Nationally, Kamala Harris is recognized for her African American roots, but fewer people are aware of her Indian American heritage.
Her father is Jamaican. Her mother is Indian American, but even in the Indian American community, only one in 5 are aware of her Indian American roots despite half saying they have a favorable impression of her, according to AAPI Data.
“I like her, but I’m not super-excited,” Ashwini Venkatesan, who immigrated from India in 2005, said to Politico. “Just being a woman or half-Indian doesn’t do much for me. Environmental issues and education are my main priorities, and I don’t see much initiative from Kamala Harris.”
Shelly Kapoor Collins of the Shatter Fund is more enthused about Harris’ candidacy, but denies its based on an ethnic connection.
“I would support Kamala even if she weren’t half-Indian,” she told Politico. “That has never factored into my decision to support her.”
The political action committee, the Indian American Impact Fund, this week endorsed Harris, calling her a “tested leader.”
Whatever connection Harris can cement with Indian Americans could boost her bottom line. According to LoHud, based on their collective income and past donor habits, Indian Americans have the potential of giving 3 to 5 billion dollars to charitable causes.
“You can also say that some of that money can go to politics and other causes,” said M.R. Rangaswami, co-founder of Sand Hill Group, said to LoHud. “So the pool of money available is very large.”
The community is estimated to have given $10 million to the Clinton campaign in 2016.
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