Vice President Kamala Harris addressed a crowd of Indian Americans this week, emphasizing the importance of South Asians running for office in the United States.
Despite Indian Americans becoming the most populous ‘Asian-alone’ group in the country, with 4.4 million people identifying as ‘Indian-alone’ on the 2020 U.S. Census, there are only five Indian American members of Congress out of 535. Harris made these remarks at the Indian American Impact’s annual summit ‘Desis Decide’ in Washington, D.C., calling for a change in the representation of Indian Americans in politics.
She encouraged the community to participate in the electoral process and highlighted the upcoming election as crucial to their lives. With 68% of Indian Americans leaning towards the Democratic Party, they are considered one of the most progressive Asian American groups. However, there is a growing sense of skepticism towards the Biden administration among Indian American voters, with President Biden’s approval rating at 43% and Vice President Harris’ at 56%.
The progressive organization Hindus for Human Rights staged a walkout during Harris’ speech at the summit to protest the administration’s handling of Israel’s war in Gaza. This issue has resonated with young South Asian voters who are reevaluating their political affiliations.
Despite the challenges, Harris emphasized the importance of participating in elections to bring about change. She assured Indian Americans that progress is on the horizon and urged them to continue striving for a more inclusive and representative government.
Harris highlighted her own journey as a testament to the promise of America and encouraged the community to persevere in their pursuit of political engagement.
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