World
Survey: Indian-American Voters Favor Democrats Heading Into 2026 Midterms
A new national survey shows Indian-American voters strongly favor Democratic candidates ahead of the November 2026 US midterm elections, even as many Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters report feeling politically fatigued. The 2026 Asian American Voter Survey, conducted by Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) and AAPI Data, found that 16 million AAPI voters will be eligible to vote in 2026, including 1.6 million who became newly eligible since the 2022 midterms. The survey indicates strong voter engagement, with 90 percent of AAPI registered voters saying they plan to vote in 2026, compared with 84 percent in 2022 and 86 percent in 2018. Among Indian-American voters specifically, 66 percent said they support Democratic candidates for both the US Senate and House, while 22 percent favor Republicans for the Senate and 18 percent for the House. Across the broader AAPI electorate, Democratic support stood at 60 percent for the Senate and 64 percent for the House, compared with 24 percent and 22 percent respectively for Republicans. Filipino voters were the only subgroup where Republican support, at 49 percent, exceeded Democratic support, which stood at 42 percent. Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and executive director of AAPI Data, said that since Asian Americans represent the fastest-growing electorate in the country, understanding what drives their turnout is essential. The survey found that cost of living and inflation are the top concerns among voters, cited as very important by 90 percent of Asian American and 89 percent of Pacific Islander respondents. Healthcare followed as a major concern for 82 percent of Asian American voters, with jobs, unemployment, and Social Security and Medicare also ranking high among voter priorities. The survey was conducted between June 3 and July 27, gathering responses from 2,066 registered voters, comprising 1,896 Asian Americans and 170 Pacific Islanders. Researchers said sampling quotas by ethnicity were used to allow for detailed subgroup analysis. Within this sample, 242 respondents identified as Indian American, with the Senate-related finding based on 148 respondents from that group.