Addressing a crowd of Indian-Americans this week, Vice President Kamala Harris asserted the importance of South Asians running for office, saying there are not enough compared to the size of the group in the US.
Indian Americans are now the most populous “Asian-only” group in the country, surpassing Chinese Americans in September. This means that 4.4 million people identified as “Indian only” – or 100% Indian – in the 2020 US Census, representing a 55% increase over a decade.
Despite this, there are only five Indian-American members of Congress out of 535. Harris called for that to change in remarks Wednesday at the nonprofit Indian American Impact’s annual summit, “Desis Decide,” in Washington, D.C.
“Over the years, we’ve had a lot more participation from Indian Americans in the candidacy election process,” Harris said. “But the numbers still don’t reflect the size of the growing population.”
She encouraged the group to participate in every way possible and to consider the upcoming elections as vital to their lives. Sixty-eight percent of Indian Americans lean toward the Democratic Party, making them one of the most progressive Asian American groups.
Experts say American Indians are a demographic that politicians cannot afford to ignore this election season, as they have the potential to be the swing vote in some of the regions where they are concentrated. But despite the vice president’s appeal to South Asians attending the event, the community is looking to both her and the president. Joe Biden with a critical eye. Many have mixed feelings.
Biden’s presidential approval rating has fallen among AAPI communities, Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and executive director of AAPI Data, told NBC News last month. Among Indian-American voters, Biden has 43% approval.
Harris’s approval rating among Indian voters fell from 62% in 2022 to 56% in 2023.
The progressive organization Hindus for Human Rights organized a strike during Harris’ speech at the Desis Decide summit in protest against the Biden administration’s handling of Israel’s war in Gaza.
“Our tradition of speaking out against injustice is part of a long and proud political movement inspired by figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. BR Ambedkar, who used their faith as a basis for social and political activism,” the group said in a statement to press. . “Just as they fought for the rights and dignity of all people, we also fight against the ongoing genocide in Gaza and elsewhere.”
It’s an important issue for young South Asian voters this cycle, some of whom say they are questioning whether they should vote Democratic for the first time in their lives.
“Our walkout was a direct expression of our conviction and pain regarding these issues. We believe it is our moral duty to hold government officials accountable, regardless of platform,” said Hindus for Human Rights.
During her summit speech, Harris emphasized the importance of expressing desires for change at the polls.
“I think this election coming up in six months represents an issue for each of us,” she said. “What kind of world do we want to live in and what kind of country do we want to live in? And one of the ways we can answer that question is to run for public office and participate in elections knowing that the outcome of those elections is fundamentally important.”
Although American Indians still do not see themselves prominently represented in government, Harris assured them that change was coming; she cited herself as evidence of this.
“You will invariably find yourself in rooms where you are the only one who looks like you, the only one who has had your life experience,” she said. “You must know that you are not alone. There is so much we still have to do as a country. And much of the work that each of us does, which is why we are here together, is born out of belief in the promise of America. And dare I say it, I am empirical evidence of the promise of America.”
This article was originally published in NBCNews. with
