Indian-American voters make their presence felt in Texas, New York races

Indian-American voters are emerging as a notable force in the US midterm elections, with a viral pro-Democrat post in Texas sparking debate online and over 500 Indian Americans rallying behind Congressman Tom Suozzi in New York. Both Democrats and Republicans are intensifying outreach to Indian-American and broader Asian-American voters in closely contested districts.

Washington: An Indian-American man’s post saying he voted for Democrat James Talarico in Texas, citing “xenophobia, racial resentment”, has drawn hundreds of thousands of views on social media, as more than 500 Indian Americans rallied behind Representative Tom Suozzi in New York.

The post on X account (user name: Vasant Bhatt) had about 857,000 views, 7,300 likes and 3,000 replies within seven hours of being posted on Monday.

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“I just cast my ballot for James Talarico. As a second-generation Indian American, I am thoroughly disgusted by the xenophobia, racial resentment, and increasingly brazen attacks on my identity,” the post read.

“My family has contributed to the American story through hard work, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in the opportunities this nation promises. I am every bit as American as anyone else, and I will not tolerate being treated as a perpetual foreigner in the country I call home,” the post said.

“I implore every eligible Texan to get out and vote. This election is about the kind of state and country we are prepared to defend—and the principles we refuse to surrender,” it added.

The post drew a pile-on from right-wing accounts. Patrick Casey, a conservative commentator, attacked it in a post that drew about 32,000 views and said the author had once interned for Republican Senator Ted Cruz.

Talarico is the Democratic nominee for the US Senate in Texas.

Texas has one of the largest Indian-American populations in the country, concentrated in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas.

The episode comes as Republican rhetoric on immigration and H-1B visas has become a theme in several races, and as some Indian Americans, who have long leaned Democratic, have been courted by both parties.

In New York, more than 500 Indian Americans gathered in Uniondale to back Suozzi’s re-election bid.

Community leader Varinder Bhalla compared Suozzi to former Representative Stephen Solarz, a longtime champion of ties with India in Congress, the outlet reported.

Suozzi, a Democrat, represents New York’s 3rd District on Long Island, home to a sizeable Indian-American community.

The 2026 AAPI Voter Survey found Indian-American voters backing Democratic Senate candidates 66-18, though its Indian-American sample is small.

Early voting is under way in Texas ahead of the November 3 election.

Indian-American turnout is being watched closely in suburban districts where margins are narrow and where both parties have run targeted outreach in Hindi, Gujarati and Telugu. Both parties have sought to energise Asian-American voters, the fastest-growing group of eligible voters in the US, ahead of a midterm that will decide control of Congress.