19 Per Cent Drop in Indian-American Support for Biden. Here's What Survey Reveals

New Delhi: A recent bi-annual Asian American Voter Survey (AAVS), conducted by APIAVote, AAPI Data, AAJC, and AARP, reveals a massive 19 per cent drop in support for President Joe Biden among Indian American voters. Released on Wednesday, the survey shows that only 46 per cent of Indian Americans plan to vote for Biden in the 2024 election, a sharp decline from the 65 per cent who supported him in 2020.

This decrease marks the most notable shift among all Asian-American ethnic groups. The survey, conducted before the June 27 presidential debate between Biden and his Republican opponent, Donald Trump, also indicates a general decline in Biden’s support among Asian Americans. Presently, 46 per cent of Asian American voters are expected to back Biden, an eight-point decrease from the previous election. Conversely, Trump’s support among Asian Americans has seen a slight increase to 31 per cent, up from 30 per cent in 2020.

Despite the drop in support from Indian Americans, Trump’s overall favorability has only risen by 2 percentage points, from 28 per cent in 2020 to 30 per cent in 2024.

The survey also highlights that Biden maintains a 55 per cent favorability rating among Indian Americans, while Trump holds a 35 per cent favorability rating. Both candidates face an equal 42 per cent unfavorability rating within the community.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Indian American and woman to hold the position, enjoys a 54 per cent favorability rating and a 38 per cent unfavorability rating among Indian Americans. Former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has a favorability rating of just 33 per cent, with a 46 per cent unfavorability rating, and 11 per cent of respondents are unfamiliar with her.

Asian Americans have increasingly become a crucial segment of the eligible voter population in the United States, growing by 15 per cent over the past four years. This demographic has played a key role in recent federal elections, with high turnout rates among first-time voters in battleground states being instrumental in Biden’s 2020 victory.