Recognizing Indian-American identity driving political donations

Indian-Americans, the wealthiest immigrant diaspora group, mobilize very readily to vote for and fund candidates and causes that take them and their identities seriously. When their identities, especially the Hindu identity, is foregrounded, Indian-American intensify funding and advocacy for candidates and causes.

[Recognizing socio-cultural aspects of the Indian American identity]

In 2018, a resolution was introduced in Edison, New Jersey school district with a 49 percent Indian and Asian population, to recognize Diwali as a school holiday. The resolution passed unanimously, despite a smear campaign in which flyers with anti-Indian smears were circulated throughout the area. Through the efforts of organizations like the Universal Society of Hinduism, the resolution was passed, and a wave of Indian-American and Asian-American candidates like Falguni Patel swept the school board elections the following year. 

In New York, Jennifer Rajkumar became the first South Asian American ever elected to a New York state office, especially due to her championing of Hindu causes like the recognition of Diwali as a state holiday. Rajkumar utilized the network of Hindu temples in Queens to hold fundraisers and Diwali and to fundraise and canvas for her campaign.

In the past decade, apart from cultural celebrations, crucial issues like that of caste identity and politics have made national headlines in the United States. Many universities and local government bodies have launched campaigns to add caste as a recognized category in their anti-discrimination laws, such as the State of California, UC Berkeley, and the City of Seattle.

In California, a bill to ban caste discrimination passed both the State Assembly and the State Senate nearly unanimously. However, lobbying groups like the Hindu American Foundation launched a pressure campaign on Governor Gavin Newsom. 

Rakesh Kapur, a member of the Biden-Harris National Finance Committee who had raised $3.3 million in just one night for Biden, threatened to fundraise against supporters of the anti-caste discrimination bill. The pressure campaign was ultimately successful and Newsom decided to veto the bill shortly after his conversation with Kapur.

[Hindu diaspora and political fundraising]

Candidates, such as Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi in the House of Representatives, who foreground their Hindu constituents are some of the most successful fundraisers in their political arenas.

Krishnamoorthi’s speeches highlighting his Hindu faith and support of family values garnered him essential support from the Hindu Indian-American diaspora in his district and his success is a result of endorsements and financial support from diaspora organizations like the Indian-American Impact Fund.

In Texas’ 22nd Congressional District (encompassing Sugar Land and parts of Missouri City, Houston suburbs with high Indian populations), Sri Preston Kulkarni leveraged South Indian cultural networks to reduce the electoral margin against a Trump-endorsed Republican opponent in 2020.

Kulkarni raised $4.8 million dollars, 40% of which came from primarily Tamil and Telugu-speaking professional networks based in Houston, Dallas, and Silicon Valley. Kulkarni hosted events celebrating South Indian harvest festivals like Ugadi and Pongal, did his voter outreach in 13 different languages (including in Tamil and Telugu), and appeared on South Asian and Desi TV and radio stations to promote his candidacy. Once again, recognizing linguistic and cultural identities proved to be successful for candidates trying to forge deeper relationships with the diaspora vote base.

Just by leveraging South Indian identity, and without leaning especially into the Hindu religious identity, Kulkarni worked with Indian-centric mosques, temples, and churches to set up GOTV drives. He ended up losing to his opponent by 7%, reducing the district’s margin of victory by 14% compared to 2018, a significant feat in a red state. Kulkarni targeted the demographic of first-time voters and new citizens to put up an impressive campaign and build permanent Democratic infrastructure in Fort Bend County.