Satish Dharni, a 57-year-old resident of Draper, Utah, is an Indian immigrant who relocated to the United States in 2005. At that time, Dharni faced the daunting task of establishing a new life for his family, including his wife and two sons, in a foreign land. Now a registered independent, Dharni has participated in three elections, supporting former President Donald Trump in the last two. For the upcoming election, he plans to vote for Trump once again, though he has a special admiration for Vice President Kamala Harris due to her Indian heritage.
Recent data from a Deseret News and HarrisX national survey reveals that most voters perceive the Democratic Party as more welcoming to Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs. Although a significant portion of Indian Americans are traditionally loyal to the Democratic Party—with about three-quarters planning to vote for President Joe Biden—Trump’s tax policies, focus on small businesses, and close relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attract many within this demographic.
Despite his reservations about Trump’s “foul mouth,” Dharni appreciates the benefits of Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which he believes contributed to economic growth through deductions and reduced tax rates for both businesses and individuals. Dharni’s daughter-in-law, Shreya Chopra, who operates hotels in Utah, Idaho, and Nevada, also opposes Harris’ proposal to increase taxes for top earners and disapproves of her stance on border issues.
Dharni has criticized the current administration for not taking a firm stance against the Khalistan movement, a Sikh group advocating for an independent state separate from India. He contends that the Biden administration is quick to criticize India’s human rights record. During President Biden’s visit to Modi in New Delhi last September, Biden stated, “And, as I always do, I raised the important (subject) of respecting human rights and the vital role that civil society and a free press have in building a strong and prosperous country with Mr. Modi.”
Despite his discontent with Democratic policies, Dharni expresses a certain fondness for Harris. “I am sorry to say that I would love Kamala to be elected,” he admitted. Dharni sees Harris’s Indian heritage as a win-win situation for conservative voters like himself.
Harris’ mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was born in India and moved to the U.S. in 1958 for her college education. Harris grew up learning about Hindi culture and frequently visited her mother’s homeland. Her name, “Kamala,” meaning lotus, is associated with Goddess Lakshmi, symbolizing wealth, good fortune, happiness, youth, and beauty.
The influence of Indian American voters could be substantial in the 2024 election. Chintan Patel, executive director at the Indian American Impact Fund, highlighted the significance of South Asian American voters in key battleground states such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. “When you look at a state like Georgia, where in 2020 the Biden-Harris campaign won that state by 11,000 votes, there are close to 100,000 South Asian American eligible voters,” Patel noted. He emphasized that the election could hinge on just a few thousand votes, with the South Asian community potentially swaying the outcome.
Patel also pointed out the heightened sensitivity of this voter bloc due to the Republican Party’s stance on immigration. He mentioned that recent support for mass deportations among Americans has increased, with nearly 60% of voters endorsing such efforts according to a CBS News poll. Patel observed, “When members of our community take a look at those signs, what they see is a party and a candidate in Donald Trump, who is trying to tear apart hundreds of thousands of South Asian American families.”
Milan Vaishnav, director and senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s South Asian program, cited a 2020 survey indicating that 45% of Indian American respondents felt Harris’s inclusion on the Democratic ticket made them more likely to vote. “Of those reporting they were more likely to vote, nearly half (49%) said Harris’ choice as Biden’s VP candidate made them more enthusiastic about the Democratic ticket. The number one reason given? Her Indian American heritage,” Vaishnav reported.
Malavika Kirtane Deo, a Salt Lake City resident and business owner of Spice Symphony, reflected on her voting decision. “I absolutely adore Joe Biden. But then it’s the same thing for Kamala Harris, again, more because I’m a woman. I wanted to see a woman president in my lifetime for the U.S.,” she said. Deo expressed frustration with the historical pattern of female candidates being undermined and highlighted her dissatisfaction with the Republican Party’s current state. “I decided, no more Republicans until they have the courage to stand up and say, ‘This is not a candidate for our party because he’s destroying the country,’” Deo stated.
Deo, who has lived in the U.S. for 35 years, noted her appreciation for Harris’s passion for public service, regardless of her Indian heritage. She believes Harris’s message about advocating for the underdog resonates with her children, reflecting values of standing up for the marginalized.
On the Republican side, efforts to appeal to Indian American voters continue. South Asian Women for Harris raised $250,000 during a two-hour Zoom call in late July. Vaishnav observed that while Indian Americans generally align with the Democratic Party, Republicans are making significant efforts to win over this electorate. “However, Republicans have consistently tried to woo Indian and South Asian voters and, this election, both sides are making a big push to win over their votes,” Vaishnav said. He added, “My sense is that the organizational, enthusiasm, and demographic advantages are with the Democrats right now.”
Former President Trump has made several efforts to court Indian American voters, including hosting the “Howdy Modi” summit in 2019, which attracted over 50,000 attendees. Trump also expressed support for giving green cards to foreign students graduating from U.S. universities, a policy likely to resonate with South Asians.
Indian Americans are increasingly active in politics. Besides Harris, the 2024 Republican primary featured candidates of Indian heritage, such as former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. Although these candidates have withdrawn from the race, Vice Presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, also has Indian roots. Vaishnav commented that while vice presidential candidates and their spouses typically have a limited impact on electoral outcomes, the current Republican Party’s ideologies may not align well with most Indian American voters. “As time has gone on, this race has settled down and Indian American voters are strongly behind the Harris-Walz ticket. As incomes continue to rise and the diversity of the Indian diaspora grows, it is natural that more Indian Americans will support the Republican Party. But, ideologically, this version of the Republican Party is too extreme for most Indian Americans,” Vaishnav concluded.
