to have lessened the attachment of brown voters towards her.

Second and third generation Indian Americans want to prosper economically. They believe that Trump will be a more efficient enabler of their financial success and will help the national economy better than Harris. Others might simply pay their old friend misogyny a visit and believe that a man can run a country better than a woman.

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