Are Indian Americans turning away from Donald Trump? What the polls reveal ahead of the US midterm results | Today’s news
Immigration restrictions, the rising cost of living and strained relations between the US and India are testing support for President Donald Trump among parts of the Indian-American community, including some voters who supported him in the 2024 presidential election.
As the US prepares for mid-term elections on November 3, recent polls suggest that Indian-American voters are currently favoring Democratic candidates.
However, this preference comes even as the community’s identification with the Democratic Party has declined over the years.
A separate AP-NORC/AAPI Data poll, conducted between September 8 and 15 and released on October 19, found that only 25% of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults approved of Trump’s performance, The Times of India reported.
The survey also found that 83% of respondents considered the cost of living to be important when voting, while 89% said the economy was important. Although these findings cover the broader AAPI population and are not specific to Indian Americans, they highlight economic concerns shaping electoral priorities across Asian American communities.
Among Indian-American voters, the preference for Democratic candidates is more pronounced. A 2026 survey of AAPI voters released in August by AAPI Data and Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) found that 66% of registered Indian voters favored Democratic candidates for the US House of Representatives, compared to 18% who preferred Republicans. In Senate elections, 66% supported Democratic candidates, while 22% preferred Republicans.
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Trump faces declining approval ratings among Indian Americans
A February 2026 poll by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace found that 71% of Indian-American respondents disapproved of Trump’s performance as president, while 29% approved.
Disagreement extended to several key policy areas. About 64% disapproved of Trump’s approach to immigration, 68% of his domestic economic policies, and 70% of his international economic policies, including trade, tariffs and sanctions.
Why Indian Americans are rethinking their political choices
Immigration has emerged as a significant issue for the community, which includes a large number of professionals, students and families whose lives are closely linked to cross-border mobility.
Immigration restrictions and uncertainty surrounding work visas have added to concerns about the administration’s policies. Economic pressures, particularly the rising cost of living, are another factor shaping voters’ priorities.
US-India relations have also become part of the political debate. Trade disagreements, tariff measures and diplomatic tensions have complicated relations between Washington and New Delhi, which may affect how some Indian-American voters view the Trump administration.
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The shift is also reflected in some voters who supported Trump in 2024. A survey of 800 registered South Asian American voters by HIT Strategies for Indian American Impact found that 60% of likely voters planned to support Democratic candidates for Congress. Notably, 25% of respondents who voted for Trump in 2024 said they intended to vote Democratic in the midterms.
Indian Americans made up roughly 90% of the survey respondents, according to findings released Oct. 26.
Why Fewer Indian-Americans Identify as Democrats
Despite the preference for Democratic candidates shown in recent midterm polls, Indian voters’ identification with the party has steadily declined.
The Carnegie Endowment’s Indian American Attitudes Survey found that the share of respondents who identify as Democrats fell from 52% in 2020 to 46% in 2026.
Republican identification rose from 15% to 19% over the same period, while the share identifying as independent rose from 23% to 29%.
The numbers suggest that disapproval of Trump and his policies does not automatically translate into stronger loyalty to Democrats. Some Indian-Americans may favor Democratic candidates in specific elections while remaining independent of either party or less aligned with broader Democratic policy positions.
The shift follows a significant increase in support for Trump during the 2024 presidential election. An October 2024 Carnegie poll found that 32% of registered Indian voters intended to vote for Trump, up from 22% who supported him in the 2020 poll. However, 61% still intended to vote for Kamala Harris in 2024.
Why November 3 Midterms Matter
The Nov. 3 election will determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, shape the legislative agenda and the extent of congressional oversight of the Trump administration.
With a population of more than 5.2 million, Indian Americans are an increasingly visible constituency in US politics, particularly in hotly contested congressional districts.
With input from agencies
