BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE
Atlanta, GA, October 11, 2024: “Indian Americans are the fastest-growing communities here in Georgia… When you think about a state like Georgia, and you think about the fact that in 2020 Joe Biden won by just over 11,000 votes, the Indian American community really can be the margin of victory… This is an opportunity to shape the future for your kids, your grandparents, and for yourself, with a real stark contrast between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump,” Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said in her exclusive interview with NRI Pulse on Oct 5, 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, Jayapal, 57, is the first South Indian American woman to serve in the United States House of Representatives.
As the 2024 election revs up, Asian Americans, America’s fastest-growing demographic, have emerged as a coveted voting bloc, with both parties recognizing their power to determine the presidency and other competitive races. It may be recalled that Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., capitalized on this base with an unusual move in his closely contested race. Georgia is a prime example of this shift, having swung into the swing state category following Biden’s 2020 win and other Democratic victories such as Warnock’s. With 16 electoral votes, Georgia is in the top 10 among all states. Eight of the last 12 Georgia winners ultimately won the presidency.
U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), the Honorable Dilawar Syed, former Center for American Progress CEO and President Neera Tanden flew down to the Peach State to join the AAPI Victory Fund’s Day of Action for the Harris-Walz ticket and local candidates in Georgia. AAPI Victory Fund Chairman Shekar Narasimhan, comedian Jenny Yang, and Kannan Udayarajan, Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Forsyth County, GA, joined them as they successfully rallied hundreds of community leaders, local elected officials, and volunteers this past weekend to drive grassroots momentum for the Harris-Walz ticket and AAPI candidates in Georgia.
A full day of action commenced with a canvass kickoff at Cauley Creek Park in Johns Creek, GA, where volunteers gathered before knocking on doors for Harris-Walz, State Representative Michelle Au (GA HD-50), and State Senate candidate Ashwin Ramaswami (GA SD-48). “Today’s event is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we come together to uplift our communities,” U.S. Rep. Jayapal said in her address. “Here in Georgia, the AAPI community is driving change, and it’s critical that we engage every voter to ensure their voices are heard at the ballot box. When we knock on doors and talk to our neighbors, we are not just supporting candidates—we are building a movement for fair wages, economic opportunity, and a democracy that works for all of us. I’m proud to stand with such passionate leaders and volunteers who are ready to fight for a better future.”
Between 2016 and 2020, Asian American voter turnout surged from 49% to 59%, the largest increase of any racial or ethnic group, according to Census Bureau figures. Biden won their vote by a blowout margin of 72% to 28%, according to the Pew Research Center.
“There are 341,000 Asian American voters here in GA. We know so many of them have not come out to vote. We are here to make the case for the vice president and remind people why it actually matters (to vote),” Hon. Syed told NRI Pulse. At home, he said, his son ensures that his grandparents vote and urged all family members to participate in the electoral process. “Your vote matters. Every single vote matters,” he emphasized.
“As we reach out to voters today, we are amplifying the voices of communities that have long been underrepresented in our political process,” Syed said, addressing the crowd. “This is about making sure every voter feels their voice matters and that their participation can drive real change. By knocking on doors and having these conversations, we are strengthening our democracy and ensuring that the issues important to our communities are front and center.”
The exponential rise of Indian restaurants, grocery stores, temples, and ethnic wear in Fulton, Forsyth, Cobb, and other counties in Georgia follows a wave of Indian immigrants. The surge of Desis (Indian immigrants) in southern states such as Georgia and Texas is transforming cities into some of the most diverse spaces. Indians represent the second-largest U.S. immigrant group, after Mexicans and ahead of Chinese and Filipinos. The 2.7 million Indian immigrants living in the United States as of 2021 make up 6% of the total foreign-born population. As these numbers continue to grow, so do their aspirations in the American political arena.
“I have known Kamala (Harris) for a decade. She is a fighter for all communities. As the daughter of an Asian immigrant, she can be a strong advocate for the AAPI community too,” Tanden told NRI Pulse in her interview. She added that VP Harris and Walz are focused on ensuring opportunities for all Americans—small businesses, access to healthcare, middle-class tax cuts to help families, or lowering housing costs—but they have an agenda focused on ensuring every single American, including AAPI and every other community, is included. “Donald Trump, on the other hand, has a vision for some of us, not all of us. Whether your name is Neera Tanden or Jennifer Smith, you have a place in the Kamala Harris, Tim Walz vision of the country, and that does not exist for Trump.”
“I’m so excited to be here on behalf of Kamala (Harris), who I know has been through similar experiences—her mom used to make chapatis, she’s been to India, has family members there, her grandfather worked in the independence movement. She has a real sense of what it means to be an immigrant daughter, and she will be a voice for all of us,” Tanden said when asked about how Harris can address concerns challenging to the AAPI community.
“So many people widened my path. When I got into politics, it was for everyone. What I really worry about in this election is that we could go down a path where the government, society, is for a small group of people, not for everyone. Donald Trump is attacking so many different communities, you don’t know which one is next, and there can be real consequences when the most powerful person in the world attacks a community. That’s why the stakes are so high, and it is really important for people to get out and vote. This is the most important election of my lifetime,” Tanden said.
The day also featured engagements at key AAPI-owned establishments across Johns Creek and Duluth, where local candidates, including Rep. Michelle Au (GA HD-50), Senator Nabilah Islam (GA SD-7), and Michelle Kang (GA HD-99), spoke about the importance of supporting the Harris-Walz ticket and empowering the AAPI community at the local level.
“Today was a fantastic opportunity to meet with voters and local business owners about the future envisioned by the Harris-Walz campaign,” Tanden said. “Vice President Harris’ opportunity economy means investing in small businesses, lowering housing costs, and reducing healthcare costs.”
President Joe Biden’s Georgia win in 2020 marked the first time in almost three decades that a Democratic presidential candidate carried the Southern state. Vice President Kamala Harris is aiming to repeat history as the Peach State remains a crucial swing state in the race to the White House. Party affiliation could be tipped in either direction, making Georgia a battleground state in the upcoming presidential election. Voter turnout is a critical factor. What are some of the best strategies to mobilize voter turnout? “Door knocking is important over the next 30 days. Because I do think person-to-person contact is the most important, particularly in our communities,” Jayapal noted. She also highlighted the importance of voter registration and “making sure the people who are registered actually turn in their ballots.” It is also important to engage young people to talk to their parents about the importance of this election, she said.
What can advocacy groups such as AAPI Victory Fund do to further strengthen the political influence of the community? Groups like these, Jayapal noted, “are really building the power, the knowledge, the education, and the power of the Asian American community.” It is also important for people to understand how their voice matters. “I’m still the only Indian American woman in Congress. I would really like to have more Indian American women and more Asian American folks in general because our policies are better when we have a seat at the table. It changes the way people see their opportunities and their future. When somebody sees me there, a young Indian American girl might think to herself, ‘I’ve got a chance to do that,’ and that is a really beautiful thing!”
What is Jayapal’s advice to AAPI women aspiring to rise to the ranks in public office, like herself? “I came here at 16 years old, by myself, with nothing in my pockets. My parents still live in India. I’ve never lived on the same continent as them. I went from being that 16-year-old girl by myself with nothing to being a United States Congress member. And I would just say that can be you too. Don’t ever give up on trusting yourself. Don’t ever give up on knowing that you have every right to be in the rooms that you’re in. And let’s continue to build our collective power as AAPI communities across the country.”
Why should the community vote for Ashwin Ramaswamy and Michelle Au? “This is an amazing opportunity to return Michelle to the State House and to elect the first South Asian American in Georgia to the State Senate!”