Nikki Haley: Is South Asian representation in the Oval finally here?

Photo via Reuters

MAYA MOHOSIN: With key players like Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley making huge moves in the 2024 primary elections, it seems like the Republican Party is ushering in a new era that embraces South Asian voters. Yet, Haley, who is still in the race, fails to connect to her Indian identity and campaign towards South Asian voters.

Although South Asians make up a relatively small percentage of voters, their concentration in swing states, such as New Hampshire, and consistent participation in voter registration and turnout make them a notable demographic. Beyond this, the community’s income demographics make them an important group to mobilize for financially supporting candidates and spreading their campaigns. 

Although a majority of South Asians identify as Democrats, roughly 30% of South Asians identify as Republicans or are conservative-leaning. In the 2020 presidential cycle, Indian American support of the Democratic Party somewhat reduced, showing the changing dynamics.

Current Vice President Kamala Harris, who is half Indian, has been South Asians’ first representation in the White House. While Harris has mixed ratings from the South Asian community, her lack of campaigning towards South Asian voters is perplexing. Rather, Harris catered more to the Black community, which had 30 million eligible voters in 2020. 

While her role as Vice President did not necessarily create a stage for South Asians, it served as a stepping stone for candidates like Ramaswamy and Haley to begin their campaigns. Haley’s ambiguous name and white veteran husband give her more cover from the racist remarks that candidates like Ramaswamy received. Ramaswamy’s campaign featured his parent’s legal immigration from India and his Hindu faith; he even acknowledged his “funny last name.” However, some may argue that his candid approach to identity merged with his Trump-esque dogma led to a swift decline in support from traditional Trump supporters. The challenge for South Asian Republican candidates lies in balancing between authenticity and alignment with their voter base’s morals.

Haley’s campaign rarely mentions the monumental feats she would achieve in winning the presidency, such as becoming the first woman and first person of color to become president In response to identity politics, Haley notes that she doesn’t believe in it and that “America is not a racist country.” If this were true, Haley would be more open about her Sikh identity and experiences of discrimination as a young child of Indian immigrants. Instead, she calls the gurdwara an “Indian church” trying to connect her background with the more common Christian Republican’s perspective. 

It seems that Haley has failed to engage with South Asian voters despite her rival, former President Donald Trump being able to do so. To South Asian voters, it is often economic policies that draw them to a Republican candidate’s campaign. Trump’s economic policies combined with his attempt to connect to Indian voters could be the leg that allows him to secure South Asian Republican voters. 

In 2020, he spent over five figures on a collection of ads targeted toward Indian American voters featuring Narendra Modi and quotes like “[Indian American’s] contributions have strengthened our culture and economy. I will always fight for YOU!” While most of the South Asian community does not share Trump’s background, his attempt to connect with them has not gone unnoticed.

Throughout her campaign, Haley seems to be back and forth when it comes to her approach to identity. She mentions her experiences with discrimination due to her identity yet doesn’t believe in identity politics or discrimination within America. Yet as the election cycle continues, Haley is beginning to understand how identity politics plays a role in her votes. Recent polls have found that Trump receives stronger support from Republican women than Haley. Similarly, Trump receives more support from the Asian community than either Haley or Ramaswamy ever did. 

The largest piece of this identity puzzle is the media and the role it plays in creating a nominee’s reputation. When googling ‘Nikki Haley Indian,’ articles on Trump mocking her, Haley’s policy towards India, and Haley’s denial of systemic racism all pop up. However, nothing on Haley’s Indian family background or events campaigning to South Asian voters pops up. Adding the term "Indian American" brings up a few more results that talk about her heritage, showing a glimpse into Nikki Haley's cultural background. 

However, the media's focus on Trump's attack on her background and her denial of systemic racism overshadow discussions about her South Asian identity. This selective coverage constructs the public's perception of Haley but also perpetuates a historical pattern where the media tends to prioritize narratives that conform to established stereotypes of non-white candidates. 

It seems like we are seeing the end of Nikki Haley’s 2024 presidential campaign with the results of the primaries pushing Donald Trump to be the Republican nominee. Her disconnected identity and lackluster campaign have made her unpalatable to Republican voters, and it fails to provide women, POC Republicans, and the wider South Asian community with meaningful representation in the White House.

Maya Mohosin is a freshman staff writer, studying Government and Justice and Peace Studies. She is interested in international affairs and bipartisan political diversity.