Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed joined hundreds of South Asian Americans at a Diwali-themed political rally in Westland, Michigan, as Indian American organizations stepped up efforts to mobilize voters ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
The October 30 event, titled “Light Up the Vote,” was organized by Indian American Impact and the SAATH Fund. It brought together Democratic candidates and elected officials, including Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is running for governor, and Michigan House Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri.
Ann Arbor City Council Member Ayesha Ghazi Edwin and Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval also attended the gathering, which featured cultural performances, a South Asian vendor market and community activities.
El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee challenging Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat, urged attendees to translate their community participation into political engagement.
“Let us have the courage to light up the rooms we walk into. Let us have the courage to lift up our voice and light our light at the ballot box,” El-Sayed said, encouraging South Asian Americans to participate in the electoral process.
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He also spoke about building a political movement around shared concerns affecting families across communities, regardless of their backgrounds.
The rally reflected growing efforts by Indian American and South Asian organizations to increase voter participation in Michigan, where closely contested statewide races could place additional attention on minority communities.
Organizers pointed to the state’s 2022 Senate election, which was decided by approximately 19,000 votes, while nearly 30,000 registered South Asian voters reportedly did not participate in that midterm election. Michigan has nearly 190,000 South Asian residents, according to figures cited by the organizers.
Ranjeev Puri connected the festival’s symbolism with electoral participation, saying, “Voting is striking the match to light the diya.” He added that the Senate seat, governor’s office and state House majority were all at stake.
Benson told attendees that the election offered an opportunity to address household finances, employment and the state’s future.
Chintan Patel, executive director of Indian American Impact, emphasized the importance of political cooperation across religious and ethnic backgrounds.
“I am a Hindu American and an Indian immigrant, and I am proud to say I support a Muslim American, the son of Egyptian immigrants, for the United States Senate,” Patel said.
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The rally also came amid concerns raised by South Asian community leaders about anti-Indian rhetoric, discrimination and hate incidents. Organizers said political participation was one way for the community to strengthen its representation and influence public policy.
Indian American Impact, which has supported more than 200 candidates since its establishment in 2016, said it has helped direct more than $20 million toward candidates, voter mobilization and policy advocacy.
The Westland gathering formed part of broader efforts to engage South Asian voters in battleground states as candidates made their final appeals before Election Day.