Rajesh Agrawal, a retired librarian who first came to New Jersey from Uttar Pradesh, India in 1963, has long hoped to see an Indian become president of the United States. Now residing in Edison, the heart of the Indian American community in New Jersey, her dream seems within reach with Kamala Devi Harris, the daughter of Indian immigrant Shyamala Gopalan Harris, running for office. Despite being just 4.4 million strong in the US, with 2.1 million eligible voters, Indian Americans have not been the focal point of this election, but support for Harris within this community is strong.
Most Indian Americans, however, support her primarily for her policies rather than her ethnic background. Polling reflects that her identity as a woman is often more significant to Indian American voters than her Indian heritage. While Kamala Harris' candidacy has been inspiring, particularly for younger Indian Americans, many believe her merit and political stance are more crucial factors than her ethnicity. This belief resonates with Indian American leaders like Rajesh Agrawal’s daughter, Nina, and other community members at a recent political event in New Jersey. The emphasis on merit over identity highlights a trend where Harris' Indian heritage does not overshadow intra-community political diversity.
In New Jersey, a state with a significant Indian American population, political events such as early celebrations of Diwali are blending culture with civic engagement. These events draw on shared identity but also highlight disparate political ideologies within the community. Many Indian Americans, including those leaning Democratic, prioritize policy stances such as educational opportunity and upholding democratic values over ethnic solidarity. Notably, America’s small but burgeoning 'Samosa Caucus' on Capitol Hill is predominantly Democratic. However, Indian American Republicans also exist, drawn by conservative policies on taxation and immigration rather than shared ethnic identities.
Some conservatives question Harris' connection to Indian culture due to her mixed heritage and lack of public identification with Indian traditions. This mirrors broader diasporic diversity across the Indian American community, influenced by regional origins and varied political alignments rooted in their ancestral regions in India. New Jersey state Sen. Vin Gopal, of shared South Indian heritage with Harris, underscores that a focus on heritage may not shift conservative viewpoints within the community, any more than it shifts others’ focus from policy concerns. Differences in professional backgrounds also influence political tendencies, with more entrepreneurial sectors skewing Republican, compared to Democrat-leaning professionals in health care and education.
Kamala Harris, though not centering her campaign on her Indian or Jamaican heritage, acknowledges its influence throughout her career, highlighting values instilled by her mother and experiences in India. This cultural framework shapes her, yet she balances it within a broader political platform. Harris' candidacy represents a historic moment not just for Indian Americans but for South Asian Americans collectively, as seen in the support at political rallies across diverse Asian American communities. Such gatherings underline the ongoing efforts by these communities to ensure they have a voice in the democratic process, surpassing ethnic and cultural lines to include broader representation. This evolving dynamic reaffirms the complex interplay of identity, politics, and community within Indian Americans and their impact on broader US politics.
