As the United States approaches its Nov. 3 midterm elections, growing anti-Indian rhetoric in conservative political circles is creating tensions for Republicans seeking to retain support among Indian American voters.
Remarks by some Republicans targeting Indian Americans’ ethnicity, immigration status and cultural identity have prompted some Indian American conservatives to reconsider their political loyalties, as they feel increasingly unwelcome in a party they once supported.
One prominent example is Vasant Bhatt, a 21-year-old University of Houston student who previously campaigned for Republicans, including Sen. Ted Cruz. Bhatt recently announced on social media that he is now backing Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.
“As a second-generation Indian American, I am thoroughly disgusted by the xenophobia, racial resentment, and increasingly brazen attacks on my identity. 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,” Bhatt wrote in an X post.
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The post drew criticism from conservative commentators. One user responded, “Let me tell you why I voted in American election driven by my Indian identity- yes, this is exactly the problem. You laid it out perfectly.”
In response to a post encouraging people to vote for Republican candidates, another user wrote, “The only Indian voting for the Republicans (hopefully) in Texas!”
Texas has become a focal point of the debate, with Indian American communities concentrated in suburban areas around Dallas and Houston.
In September, Bo French, the Republican nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission, shared an image of students celebrating the Texas Longhorns’ dramatic comeback victory over Ohio State. Many of the students in the photograph appeared to be of South Asian descent. French presented the image as evidence of “how many Americans have been replaced by foreigners” and said the situation was “far worse than any of us could imagine.”
The post quickly drew criticism from members of his own party and other officials. Sen. John Cornyn condemned the comments in an X post, writing, “This is the Republican nominee for statewide office. Are other Republican elected officials going to condemn the intolerance and racism, or look the other way while it becomes normalized? This is how great political parties self-destruct. Sad.”
The backlash comes amid a broader conservative debate over immigration and the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers.
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Concerns about anti-South Asian hate have also grown in the United States. According to a September 2026 report from Stop AAPI Hate, anti-South Asian slurs in monitored online spaces increased by 109% between January 2023 and December 2025. The report also found that 48% of South Asian adults said they had experienced a hate act because of their race, ethnicity or nationality in 2025.
The Trump administration has also faced criticism over public remarks targeting South Asians. These concerns have intensified amid reports of a Sikh driver being stabbed 17 times at a Wyoming rest area last month. Although no direct link between the rhetoric and the attack has been established.
Indian Americans are not politically uniform. Although the community has traditionally leaned Democratic, a significant share supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. That support may now be shifting, as voters weigh immigration and visa policies alongside economic concerns and rising health care costs when deciding how to vote.