Why Indian-American voters backed Democrats against Trump's Republicans in US midterms

The Indian-American community is growing steadily in importance in US politics. In recent elections, its voters cast their ballots against the Republican Party and President Donald Trump's policies, expressing deep resentment. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Indian American Attitudes Survey has brought out several reasons for the shift.

Sumitra Badrinathan, assistant professor of political science at American University, closely studies voting behaviour in the US. According to her, the anger of Indian-American voters is not due to any foreign policy or the US stance towards India. She says it stems mainly from local economic problems in the US and the Trump administration's harsh policies.

Professor Badrinathan and Milan Vaishnav, director of the South Asia programme, conducted the survey. It finds that Indian-American citizens look at issues tied to everyday life when they vote. Like average American voters, they give the most weight to job opportunities, the state of the economy and the rising cost of living. Economic ups and downs, rising inflation and market uncertainty under the Trump administration upset the budgets of many Indian-American families. In search of economic stability, the community chose to distance itself from the Republican Party led by Trump.

The Trump administration's tough immigration policies were the community's biggest worry. Changes to H-1B visa rules, tariffs and the administrative difficulties Indians face while working in the US caused widespread discontent, especially among more highly educated young people in the technology sector. Despite Trump's tough immigration policies, the US is still seen by Indian citizens as a better option than European countries for study and careers. Even so, the challenges created by these policies pushed voters to take a stand against the Republican Party.

It is often assumed that Indians living in the US weigh American policy towards India when they vote. The Carnegie survey has found this notion to be entirely wrong. Professor Badrinathan said plainly: "We have consistently asked Indian Americans whether they pay attention to their political leaders' approach towards India, and the answer has always been 'no'." This shows that the Indian community settled in the US votes on local issues such as its future, children's education, healthcare and jobs, rather than on international politics.

According to the study, Indian-American citizens still face discrimination on a large scale in the US. One in every two Indians, about 50 per cent, faces some form of discrimination or racism because of skin colour or ancestry. In states such as Texas, where Indian Americans are the second-largest group, anti-India sentiment was seen in political campaigning. Statements by Republican leaders and hateful language on social media created a sense of insecurity in the Indian community, which had a direct impact on voting results.

The Indian-American voter is no longer tied to a single party. Historically the community has leaned towards the Democratic Party, but it is highly aware of its rights and economic interests. This anger against Trump's policies could change the direction of American politics in the coming days.