Midterm polls: Trump loses Indian-American support, survey finds

Washington: President Donald Trump and the Republican Party could face a major setback in the November US midterm elections, with a new survey showing a sharp decline in Trump’s support among Indian-American voters.

According to the AAPI Data survey, 66% of Indian-American voters plan to support Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives, compared with just 22% backing Republicans. The Senate race shows a similar gap, with 66% favouring Democrats and 18% Republicans. Indian Americans also remain the most Democratic-leaning group among Asian-American communities.

The shift is significant given that Trump had gained increased support among Indian Americans in the 2024 presidential election. While around 32% backed him in a Carnegie Endowment survey that year, his approval among the community has now fallen sharply. Support remains considerably stronger among Indian-American men, at about 40%.

Trump’s economic policies, tariffs and approach to immigration are facing widespread opposition. The 2026 Carnegie Endowment findings reinforce AAPI Data's results, showing that 71% of Indian Americans disapprove of Trump’s performance during the first year of his second term.

The survey found that the cost of living, inflation, healthcare, crime and racism are major concerns among Asian-American voters. With tensions involving Iran continuing, 78% identified war and foreign policy as important electoral issues.

Democrats also enjoy a substantial advantage over Republicans on economic concerns, with 44% trusting them more to address living costs and inflation, compared with 18% for Republicans.

Although Democratic identification among Indian Americans has slipped from 52% in 2020 to 46% in 2026, Republican support remains only 19%. Rising racism and perceived Republican hostility towards minorities are further pushing sections of the community away from the party.