“Indian Americans: Haley and Ramaswamy Fight for the Buzz, Despite Lack of Support

Indian-American political participation has skyrocketed in recent decades as immigration from India has increased. But, as demonstrated in the recent Democratic primary contest for the second most senior representative of the House of Representatives, the influence of Indian-Americans is still largely out of reach. The election between Indian-Americans Raja Krishnamoorthi and Hiral Tipirneni was a hard-fought contest full of excitement. The candidates, however, received little support from Indian-Americans despite their backgrounds. Indian-Americans, who make up 9% of the national population and make up 1.3% of the voting population in the U.S, have long been actively engaged in local and state politics and even more recently have seen an increasing presence in Congress. Despite the active engagement of Indian-Americans in politics, candidates such as Krishnamoorthi and Tipirneni have struggled to win support from the various components of the Indian-American community. A number of factors have contributed to this lack of support. The first is that Indian-Americans have not formed a cohesive political bloc. While many vote along the lines of party affiliation or personal opinion, there is often disagreement within the community about how to approach various issues. Additionally, Indian-Americans are a highly diverse group and have divided loyalties, making it difficult for any candidate to gain broad support. Furthermore, few candidates of Indian origin have held powerful and prominent positions that demonstrate an ability to effect national changes. Furthermore, with limited campaign resources and funds, it is difficult for candidates like Krishnamoorthi and Tipirneni to reach all Indian-American voters. Although the competition between Krishnamoorthi and Tipirneni and the buzz surrounding the race was ultimately exciting, the support from the Indian-American community was not as strong as one would expect given the rapidly increasing numbers of Indian-Americans in the U.S. Political strategists and campaigners have stressed the importance of creating unity and engagement within the Indian-American community, but their efforts have largely been in vain. As the presence and influence of Indian-Americans grow, it is essential for candidates of Indian origin to make a concerted effort to win the support of Indian-Americans by engaging with the various areas of the community and demonstrating to the greater public their ability to effect change. Only then will Indian-American voters be moved to support candidates of Indian origin and ensure that their voices are heard in the halls of Congress.