Desis Overwhelmingly Support Kamala Harris In Battleground States, Poll Shows

Sout h Asian voters in battleground states could deliver Harris victory

South Asian voters in the battleground states are overwhelmingly Democratic-leaning and can be the decisive margin for victory. Vice President Harris leads President Trump by 48 points among South Asian voters because she has a compelling narrative with the South Asian electorate across a wide range of issues. Key issues include inflation, the economy, and abortion.

A first-of-its-kind South Asian voter poll was conducted by the I ndian American Impact Fund in the battleground states of Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia in mid-September.

This poll is tremendously significant because the South Asian electorate is the fastest-growing electorate in many states as well as specifically in the battleground states, and Indian Americans now are the largest Asian-only group in America.

In the battleground states of Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia, “we have over 400,000 eligible South Asian voters in these states, they can and will be the decisive margin of victory ” explained Chintan Patel , Executive Director of Indian American Impact Fund, an organization dedicated to increasing representation for Indian and South Asian Americans across the country, up and down the ballot.

In a state like Georgia, Patel said that the Democrats won in 2020 by about 11,000 votes, “there are nearly 100,000 South Asian voters in the state, and they’re going to be the critical margin of victory.”

A poll to understand the motivations of voters in battleground states

This first-of-its-kind South Asian voter poll in the battleground states of Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia was conducted by Nisha Jain , partner at GBAO , who has extensive experience in conducting polling research on AAPI communities and understanding the diverse array of cultures, languages, and experience that shape our community and its viewpoints.

The pollsters called 600 South Asians between September 16 – 22 this year. The communities defined under South Asian for this poll include Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepali, Sri Lankan, and Bhutanese.

First generation is defined as those born outside of the United States and make up about 70% of the South Asian electorate. Second generation are those born in the United States and make up about 30% of the electorate.

The goals of the poll were sort of threefold, Patel explained. They wanted to understand the voting preferences of South Asian voters and their motivation to vote. They also wanted to understand the issues that matter most as well as understand the community’s views on Vice President Harris and her policy proposals.

What the poll revealed

South Asian voters are overwhelmingly Democratic-leaning at 46% stated Jain with 9% leaning Republican, but four in 10 identify as Independents. When asked who would you vote for if the election was held today, Harris leads 68 to 20, a 48-point lead.

Harris has consolidated the Democrats with 91% of support with that party. She leads Independents by two to one. And even a quarter of Republicans plan to vote for her in the election.

Harris runs far ahead of Trump with the South Asian community, and her strong lead includes all the battleground states.

This is an electorate that’s very motivated to vote, described Jain. “Nearly three-quarters say that they are extremely motivated to vote. Democrats within the community are even more motivated”

There is a difference in age with the motivation to vote. Voters under 40, only 59% say they’re extremely motivated, compared to 79% for 40 plus. But this is largely from younger non-Democrats, remarked Jain. Younger Democrats are very motivated to vote.

The gender gap

This poll revealed a notable difference in gender. A majority of South Asia women are likely to say that they are Democrats. However, a majority of South Asian men are likely to say they are Independent.

Just like we saw that there was a wide gender gap in the party, we see that kind of translate to the larger race as well explains Jain. VP Harris does much better with women than men across age groups.

“Overall women are breaking for Kamala and it’s even more prominent in the South Asian context. Women tend to vote less than men in AAPI communities but we think that will reverse in 2024,” predicts Shekar Narasimhan of AAPI Victory Fund .

It’s the economy and abortion

Inflation and the economy are the number one issue and number two is abortion for our community. The next tier of importance includes foreign policy, guns, and health care and a lower priority is immigration, taxes, and crime, issues that our community is thought to traditionally care about.

Abortion in particular is a key issue for Democrats. It’s the top issue for 26% of those polled as well as for second generation South Asians and women.

The poll showed a broad consensus on abortion in our community.  76% of South Asian voters said abortion should be legal all or most of the time. Only 16% say it should be illegal all or most of the time. A majority of South Asians, whether Democrats, Independents, or  Republicans are pro-choice, women and men.

