US Midterm Elections: Indian-American voters are emerging as an important group to watch as the US is just four days away from crucial midterm elections. With an estimated 2.6 million eligible voters, their choices matter in the closely contested races between Republicans and Democrats across several states. Their votes and preferences also matter as it comes at a time when US President Donald Trump’s administration has tightened immigration policies, moved to bring changes to H-1B visa rules and growing anti-India incidents including hate crimes and racist attacks.

Indian-American Population In US

In such a scenario, understanding where Indian-Americans live, which party they support and what issues matter to them becomes very important. According to data by the Pew Research Centre and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the US is home to around 5.2 million (around 52 lakhs) people of Indian origin. Of these, approximately 3.9 million are adults, while around 2.6 million are eligible to vote as US citizens. This data is based on the 2022 assessment.

The Indian-American population is mainly concentrated in four states. California has the largest population, accounting for around 20 per cent, followed by Texas at 12 per cent, New Jersey at 9 per cent, and New York at 7 per cent. Their concentration in some of the important states and congressional districts further makes their votes matter.

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How Do Indian-Americans Vote?

According to several reports, Indian-American voters have traditionally leaned towards the Democratic Party, whose current chairperson is Ken Martin. A Pew Research survey had earlier found that 68 per cent of registered Indian-American voters identified with or leaned towards the Democrats, while 29 per cent leaned towards the Republicans. However, recent surveys suggest that a section of the Indian-American population is backing independent candidates also.

The 2026 Indian American Attitudes Survey by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, conducted with YouGov also found that 46 per cent preferred Democrats, 19 per cent identified with Republicans and 29 per cent described themselves as independent. Similarly, the 2026 Asian American Voter Survey by AAPI Data and APIAVote found that 66 per cent of Indian-American people preferred Democratic candidates in the Senate race, compared with 22 per cent who favoured Republicans.

Indian-American Candidates In Race

The election has become more significant as several Indian-American politicians are also contesting elections across the country. In California, Democrat Ro Khanna is seeking re-election to the House, while Ami Bera is contesting from the state's 3rd Congressional District. Nithya Raman is competing in the Los Angeles mayoral race. In Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is contesting the governor's race. Other prominent candidates include Pramila Jayapal in Washington's 7th Congressional District and Suhas Subramanyam in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District.

What Can Shape Their Votes?

Among the factors that can influence their votes are economic concerns, immigration and healthcare. Immigration policies can be important for families affected by changing visa and immigration rules. A report by Carnegie survey also highlights disapproval of Trump's handling of immigration and the economy. While Indian-Americans account for only around 1 per cent of the US electorate, their presence in closely contested states and districts makes their votes important.

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