Indian American voters share views on Election Day

By Ritu Jha-

Indian American Meher Ghotra and her father Baljit Ghotra were full of smiles Tuesday after voting for Republican Donald Trump for president.

“I feel good and I am excited and I think this is a really important election and it’s a very important thing to vote,” she said.

Baljit Ghotra, a scientist who has a startup, agreed.

“We can do better in all areas whether it’s about safety, peace in the city and growth and we can help with the employment,” he said. “Immigration can be much better and smoother in this country. There are ways to improve on what we have done in the last many decades.”

They were two of the thousands of Indian Americans who exercised their right to vote, in what might have been the world’s most closely watched election ever.

Meher Ghotra said she chose Trump because she feels he is stronger on the economy. She said she was not swayed by Harris’s Indian heritage.

“I also thought a woman president would also be good but then there are many things you want to see in a president, “ Ghotra said. “Immigration I think was mishandled and the economy is important.”

Another voter, Sudhra Bhamidipati, who has been living in San Ramon, Calif. since 2015, said she also voted for Trump because she was not pleased with the way Biden-Harris handled the immigration issue.

“We see refugees coming and I would like that to be checked and it’s a matter of concern, also inflation needs to be controlled,” Bhamidipati said. “The present government failed and definitely, I would like to see some change…from the previous government we had no war.”

Jaymin Patel, a San Ramon resident since 2018, disagreed, saying he voted for Harris, and so did his daughter-in-law, who came from India on Tuesday to cast her ballot. Patel said her Indian heritage did not sway his vote.

“She is not Indian, her mother is Indian and I doubt she has sympathy for India and she is not too much connected with India,” Patel said. “I am a Democrat and whoever run for U.S. president doesn’t matter. I think she, under her presidency, might bring down the inflation. Until now she was under Biden, now it will be her decision.”

Local races

Patel voted for another losing candidate in a local race when he backed Indian American candidate Chirag Kathrani in his failed bid for San Ramon mayor.

“I would like to see some change and our voice count,” Patel said.

About 22.6 million Californians were registered to vote. Most Indian American candidates fared well.

The city of Fremont elected councilmember Raj Salwan as its first Indian American mayor. Salwan won 47 to 31% over Vinnie Bacon.

In San Ramon, city councilmember Mark Armstrong easily beat Kathrani 72 to 28%.

Another Indian American, Vasanth Shetty, narrowly lost his bid for a San Ramon city council seat. Robert Jweinat edged Shetty by just 67 votes.

In the race for the city of San Jose District 10 council seat, George Casey beat incumbent councilmember Arjun Batra 58.25 to 41.75%.

In a race for the city of Santa Clara District 1 council seat,  Satish Chandra and Harbir Bhatia, CEO at

California Democrat Assemblyman incumbent Ash Kalra won his re-election in District 25, beating Republican Ted Stroll 66 to 34%.

First-time contestant Democrat Tara Sreekrishnan, running for California Assembly District 26 earned 42.04% votes and was defeated by Patrick Ahrens, who earned 57.96 % votes.

 

Indian Americans in Congress

Ami Bera, an Elk Grove Democrat who has served in Congress since 2013, defeated Republican Christine Bish 58 to 42%.

Incumbent Rep. Ro Khanna topped Republican Anita Chen 69 to 31%.

Incumbent Democrat Pramila Jayapal, the first Indian-American woman elected to Congress, has won re-election from Washington’s 7th Congressional District in Seattle.

Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, representing Illinois’s 8th congressional district since 2017, won re-election by defeating Republican Mark Rice 56 to 44%.

In Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, Democrat Shri Thanedar beat Republican Martell Bivings.

In Arizona’s 5th District, U.S. Rep. Amish Shah was facing a tough race against Republican David Schweikert.