When they were asked if addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza versus securing the release of Israeli hostages was more important – a plurality said both are equally important.

The ‘favorability’ race

The poll measured the favorability of the top of the ticket of both parties, as well as Usha Vance and found that Harris Walz and the Democratic Party are extremely popular with South Asian voters, unlike their counterparts, Trump, Vance, and the Republican Party. Interestingly with Usha Vance, like her husband JD Vance and the Republican Party, more folks have an unfavorable view over a favorable view of her.

Harris’ strength stated Jain, is not only Democrats but Independents as well. “She’s very popular with both and even a quarter of Republicans give her a favorable rating, and she’s somewhat similarly popular among first and second-generation voters.”

VP Harris’s policy proposals

When the people polled were asked how they would rate Harris on a variety of traits, they said that she values hard work and will stand up for the middle class but they also think she cares about people like them. She shares their values and will stand up for small businesses. “I think there’s been some critiques of this, and a majority also believes she recognizes her South Asian identity.”

A majority of those polled say Harris will value the relationship between the US and India and that’s across party lines,  whether they have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Modi, or whether they are first generation or second generation.

“On issues like US-India relationships, where the WhatsApp discourse might lead you to think otherwise, Vice President Harris is overwhelmingly trusted more than former President Trump,” commented Patel.

The poll also tested voters’ views of Harris versus Trump on several issues that Trump often is seen as stronger on like taxes, crime, inflation, the economy, immigration, and foreign policy.  But across all of these issues, voters polled say they trust Harris over Trump by large margins, and that’s true for independents as well.

“The poll confirmed what many of us know to be true – that South Asian voters are looking at the issue landscape, and focused on the economy, the cost of living, healthcare, our freedoms, like abortion rights, voting rights, democracy, to make up their decisions on how they’re going to vote this election,”  remarked Patel.

Harris – history maker?

The electorate was asked how Harris’s status as a history maker – the first woman, the first Indian American president would make a difference for them.

Patel explained that “she would be a history maker president is definitely something that energizes and galvanizes our community. Folks are very excited about the prospect of not just electing the first Indian American president or South first South Asian American president, but also the first woman president. That is an incredibly important history-making piece to her presidency for the community as well. But ultimately, you know, the community is also reacting to the issues, reacting to the policies and the agenda that she has put forward to help move the country forward. And that is what I think, is really driving the decision on whether you’re voting for her or former President Trump.”

How do we galvanize the South Asian Community in these last few weeks?

“Our community is overwhelmingly in support of Vice President Harris and is planning to vote for Vice President Harris. So the most critical mission, the most critical work for us, is to make sure we’re mobilizing our voters to get out and vote in these battleground states because we can really make the difference,” said Patel.

Indian Impact has launched a $3.5 million campaign Ad program, the largest program focused on South Asian voters and API voters in these battleground states. They are communicating in culturally competent messaging, in language on channels and platforms,TV stations, and radio stations so they can reach voters where they are.

They are also mobilizing artists, creators, and influencers to reach voters on social media, Instagram, Tiktok, etc.

Volunteers who have sent over 50,000 postcards to South Asian voters making the personal case for why it’s important to go out and vote . On the ground, they are canvassing every week in Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, and Michigan.

“We are galvanizing our community to not just vote, but to volunteer. We are seeing so many first-time volunteers who are coming out, going to their neighborhoods, knocking on doors, talking to South Asian voters, talking to AAPI voters, and telling them why it’s important, and from a personal standpoint, that we should all turn out and vote for Harris” remarked Patel.

Their website desipresident.com is the central hub where volunteers can go to sign up for any number of these volunteer activities.

This is what is at stake, says Patel.  In each and every single one of these states, the South Asian population and the voting base outnumber the closest margin of victory in recent elections. In Michigan, where there are over 60,000 South Asian voters – in 2016 former President Trump won that state with about 10,000 votes.

We know the election results are going to be razor-thin in these battleground states, so we can make a difference.

Voter Resources – Check here

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