Survey: 25% of South Asian Americans Who Voted for Trump in 2024 Now Back Democrats in Midterms

WASHINGTON, Oct 27: Nearly one in four South Asian Americans who voted for US President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election intend to support Democratic candidates in the November 3 midterm elections, according to a survey by advocacy group Indian American Impact.

The findings indicate a potential shift in voting preferences within the South Asian American community, with economic pressures, healthcare, employment and concerns about discrimination emerging as important factors influencing political choices.

The survey of 800 registered South Asian American voters found that 25 per cent of respondents who supported Trump in 2024 now plan to vote for Democrats. Meanwhile, 67 per cent of this group said they would continue to back Republican candidates.

Among respondents who voted for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in 2024, 96 per cent said they intended to support Democratic candidates in the upcoming elections.

Indian Americans accounted for 87 per cent of those surveyed, while the remaining 13 per cent comprised people of Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepali, Bhutanese, Maldivian, Afghan, Khmer and Burmese backgrounds.

The poll identified the cost of living as the leading concern, cited by 65 per cent of respondents. Healthcare followed at 53 per cent, while jobs and wages were mentioned by 33 per cent and education by 28 per cent.

The results come as early voting gets underway in several states ahead of the midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress and shape the political landscape for the remainder of Trump’s presidency.

Texas has emerged as one of the closely watched contests, with Democratic nominee James Talarico facing Republican Ken Paxton, who has received Trump’s support.

The survey’s findings also point to the potential electoral significance of South Asian American voters in competitive states, where relatively small shifts in turnout or party preference could influence the outcome of closely fought races.

Vasant Bhatt, a 21-year-old second-generation Indian American who interned on Senator Ted Cruz’s election campaign in 2024, said he had voted for Talarico.

In a social media post, Bhatt expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as growing xenophobia, racial resentment and attacks on his identity, explaining his decision to support the Democratic candidate.

Discrimination was another prominent issue highlighted by the survey. Around 90 per cent of respondents said they had experienced discrimination themselves or knew someone who had faced it, while 48 per cent reported personal experiences of discrimination.

Chintan Patel, executive director of Indian American Impact, said the findings reflected changing political attitudes within the community. He emphasised that South Asian American voters could influence the results in closely contested constituencies and said the organisation was working to reach eligible voters.

The survey also revealed concerns about political participation and public trust. Sixteen per cent of respondents said they had not voted in any general election since 2020, suggesting that a section of the community remained disengaged from electoral politics.

Despite these concerns, 78 per cent believed their votes could bring about change. At the same time, 79 per cent felt elected officials quickly lost touch with ordinary people, while 67 per cent believed public representatives did not care about the opinions of people like them. Another 43 per cent said they had little or no influence over government decisions.

These findings suggest that, alongside party preferences, voter confidence in political institutions and the perceived responsiveness of elected representatives could shape participation in the upcoming polls.

The demographic distribution of South Asian Americans also makes the community relevant in several states where electoral margins are often narrow.

Michigan has approximately 187,000 South Asian residents. Nearly 30,000 registered South Asian voters did not participate in the 2022 elections, exceeding the roughly 19,000 votes that determined the state’s 2024 Senate race.

Texas has more than 700,000 South Asian residents, with nearly 100,000 registered voters from the community having stayed away from the 2022 elections, according to the survey’s figures.

Indian Americans also have a significant presence in California, New Jersey, New York, Washington, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

In battleground states such as Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina, even a small change in voting patterns can prove consequential when candidates are separated by narrow margins.

The survey’s findings suggest that economic concerns, experiences of discrimination and dissatisfaction with political leadership could influence how South Asian Americans vote in the midterms. However, the extent to which these preferences translate into actual ballots will become clearer when the election results are announced.

With the November 3 polls approaching, both parties face the challenge of mobilising voters who could play an important role in determining outcomes in competitive races.