How does South Asian culture impact what they vote for?

South Asians make up 1.6%, or 5.4 million, of the American population. They consist of Indian Americans, Pakistani Americans, Bangladeshi Americans, and more. They are among the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the United States. While South Asians show Democratic leanings as a group, the question is: why? Perhaps the answer to this question can be found by looking at their cultural backgrounds.

This group is known for strong cultural preservation. Eighty percent of South Asian Americans speak a language other than English at home. Seventy-six percent continue the celebration of festivals like Diwali and Eid annually. Additionally, these groups use temples, mosques, and gurdwaras as cultural centers that focus not just on spirituality but also on civic education and the promotion of politics through voter drives. This idea of cultural preservation plays a huge role in determining the votes of South Asians.

We can see the impact of this spanning across generations. Starting with first-generation immigrants, their top political concerns are immigration and citizenship policies such as pathways to green cards, family reunification, H1-B visas, naturalization, U.S.–South Asia relations like President Trump’s relationship with Prime Minister Modi, business-friendly policies, and religious safety and protection. These all reflect their worldview of leaving one country and coming to another. They view politics as a way to further stability and maintain heritage.

When compared to second- or third-generation South Asian Americans, we see a difference in their political priorities. They focus on racial justice and equity, with campaigns around Black Lives Matter and anti-Asian hate coalitions, climate change, LGBTQ+ rights, as well as better South Asian inclusion and representation in digital media platforms. This shows their differing political lens, focusing more on inclusion, reform, and activism rather than assimilation or preservation.

The main takeaway is that South Asian Americans don’t leave their culture behind when they view and understand American politics—instead, their traditions, values, and community structures shape how they see, support, and vote for political issues.