2024 election marks the coming-of-age of Indian Americans

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Indian Americans have made a significant impact across various sectors in the U.S., becoming key contributors to the country's economic, technological, and academic growth. As per some reports including BCG-Indiaspora 2024, Indian-origin CEOs lead more than 10 per cent of Fortune 500 companies, with prominent names like Sundar Pichai (Google) and Satya Nadella (Microsoft) representing a powerhouse of leadership in global corporations.

In other industries, Indian Americans own about 60 per cent of the U.S. hospitality sector, contributing billions annually to the economy. Additionally, 270,000 Indian students enrol in U.S. universities each year, spending approximately $10 billion and fueling the academic ecosystem. In academia, 22,000 Indian American professors hold positions nationwide, with around 10 per cent of top U.S. universities having Indian Americans in leadership roles.

The community also stands out in terms of wealth and education. Indian American households have a median income of $120,000, nearly twice the national average, with 75% holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Despite making up just over only 1 per cent of the U.S. population, Indian Americans contribute at least 5 per cent of the total taxes, showcasing their disproportionate influence in both economic and intellectual domains in the U.S.

Indian American Political Journey

On the political front, Indian Americans have traveled a long but slow road in U.S. politics, starting with their early struggles for citizenship and voting rights. In the early 20th century, discriminatory laws like the 1917 Asiatic Barred Zone Act barred laborers from India and Supreme Court rulings denied them citizenship, like in the case of Bhagat Singh Thind for not being white/Caucasian. It wasn't until the Luce-Celler Act of 1946 that Indian immigrants were granted the ability to become U.S. citizens. This paved the way for Dalip Singh Saund, who in 1957 became the first Indian American elected to Congress—a historic milestone that would remain unmatched for decades.

Indian Americans began gaining momentum in U.S. politics only in the 2000s. Bobby Jindal became the first Indian American governor in Louisiana. Nikki Haley followed as governor of South Carolina, later serving as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Ami Bera was elected to Congress in 2013, marking the start of a new era.

More recently, the so-called "Samosa Caucus" emerged, a group of five Indian American Congress members including Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Shri Thanedar, signaling a growing influence at the federal level. Today, over 300 Indian Americans serve at various levels of government across the country, including at the state level like Niraj Antani (Ohio), and Ash Kalra (CA). Some of them like Suhas Subramaniam (VA) and Dr. Amish Shah (AZ) even have a chance to be elected to Congress in 2024.

The community's rise reached a historic moment with Kamala Harris becoming the first woman and person of Indian descent to serve as Vice President in 2020. With figures like Tulsi Gabbard, Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley even running for presidential primaries (2024), Indian/Hindu Americans are now a visible and influential part of the U.S. political landscape, embodying the journey from immigrant struggles to seats of power.

Policy Advocacy

Even though the Indian American population and its overall contribution grew over the decades, they still lacked advocacy on policy matters of their interests on the Hill. Over the decades, individuals like Ramesh Kapur, Dr. Bharat Barai, Ajay Bhutoria, Dr. Sampath Shivangi, Dr. Suvas Desai, Shelly Kumar, Shekar Narasimhan, Ashok Bhatt, Sunil Puri, Dr. K K Agarwal, Dr. Krishna Reddy, Yogi Chugh and many others worked towards influencing policies.

The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), an organization I lead, has taken advocacy to the next level by hosting regular advocacy. On 13 June this year, FIIDS hosted a successful Indian American Advocacy Summit at Capitol Hill. Over 135 Indian American delegates from 22 states discussed policy matters with nearly 100 elected officials from 35 states. They addressed topics like ICET and tech export exemption for India, elevating India to major defense partner status, eliminating 7 per cent per country quota to eliminate GC backlog and other immigration reforms, religious bias and hate crimes against Indian Americans, specifically Hindus, and Indo-Pacific security. Organizations like Immigration Voice, Hindu American Foundation and CoHNA also led a few advocacy campaigns.

Indian Americans Survey

FIIDS regularly conducted issue-based surveys in past elections, shedding light on key concerns such as immigration reform, U.S.-India relations, healthcare, and education. These surveys have revealed that the community's priorities are often overlooked in mainstream political discourse, emphasizing the need for targeted advocacy. The FIIDS 2024 survey says Indian Americans prioritize a diverse set of issues in U.S. elections, with the top concerns being immigration reform (especially around green card backlogs), U.S.-India relations, the economy, religious freedom, and US technology and AI competitiveness.

First-generation Indian Americans focus more on border security, immigration and U.S.-India relations, while second-generation citizens prioritize issues like climate and economy. Such diverse priorities reflect the community's unique experiences, from navigating immigration challenges to addressing future economic opportunities. These findings highlight the importance of data-driven advocacy and voter education to ensure Indian American interests are well-represented in U.S. politics.

In the U.S., where "votes and notes" matter, voting and supporting candidates through donations are essential tools for influencing policy. Advocacy groups and PACs help amplify the community's voice, but voter turnout ultimately decides which policies get prioritized.

Political Action Committees

Indian Americans have established several Political Action Committees (PACs) to analyze candidates, support their campaigns, and influence policy. Some prominent PACs include A4H (Americans 4 Hindus led by Dr. Romesh Japra), Indian American Impact, USIRC (U.S.-India Relationship Council), and the Hindu American PAC. In total, there are over a dozen PACs led by Indian Americans, focusing on diverse political and cultural interests.

High-net-worth Indian American individuals and activists also contribute significantly, with Indian American donors accounting for approximately $3 million in political donations during the 2020 election cycle.

Unique Opportunity in the 2024 Election

Indian Americans, though a small percentage of the U.S. population, have a growing influence in key swing states, creating a unique opportunity to impact future elections. Congressman Rich McCormick highlighted this potential at the FIIDS 2024 Advocacy Summit, noting how Indian Americans could play a decisive role in choosing the next president. In Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, and Virginia, Indian Americans make up between one to two per cent of the population but their potential high voter turnout and political engagement can swing tight races.

In the 2020 election, both parties recognized this influence for the first time. President Trump even attended the massive HowdyModi event of Indian Americans in Houston to court Indian American voters, while President Biden selected Kamala Harris, of Indian descent, as his running mate, underscoring their recognition of the community's political clout. As Indian Americans continue to grow in numbers and visibility, their votes could prove pivotal in future presidential elections.

Voters' Education and Registration Campaign

Despite their growing political influence, Indian American voter participation within the community has been lower than expected. Contrary to assumptions, it is below the national average. Recognizing this gap, organizations like FIIDS have launched initiatives such as the Million Voter Registration Campaign to create awareness within the community.

Moreover, there is limited awareness within the community about how their elected representatives are voting on key issues that affect them. Many Indian American voters are not fully empowered with data on how their elected representatives vote on issues important to the community. To address this, FIIDS introduced the IndoAmericanElectionGuide.org (since the 2020 election and now updated for 2024) which tracks voting records on bills and resolutions of interest to Indian Americans. HinduPact has also released HinduVote.org compiling similar information and voters' guide from Hindu votes' point of view. These tools help voters make informed decisions, ensuring that their representatives are aligned with their priorities and concerns.

Given their increasing population in key swing states and the importance of these issues, Indian Americans have a unique opportunity to shape the political landscape. By fully engaging with the electoral process and making their voices heard, the community can ensure that their priorities are represented in Washington and beyond, making their votes a critical factor in deciding the future of U.S. policies and leadership.

 

The author is president of the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS).

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of  New India Abroad.)