Atlanta Indian Community Reacts to Potential VP Nomination of Harris – WSB-TV Channel 2

Channel 2’s Candace McCowan was in Johns Creek on Monday, where everyone is saying Biden’s endorsement of Harris could be a game-changer in the swing state.

A community that holds a Diwali festival here in Newtown Park draws tens of thousands of people. Johns Creek’s South Asian community is thriving, and while people are excited about Harris’ future, some say it will take more than her heritage to win their vote.

RELATED ARTICLES:

For Dr. Jagdish Sheth, an 85-year-old professor of economics at Emory, observing this momentous occasion for Harris is not lost on him, especially with metro Atlanta’s thriving Indian community.

“I think it’s a feeling of extreme pride,” Sheth said. “My own future would not have been possible if I had gone back to my country or any other country. This country has a way of taking things from you.”

Sheth said he knew his potential nomination would not guarantee votes.

(SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Newscast)

“The Indian population may not be as strongly Democratic,” Sheth said. “There is a Republican portion of the Indian population, mostly wealthy Indians.”

Seema Garg, a mother of three, real estate agent and community influencer, considers herself a Republican.

“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t want to vote based on color, religion or gender,” Garg said. “Male or female, whoever can do better for this country. Let’s make America great again. That’s all I want.”

Ashwin Ramaswami, a prospective Senate candidate, said identity is important to many. Harris’ mother is from the same area as Ramaswami’s, a place called Chennai in Tamil Nadu.

Ramaswami said the Indian community would make a difference for a Harris campaign in Georgia.

“Joe Biden won Georgia in 2020 by over 11,000 votes,” Ramaswami said. “My district alone has 15,000 South Asian Americans, which is more than his margin of victory in 2020. Imagine Harris on the ticket.”

Ramaswami said Harris will energize young voters and inspire the next generation. He added that the community is truly taking ownership of its political power.