The shocking defeat of Kamala Harris to Donald Trump in the recent election left a sour taste in the mouths of many in New Jersey’s substantial Indian American community. Expectations of a closely contested race evaporated as Trump bulldozed his way to victory. Harris, born to an Indian mother and a Black father, became a subject of both allure and skepticism within the community.
Harris’ mother hailed from the Indian state of Tamilnadu and moved to California to pursue her career as a breast cancer researcher. Coincidentally, the last days leading up to the election fell on the celebration of Diwali, a major festival in the Indian community. Yet, for some community members like Parul Aneja Khemka, political canvassing became more important than traditional festive meals and gatherings.
In their zealous push for Harris’ campaign, traditional cultural events took a backseat. Even the spirit of Diwali, symbolized by cooking sweet dishes and lighting up homes, was reduced to the bare minimum. Khemka, a co-chair of the New Jersey chapter of South Asians for Harris, tirelessly rallied for the cause putting her family’s Diwali celebration on hold.
Joining Khemka were co-chairs Karan Virmani and Radhika Menon Sharma. These spirited souls embarked on early morning excursions into Pennsylvania, a key battleground state that Harris, unfortunately, lost. As immigrants who gained citizenship in late 20th and early 21st centuries, their spirited canvassing highlighted their staunch Democratic beliefs.
The defeat of Harris was a shock wave that reverberated through the Indian American community. Commonly leaning Democratic – approximately 68% in favor according to Pew Research – they found their collective six-week effort fruitless. This ambitious outreach initiative targeted various demographic groups in Pennsylvania through door-to-door canvassing and phone campaigns.
Among the South Asian voters, some Muslim community members abstained from voting, possibly in response to the ongoing Gaza war. Despite this, the collective volunteer force felt that they were making some progress, at least in the swing state.
This defeat brought about a period of self-reflection within the community. As inferred by Virmani, the loss requires the Democrats to revisit their strategy and determine where their message strayed. There’s a need to introspect on this folly and pivot accordingly.
Priti Pandya-Patel, a New Jersey Republican and Indian American, further dilutes the argument attributing Harris’ loss to her gender or ethnicity. In her belief, Harris’ lack of experience and disagreement with her policy points were the major contributing factors. By pointing out the positive effect on the stock market, Pandya-Patel oddly hints that Trump’s victory might be a blessing in disguise.
Niti Mistry from Ridgewood, another Democrat supporter gravitated to a different standpoint. She suspects that societal prejudices might have subtly influenced the voters’ decision. However, she firmly states that Harris’ intellectual prowess and political skill far surpass those of Trump, and losing her was the real misfortune.
The hasty introduction of Kamala Harris in the race after Joe Biden’s withdrawal was a strategic misstep by the Democrats, as Patricia Campos-Medina, a Latina advocate and labor leader suggests. The failure to comprehend the public sentiment about the economy made Harris an unfortunate scapegoat for their dissatisfaction.
Campos-Medina asserts that it would have been more favorable for the Democratic Party to enable a primary which allowed Harris to steadily engage with the public. This would have enhanced her familiarity among the electorate, thus improving her chances of success.
In what can only be interpreted as a stubborn refusal to accept reality, Campos-Medina termed the failure of Harris’ campaign as a battle-muster for women. Her sentiment, bordering on delusion, implies that this unfortunate event should inspire audacity among women to continue striving for leadership positions.
The outcome of this election leaves more questions than answers for the Democrats and their future strategy. With the formidable challenge of reevaluating their approach to match the ideological beliefs of the electorate, the Democrats will need introspection and strategic realignment for any possible success in future political showdowns.