It’s just after 6 a.m. at a mosque in suburban Georgia, and the topic of breakfast discussion is Kamala Harris. “Let’s see what happens, right. The South Asian community knows they play a really critical role and their turnout and participation could change the election in some way. Asian Americans are the fastest growing in Georgia Voting groups, of which South Asians make up the largest share, totaled about 86,000 eligible voters in 2020, with Kamala Harris thought to have won the state by just over 11,000 votes. A Democratic presidential candidate of South Asian descent. “I feel hopeful right now. In Fulton County, we’re finding new enthusiasm, but there are also people waiting to see where Harris stands on these issues. “I’m definitely re-engaged. I consider myself an independent. I’m not sure I will be.” Vote before Kamala Harris joins in, because I’m not very enthusiastic about either candidate. “But I don’t know if anyone really expected how exciting it would be. As a South Asian, You know, I feel connected to her and I want to be more involved this time and actually do something besides vote. Parul Kapur is now hosting a party with friends for the first time. Organizing fundraisers. When did you hear that? “She was a U.S. senator. She has now been vice president for four years. That’s a pretty impressive resume. But deep down, I felt like someone who looked like me was going to be the next president of the United States. “It does.” “I think a lot of people are willing to vote for someone like Biden because they feel scared. And, you know, it feels like they’re going to bite the bullet. And now people feel energized, you think. To vote. While a shared identity resonates with the group, the conversation eventually comes back to policy. “Somehow we forget that a lot of us have a middle class. Taxes, inflation, all of that for us. “Essentially, I think this election is going to be about the economy. Back at the mosque, the conversation turned to a specific issue: the war in Gaza. “The Asian American community doesn’t always fit into a good frame of the political spectrum. We all have different identities. I’m a Muslim American. The perception of the election is a combination of these different factors. Gaza remains the top issue I expect to separate Kamala Harris from Biden. Over the next four years, their support for him has declined. These voters are crucial to whether Harris wins or loses the state. “She has the potential to change the way things are done for the better. Society as a whole.” Changing. I’ve seen that because when I arrived, the change started, right – ’69 to this day, it’s what they call the ‘browning of the American, the Asian, the Indian.’ This is an open conversation. So I think the Asian American vote, they can be persuaded to change their loyalties to candidates and parties. I’m pretty confident I’ll vote now, but I’ll leave a little wiggle room because a lot can happen.
