One in four South Asian Americans who voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 US presidential election plan to support Democratic candidates in the November 3 midterm elections, according to a survey by advocacy group Indian American Impact.
The survey of 800 registered South Asian American voters found that 67% of respondents who supported Trump in 2024 still intended to vote Republican, while 25% planned to back Democrats. Among those who voted for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in 2024, 96% said they intended to vote for a Democratic candidate in the upcoming elections.
Indian Americans accounted for 87% of respondents, while the remaining 13% included Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepali, Bhutanese, Maldivian, Afghan, Khmer and Burmese voters.
Economic concerns emerged as the leading issues shaping voter priorities. The cost of living was cited by 65% of respondents, followed by healthcare at 53%, jobs and wages at 33%, and education at 28%.
The survey also highlighted concerns about discrimination. Ninety per cent of respondents said they had experienced discrimination or knew someone who had, while 48% reported experiencing it personally.
Dissatisfaction with political representation was another finding. Although 78% believed their vote could bring about change, 79% felt elected officials quickly lost touch with ordinary people. Meanwhile, 67% believed public officials did not care about the views of people like them, and 43% felt they had little say in government decisions.
The findings could have implications in closely contested states where South Asian voters may influence election outcomes. Michigan has approximately 187,000 South Asian residents, while Texas has more than 700,000, according to the report. Both states also have substantial numbers of registered South Asian voters who did not participate in the 2022 elections.
The survey comes as early voting begins in several states ahead of the midterm elections, highlighting the potential electoral significance of a community whose voting preferences may be shifting.
Source: Press Trust of India, published by Business Standard
