US Elections 2024: As Indian Americans lean towards Trump, Kamala Harris honors her mother: ‘She came alone from India’

US Elections 2024: With a recent poll showing a sharp shift among Indian Americans towards Donald Trump, Kamala Harris is making a concerted effort to connect with Indian American voters by paying tribute to her mother, Shyama Gopalan.

In a post on X, Harris said her mother “only came to the United States from India.” By reflecting on her mother’s journey as an immigrant and her significant contributions, Harris strives to strengthen her connection to the community and highlight shared values. This comes after a new survey of Indian-American political views found that Indian-Americans continue to support the Democratic Party in the 2024 US presidential election. However, their attachment to the party has decreased compared to the past.

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In a post on X, Harris wrote: “My mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan Harris, came to the United States from India alone at the age of 19. Her courage and determination made me who I am today.”

How is Harris connected to India?

Kamala Devi Harris was born in California to Shyama Gopalan, a Tamil biologist, and Donald J. Harris, a Jamaican-American professor. After her parents’ divorce, she and her sister moved to different schools with their mother before settling at Howard University. She received her bachelor’s degree from this historically all-black college.

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Harris earned degrees in political science and economics and then earned a law degree, becoming a member of the bar in 1990. That same year, she began her career as a deputy district attorney in California. She was elected district attorney of San Francisco in 2003 and then served two terms as California attorney general, winning elections in 2010 and 2014. In 2017, she became the junior U.S. senator from California, making history as the second African American and first Southeast Asian woman to hold the position.

She ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, but ultimately dropped out to support Joe Biden, who later selected her as his vice president.

What do Indian Americans think of Harris?

The survey found that sixty-one percent of registered Indian-American voters plan to vote for Democrat Kamala Harris, while 32 percent intend to vote for Republican Donald Trump.

At least 47 percent of Indian-American Attitudes Survey (IAAS) respondents identify as Democrats. That’s down from 56 percent in 2020, the last time the survey was conducted. The number of those who identify as Republicans remained steady at 21 percent, while the number of those who identify as independents increased to 26 percent, according to the poll.

A poll by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace found she would likely receive fewer public votes than incumbent President Joe Biden in 2020.

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Speaking to news agency ANI, Indian-American politician Congressman Raja Krishnamurthy said the elections will be an extremely tight contest. However, Krishnamurti said that he believed Kamala would ultimately “win”.

“But as you know, there are six or seven states that we will be watching closely on election night. Some of these results may not be fully released on election night. We will also have to be patient while the votes are counted,” he told ANI.

How does Trump please Indian Americans?

Earlier, on November 1, former US President Donald Trump promised to protect the interests of Hindu Americansdefending them from the “anti-religious agenda of the radical left.”

In an effort to strengthen ties with India, Trump also expressed a desire to intensify his partnership with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he called a “good friend.”

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Sharing the post on X, Trump wrote, “We will also defend Hindu Americans from the anti-religious agenda of the radical left. We will fight for your freedom. Under my administration, we will also strengthen our excellent partnership with India and my good friend Prime Minister Modi.”

The former president also condemned violence against Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh following the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He said: “I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians and other minorities who are being attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, where complete chaos continues to reign.”

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Trump also criticized President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and said they were ignoring Hindus around the world and in the United States. He said: “In my time this would never have happened. Kamala and Joe ignored Hindus around the world and in America. They have been a disaster from Israel to Ukraine to our southern border, but we will make America strong again and bring back peace through strength!”

For people like Ashok Baddi, a businessman and social activist, Vice President Kamala Harris’ Indian-African heritage has not influenced their voting decisions this election cycle. Buddy said in Detroit, as reported by PTI, “She has never been involved with the (Indian) community,” explaining why he chooses to support Trump over Harris. The report noted that Buddy expressed concern about Harris’ potential impact on US-India relations and praised Trump for maintaining a strong relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In addition, Buddy noted that rising prices for essential goods during the Biden-Harris administration significantly impacted his voting choices.

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Kamal Rahman, a Bangladeshi-American adviser to Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, noted in the report that approximately 20% of Michigan Muslim Americans have switched their support to Trump this election cycle. Ghalib, who is the first Arab-American and Muslim to serve as mayor, recently endorsed Trump. Rahman explained that this shift in support is due to various factors, including economic concerns and Trump’s stance on LGBTQ issues. He declared, “I’m voting for Trump,” despite his affiliation with the Democratic Party.

What do Muslims think of Donald Trump?

In a strategic move to engage with local communities, Donald Trump visited Detroit on Friday to reach out to the Muslim and Arab population. This outreach highlights the importance of this demographic in the upcoming election as candidates compete for every possible vote in a tight race. Recognizing the critical nature of Michigan in his campaign, Trump plans to hold his final public rally in Grand Rapids on Monday, emphasizing the urgent need to win support in this crucial battleground state.

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Kamal Rahman, a Bangladeshi-American adviser to Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, noted in the report that approximately 20% of Michigan Muslim Americans have switched their support to Trump this election cycle. Ghalib, who is the first Arab-American and Muslim to serve as mayor, recently endorsed Trump. Rahman explained that this shift in support is due to various factors, including economic concerns and Trump’s stance on LGBTQ issues. He declared, “I’m voting for Trump,” despite his affiliation with the Democratic Party.

(With participation of agencies)