Indian-Americans Boost Democratic Funding Threefold Over Republicans

A recent study reveals that Indian-Americans are significantly more supportive of Democratic candidates, contributing nearly three times as much to their campaigns compared to Republican candidates. The research, titled “An Emerging Lobby: An Analysis of Campaign Contributions from Indian-Americans (1998–2022),” was conducted by researchers Karnav Popat and Vishnu Prakash from Ashoka University, alongside Joyojeet Pal from the University of Michigan. Released in September 2025, the study evaluates two decades of political donations using data from the Federal Election Commission, compiled by OpenSecrets.

During the 2020 presidential election cycle, Indian-Americans donated a total of USD 46.6 million to Democratic candidates, while their contributions to Republican candidates amounted to only USD 16.3 million. This disparity highlights a strong preference for Democratic candidates within the community. In the 2016 election, a mere 0.6 percent of Indian-American contributions supported then-President Donald Trump.

The study indicates that Indian-Americans’ political donations are primarily concentrated in industries such as technology, finance, healthcare, and academia. This financial backing not only boosts the visibility of Indian-Americans in the political sphere but also underscores their growing influence. The Indian-American population now exceeds 4.9 million, with six representatives elected to Congress in the 2024 elections.

While the research does not include data from the 2024 election cycle, it emphasizes the increasing political participation of Indian-Americans and their consistent alignment with the Democratic party. As their influence expands, this demographic will likely continue to shape the political landscape in the United States.

The findings of this study suggest a substantial evolution in the political engagement of Indian-Americans, marking them as a significant voting bloc. The analysis not only sheds light on their contributions over the years but also sets the stage for understanding their potential impact in future elections.