Indian-Americans: Democrats Are Wooing for Crucial Elections

Nearly a year after Donald Trump’s strong showing among Indian-American voters, the Democratic Party is leaving no stone unturned in its Indian-American outreach 2025 campaign. With gubernatorial and state assembly elections in New Jersey and Virginia slated for November 4, Democrats are focusing sharply on affordability, tariffs, and rebuilding trust within one of the nation’s most influential diaspora communities.

Harini Krishnan, National Organising Chair for South Asians for America, explained the strategy: “Our candidates are going to Diwali events, garbas, and community gatherings. We want the community to feel seen, heard, and represented.”

The stakes are high. Indian-Americans make up nearly 4.7% of New Jersey’s population (440,000 people) and 2% of Virginia’s (170,000 people), according to AAPI data. They also have one of the highest voter turnout rates among Asian-origin groups, making them a pivotal bloc in close races.

Indian-Americans: Reclaiming Lost Ground

In 2024, the Democratic Party suffered unexpected setbacks among Indian-American voters. While Joe Biden had won Asian-American voters by a 40-point margin in 2020, Kamala Harris’s margin shrank to 17 points in 2024. This swing towards Trump prompted deep introspection within Democratic circles.

To reverse this trend, Democrats have launched a sophisticated Democrats Indian-American outreach 2025 initiative. The campaign includes multilingual digital ads, targeted phone banks, and in-person participation at religious and cultural events like Navratri pujas, Diwali melas, and community galas.

New Jersey’s Democratic candidate Mikie Sherill has become a familiar face at these gatherings, actively engaging small business owners affected by Trump’s 50% tariff on Indian imports. “These tariffs have devastated Indian-owned small businesses,” Sherill remarked during a recent event. “We’re fighting to bring relief and restore fairness.”

In Virginia, Senator Ghazala Hashmi, born in India and running for lieutenant governor, is amplifying similar messages, emphasizing affordability, education, and inclusion.

Economic Concerns Take Center Stage

Democratic strategists believe that focusing on economic stability and business growth can help them reframe perceptions among Indian-Americans, who have traditionally viewed Republicans as more business-friendly.

“The Indian-American community is deeply entrepreneurial,” said a campaign aide working with Sherill. “By confronting Trump’s tariffs and presenting a pro-business agenda, we’re showing that Democrats understand and support their financial aspirations.”

The 50% tariff imposed by the Trump administration not only strained India–US trade relations but also hurt local importers, retailers, and service industries across New Jersey and Virginia. Democrats are leveraging this issue to remind voters of what they see as Trump’s “mishandling of ties with India.”

Indian-Americans: Learning from Past Mistakes

Party insiders admit that the 2024 campaign’s limited 107-day timeline under Kamala Harris hampered outreach to Indian-Americans. “We simply didn’t have enough time to communicate effectively,” reflected Krishnan, who had worked closely with the Harris campaign.

New Jersey Senator Vin Gopal, a prominent voice in the community, cited rising inflation, immigration issues, and economic uncertainty as factors behind the shift to Trump in 2024. He emphasized that Democrats must now rebuild credibility through consistent community engagement and results-driven policies.

Grassroots Mobilization and Representation

Beyond campaign rhetoric, Democrats are investing in grassroots organization—registering new voters, expanding leadership pipelines, and boosting representation in local boards, commissions, and school districts.

“At the end of the day, we need more Indian-Americans participating at every level of civic life,” Gopal said. “The more visible our community is in governance, the stronger our democracy becomes.”

The party’s Democrats Indian-American outreach 2025 also underscores collaboration with local leaders like Parul Khemkha, who chairs the South Asian caucus of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. “Asian voters could be the margin of victory,” Khemkha noted. “If we can bring them back to the fold, we can turn close races in our favor.”

The Final Push

With just days remaining before election day, Democrats are doubling down. Polls currently show Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherill in New Jersey holding narrow leads over their Republican rivals. However, in both states, Indian-American voters could prove decisive.

“We can never take the community for granted,” Krishnan emphasized. “Our approach is simple—keep showing up, keep listening, and keep delivering. If we do that, our voters will turn out.”

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