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Republicans saw Indian Americans as ‘natural conservative voters.’ But Trump’s second term undid the gains as their support for Democrats shot up
Trump gained ground with Indian Americans in 2024, but his immigration politics and MAGA racism reversed that.
Brief
A Carnegie Endowment report published Nov. 2 says Donald Trump won 30% of Indian American support in 2024, up from 22% in 2020, but those gains disappeared before the midterms. A survey of 1,000 Indian American adults, taken Oct. 7 to Oct. 27, found 62% planned to back the Democrat in their House district and 19% the Republican. The article ties the shift to economic concerns, immigration policy including H1-B visa restrictions, and anti-Indian rhetoric from some Republicans, according to co-author Devesh Kapur of Johns Hopkins. It cites a September social media post by a Texas GOP candidate about South Asian students. The report also found that 35% of Indian Americans planning to vote Democratic said opposition to Republicans motivated them.
Why it matters: The shift shows how rhetoric and immigration policy can change voting patterns among a politically influential immigrant community.
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