Two high-profile Indian American women — Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Usha Vance, wife of Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance — are shining a spotlight on South Asian women in politics. They’re just two of 4.4 million Indian Americans in the U.S. — the largest Asian demographic identifying solely from one country, and an increasingly powerful voting bloc.

Indian Americans are also the most represented Asian demographic in elected positions, including mayors, school board members, state legislatures and, of course, the vice president of the United States. The five Indian American members of Congress even have a name for themselves: the Samosa Caucus.

Indian and South Asian Americans responded quickly and with tremendous fervor to the announcement of Harris as the potential Democratic nominee, leading to a “South Asian Women for Harris” Zoom call that drew nearly 10,000 people.

“I don’t think any of us could have imagined what we saw in the last couple of weeks,” says Anurima Bhargava, founder and director of Anthem of Us and one of the co-organizers of the Zoom call. “It’s been a really gorgeous and wonderful time, not only in terms of people feeling like they’re getting activated but also the ways in which women of different backgrounds have been helping each other and inspired by each other.”

Dr. Sara Sadhwani, an assistant professor of politics at Pomona College, said the data show this ground-swelling for Vice President Harris is consistent with trends she and her colleagues have observed in their work. She says that after the 2016 election of President Donald Trump, Indian American and South Asian Americans moved farther to the left. But Sadhwani’s findings from a 2020 survey show that it’s not just party affiliation driving Indian Americans and South Asian Americans.

“Nearly six in 10 of those Indian Americans who were surveyed said that they would want to see more Indian Americans elected to office regardless of which party they came from,” Sadhwani says. “This helps us to understand this level of enthusiasm and excitement for Kamala Harris.”

What’s made it easier to quickly reach Indian Americans and South Asian American women and mobilize them toward Harris — and toward other Indian American and South Asian candidates in local and state races around the country — are firmly established community spaces, including WhatsApp groups, senior circles, faith-based groups and multi-generational households, says Sarah Shah, senior director of strategic communications and partnerships at the Indian American Impact Fund.

“People are hearing about things in potentially different circles, but then they’re coming home that evening and they’re all talking about it,” Shah says. “Was there necessarily a nationwide organized apparatus to galvanize this kind of support immediately? Not necessarily. But it’s been an incredible experience to work alongside groups that do exist to tap into the networks that have already been out there and organizing in different ways for years.”

GUESTS

  • Dr. Sara Sadhwani, assistant professor of politics at Pomona College specializing in Asian American and Latino voting behavior, elections, interest groups and representation, and the co-host of the limited-series podcast, “Nationly.”
  • Anurima Bhargava, founder and director of Anthem of Us, a strategic advisory and consulting firm that centers dignity, justice and belonging in workplaces, schools, and communities, and one of the co-organizers of the “South Asian Women for Harris” Zoom call.
  • Sarah Shah, senior director of strategic communications and partnerships at the Indian American Impact Fund, an organization that mobilizes, engages and works toward electing members of the Indian American and South Asian communities across the United States.