Kamala Harris could make history as the first U.S. president of Indian heritage. But some Indian-American voters aren’t aware of that part of her identity
, just above the country’s overall turnout rate of 61.4 percent and surpassing the rates for both Hispanics and African-Americans, as well.
The younger Indian-Americans I spoke with, who have watched the rise of Indian-American politicians like Jindal, Nikki Haley and Ami Bera, tended to be more ambivalent about whether Harris’ heritage would influence their votes, focusing instead on the issues they care about, like immigration, civil rights, education and the environment.
Aastha Jha, an economics and public policy student at University of California, Berkeley, told me she made a point of attending Harris’ announcement rally in Oakland with four South Asian friends. “I figured that this was the first time an Indian-American was running for president, and it was literally just blocks from where I live,” she says.
That point was underscored when Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna—who represents the district in Northern California with the highest concentration of Indian-Americans in the country—Senator Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. Khanna, who did not respond to a request for comment, also endorsed Sanders in 2016 over Clinton.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Indian voters feed on misinformation via social mediaOfficials seek to combat the spread of fake news among a population that experts say has proven highly susceptible. Many fear the spread of fake news could end up being the deciding factor in some constituencies.
Read more »
Kingmaker in the North: Giant Indian State Is Key to ‘Referendum on Modi’As India launches into its first national poll in five years, Uttar Pradesh—with an estimated population of 224 million people, it’s larger than all but four countries—looms over the election. No other state has been so critical to the fortunes of the ruling BJP and its leader Narendra Modi.
Read more »
Who are the Naxalites and why do they boycott Indian elections?A far-left guerrilla insurgency has exploited the grievances of marginalised tribes to wage a 50-year long battle against the state.
Read more »
Poll workers journey to reach India's most remote votersNEW DELHI (AP) — The figures involved in India's general election are staggering: 900 million voters, 83 million first-time voters, 11 million poll workers, nearly 4 million electronic voting...
Read more »
AP joins deep dive into Indian OceanPHOTOS: The Associated Press joins a deep dive in the outer islands of Seychelles on a mission to explore the Indian Ocean.
Read more »
Marginalised Indian Muslims rally around 'secular' partiesBattered by decades of communal violence and now the rise of right-wing Hindu supremacy, the 2019 general election offers some hope to India's largest religious minority.
Read more »
Indian strikes on Pakistan, a make or break for Narendra Modi's governmentIndia's strikes on Pakistan were expected to bring a boon for the Modi government ahead of the general election in the country. Has it worked out that way?
Read more »
As Indian elections begin, Pakistan fears tensions could worsen with its nuclear rivalMilitary and civilian leaders in Pakistan say they are working to rein in anti-India militants.
Read more »
How HDFC breaks the dismal pattern of Indian bankingIts growth and profits put it in an elite global club
Read more »