Washington: At the receiving end of racist attacks, South Asian voters are backing Democratic candidates in Texas, including James Talarico for the US Senate – a key seat to wrest the upper house from Republicans.
More than 60 per cent of voters surveyed by the South Asian American Voter Empowerment of Texas Education Fund (SAAVETX EF) and the University of California San Diego said they would back Talarico for the US Senate over Republican Ken Paxton, and Gina Hinojosa for Governor over incumbent Greg Abbott.
Among registered voters, 66 per cent preferred Talarico, while 21 per cent preferred Paxton.
The survey found that 58 per cent of respondents had experienced at least one form of hate in Texas over the past year, including online harassment, threats of violence and damage to places of worship. The incidents were linked to their race, religion, nationality, accent or immigration background.
Around 64 per cent said they frequently or sometimes heard South Asians or immigrants described as “invaders” or “outsiders” over the past two years.
“Our community is tired of being treated as outsiders and used as political pawns. When elected officials and candidates fuel hostility, people feel less safe and less confident in the institutions meant to protect them,” Chanda Parbhoo, founder and executive director of SAAVETX EF, said.
Political Representation A Key Concern
The findings also pointed to a sense of political exclusion. About 64 per cent of respondents said elected officials did not fully understand their community’s concerns, while 54 per cent believed South Asians had little or no political power.
Tom K Wong, founding director of UC San Diego’s US Immigration Policy Centre, said the survey showed “a community confronting exclusion, but also highly civically engaged”. Some 78 per cent said they would be more likely to vote for candidates who spoke out against discrimination.
Recent Controversies Add To Tensions
Recent incidents have brought anti-South Asian rhetoric into the political spotlight. Last month, Republican candidate Bo French faced criticism after calling South Asian students celebrating a Texas football game as a “problem”.
A 90-foot statue of Hindu deity Hanuman in Sugar Land, Texas, also became the subject of controversy after a conservative YouTuber called for its removal, prompting objections from Hindu groups.
South Asians make up a sizeable community in Texas, while Indian Americans form one of the largest Indian-origin populations in the US. The survey also found that 65 per cent of respondents said they voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, compared with 25 per cent who backed Donald Trump.
