The US presidential election is around the corner, and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, whose parents are Indian and Jamaican, is expecting strong support from the Indian-American community. In particular, the Indian-American community appears to be united behind Harris in many key battleground states.
For many in the Indian-American community, having their leader of origin join the race for the White House is a historic opportunity, giving the community a prominent place in the U.S. political landscape. “It is a matter of pride that a leader of Indian origin is running for president in the United States,” said Dr. Vasudev Patel, general secretary of the Federation of Indian American Associations of Georgia.
Georgia is one of seven key “battleground” states in the United States, and Patel believes the Indian-American community here can change the outcome of the election in Harris’ favor.
“I voted for Trump last time, but I’m going to support Kamala Harris this time,” said Saurabh Gupta, a technologist who grew up in Derry and is a resident of Montgomery County, Maryland. If Harris wins, it will be the first time someone of Indian descent has held the highest office in the United States.
Second largest immigrant community
After Kamala Harris was nominated by the Democratic Party to run for president in August, many Indian and South Asian groups rallied behind her. This also includes raising funds for them.
There are approximately 5.2 million Indian Americans in the United States, making them the second largest group of foreign nationals. Among them, about 2.3 million people have the right to vote. According to a 2024 survey, 55% of Indian Americans identify themselves as Democrats and 26% as Republicans.
Survey shows voter sentiment
A Carnegie Foundation survey this month found that 61% of registered Indian-American voters decided to vote for Harris, while 32% would support Trump. It is understood that 67% of Indian-American women support Harris, compared with 53% of men. On the other hand, 22% of women are willing to vote for Trump, compared with 39% of men.
With less than seven days left before the election, the two candidates, Harris and Trump, are in a stalemate in most battleground states. In CNN’s latest poll this week, 47% of likely voters backed Harris, with the same number backing Trump. In surveys conducted by the New York Times and the Seine Institute, the two were tied at 48%. And 4% of voters are still undecided.
Seven important swing states
There are seven important swing states that will influence the outcome: Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Nevada. These states have the largest number of electors. Voter sentiment here always swings wildly, and it’s difficult to gauge electoral sentiment among voters in these states. Their tendencies are always changing. Therefore, these states are called swing states. According to the New York Times, the largest swing state in the United States is Pennsylvania, which has 19 electoral votes. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are doing everything they can to win here. The two candidates’ campaigns have spent more than $138 million on television and radio ads in the state since September.
Why are swing states important in the United States?
These states have historical importance in U.S. elections. However, on Election Day, people choose their favorite candidate, but their vote does not directly elect the president. Instead, voters choose the Electoral College, which is made up of electors. The number of electors in each state is equal to the party’s number of representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. For example, if the number of Michigan Senate members is 4, then the number of electors in the state will also be 4. These electors vote directly for the candidate of their choice.
To win the race for the White House, any candidate needs 270 of the 538 electoral votes.
