WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Vice President Kamala Harris called on more Indian Americans to pursue elected office, emphasizing their political representation falls short of reflecting their growing population.
Speaking at Indian American Impact’s annual summit, labeled this year “Desis Decide,” Harris noted “over the years, we’ve had much more participation by Indian Americans in the electoral process. But the numbers still do not reflect the size of the growing population.”
Indian American Impact, a political advocacy organization, gathered thought leaders and influencers from around the nation to discuss their collective future. Diya TV has been a media partner in the event since its inception.
Harris, the first Indian American, African American, and woman elected as Vice President, highlighted the need to increase the number of Indian American Congressmembers, which is currently just at five. She stressed the importance of this increase by saying, “There is so much that we still have to do as a country.”
During her speech, Harris encouraged attendees to run for office, asking those considering it to raise their hands, and emphasized the significance of the upcoming election in shaping the future. “Holding positions of power allows us to shape the kind of world and country we want to live in,” she explained.
Reflecting on her own experiences, Harris shared how her Indian immigrant mother Shyamala arrived in the U.S. in the 1950s and contributed to the civil rights movement in Berkeley, California. Harris highlighted the importance of diversity and political representation, even when facing opposition. Deepak Raj, co-founder and treasurer of Indian American Impact, described Harris as a trailblazer for women, immigrants, and minorities.
Addressing the audience, Harris acknowledged the challenges of being a minority in political spaces. “You are going to find yourself in rooms where you are the only one who looks like you or has had your life experience. Remember, you are not alone; we are all there with you,” she reassured.
Indian Americans recently became the most populous “Asian-alone” group in the U.S., surpassing Chinese Americans. The 2020 U.S. Census recorded 4.4 million people identifying as “Indian-alone,” a 55% increase over a decade. Despite this, there are only five Indian American members in Congress out of 535. Harris called for this to change, especially as Indian Americans lean heavily Democratic, with 68% supporting the party.
Political analysts point out Indian Americans are a demographic that politicians cannot ignore, as they could be the deciding vote in key regions. However, Harris and President Biden face mixed feelings from the community. Biden’s approval rating among Indian American voters has dropped to 43%, and Harris’ approval has decreased from 62% to 56%.
Harris’ surprise appearance at the summit was part of the Biden administration’s efforts to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. She recounted how her family, especially her mother, shaped her values and political stance. Growing up with frequent visits to India, Harris remembered discussions on democracy and justice with her grandfather, which deeply influenced her.
She praised Indian American Impact for their voter education and mobilization efforts, particularly in Georgia, which played a crucial role in the 2020 elections. Harris reminded the audience of the upcoming election’s significance, urging them to run for office and participate actively. “This election presents a question to each of us about the kind of world and country we want to live in. One way to answer that is by seeking office and participating in elections,” she stated.
Many in the overwhelmingly Democratic crowd chanted “four more years” to Harris as she came on stage, but the event wasn’t entirely without controversy. Safa Ahmed, Associate Media Director of the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), yelled in the direction of Harris from left side of stage that the Biden-Harris administration was committing genocide, in reference to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.
Ahmed walked out moments later on her own accord, before Harris made her formal remarks, and was allowed to speak on a panel on the same stage as the Vice President after she departed.
Ahmed was part of a controversial session labeled “Building Bridges, Amplifying Impact: Interfaith Advocacy” featuring Texas State Representative Salman Bhojani, Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) Senior Policy Director Ria Chakrabarty and Jyot Singh, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s (SALDEF) Policy Consultant.
Several Hindu groups, including the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) expressed their frustration with Impact for including IAMC and HfHR representatives on a panel at a political conference given that a number of their officials have publicly attacked Indian and Hindu American candidates and officials.
In response to that controversy, Indian American Impact’s new Executive Director Chintan Patel tells Diya TV exclusively that “our role at Impact is to bring members of our communities from all diverse corners.”
Patel says 50 South Asian led organizations presented at the Summit, featuring nearly 100 presenters.
“The conversations that happen here do not always reflect the opinions of Impact either,” Patel added.
When asked if the organizations that have been critical of Impact would be welcomed next year to present, Patel said, “it’s a community driven event. So we’re putting out our calls for proposals to everyone openly and publicly.”
Other guests at the Summit included former Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Domestic Policy Advisor to President Biden Neera Tanden, and U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ami Bera, and Shri Thanedar.
Their gala featured speeches from Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Representative Andy Kim, Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller and Mini Timmaraju, President and CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All.
