News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Democrats Hold Advantage Among Indian American Voters: 2026 Asian American Voter Survey A sian & Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) and AAPI Data released findings from the 2026 AAPI Voter Survey (AAVS), August 26, 2026. Indian Americans ap- pear to be leaning Democratic by a large margin compared to other groups within the Asian American demographic. The survey showed a significant proportion of the Asian American voters have not been reached by either party. Since 2012, the multilingual survey has tracked the attitudes, priorities and voting behavior of Asian American voters, one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. electorate. Within Asian Americans as a group, there are wide variations on some preferences. For example, in Senate races, support for Democratic candidates ranges from 42% among Filipino voters to 66% among Asian Indian voters; Filipino voters are the only group in which Republican prefer- ence (49%) exceeds Democratic prefer- ence (42%). The Democratic advantage extends across most Asian American ethnic groups, with the gaps strongest among Japanese Americans and weakest among Filipinos. Independent voters remain a poten- tially important constituency: among independents, 54% prefer the Demo- cratic Senate candidate vs. 18% Repub- lican, while 51% prefer the Democratic House candidate vs. 20% Republican. Democratic candidates currently lead in congressional vote choice, and Democrats hold an advantage on voters’ top issue: 63% select the Democratic candidate for U.S. House compared with 24% Republican. On voters’ top issue, cost of living and inflation, 44% trust Democrats to do a better job compared with 18% who trust Republicans. The Survey’s overall findings show 90% of AAPI registered voters say they plan to vote in the 2026 midterm elec- tions, up from 84% in 2022 and 86% in 2018. Seventy-one percent say they are absolutely certain they will vote. Cost of living and inflation are the dominant concerns, with 90% of Asian Americans and 89% of Pacific Islanders saying it is very or extremely important in deciding how they vote. Many AAPI voters remain unreached: 42% report no contact from the Demo- cratic Party and 58% no contact from the Republican Party. Community organiza- tions reach approximately as many AAPI adults as the Democratic Party, with 58% reporting some contact from each. Family and friends (62%) and academic experts (60%) are the most trusted messengers, followed by community journalists (50%) and AAPI communi- ty-serving organizations (47%). “With Asian Americans being the fastest-growing electorate in the country, it’s crucial that we have the latest data on what motivates them to turn out and vote,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, Founder and Executive Director of AAPI Data. “Our data show that many AAPI voters still haven’t been contacted by either party, signal- ing that there is tremendous electoral potential waiting to be activated.” “For the last 14 years, APIAVote and our local partners have organized and mobilized AAPI communities across the country, helping drive continued increases in voter participation elec- tion after election. This year we are seeing even more voters planning to cast their ballots for the midterms,” noted Christine Chen, Founder and Ex- ecutive Director of APIAVote. The 2026 AAPI Voter Survey examines AAPI voters’ attitudes, priorities, voting plans and civic engagement heading into the 2026 midterm elections. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:AAPIDATA.COM/FEATURED/2026-AAPI-VOTER-SURVEY/ Cover page of survey. Dancing Storytellers Bring Indian Mythology To Life On California Stage A ngelinos and their children have the opportu- nity to see rich Indian mythology enacted on stage through two Indian-origin dancers Danish Bhandara and Tulsi Shah, accompanied on the Tabla by Ravi Deo, August 29, 2026, at the Sierra Madre Playhouse. Their performance, “Indian Mythology and Me” weaves together three stories which may be particularly appealing to children — Bheema’s meeting with Hanu- man, the clever mice who outwit an elephant queen, and the powerful tale of Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura. The interactive show unfolds with “The Dancing Sto- rytellers bring Indian myths to life through a vivid blend of classical South Asian dance, folk movement, theater, rhythm, and playful audience engagement.” “Designed especially for K–5 audiences but captivat- ing for all ages, the program offers a vibrant introduction to Indian mythology, dance traditions, and the timeless themes embedded within them,” the Playhouse said in its publicity material. Performers weave their way through the space, invit- ing children to step into the story with them, try out movement and gestures, and become part of the perfor- mance. Each of the three stories is told through expressive gesture, dynamic choreography, and the artists’ signature style of conversational storytelling. “Rich with humor, heart, and cultural insight, Indian Mythology and Me encourages reflection on identity, courage, empathy, and the power of stories to shape who we are,” Playhouse said. Shah is a Los Angeles–based dance and performance artist with training acrossWestern concert and com- mercial dance, global traditional forms, and aerial arts, according to her bio on the Dancing Storytellers website. She has toured across North America, performs regularly at Disney, and various other venues. She has a B.A. in Dance and Theatre Arts from Loyola Marymount University. Shah has been performing Indian Mythology and Me at school assemblies since Fall 2025 and “is a fantastic Bhima, an adorable Mouse King, and a formidable Mahishasura!” says Dancing Storytellers. Bhandara is a professional dancer, actress, choreogra- pher & dance teacher. She has more than 12 yrs of train- ing in Kathak, Bollywood dance, & Raqs Sharqi (Belly dance). In 2017 she graduated from UCLA with a BA in World Arts & Cultures with emphasis in Dance. Bhandara has performed at Disney CA Adventures & Disney Animal Kingdom with Blue 13 Dance Company for which she has also been dance captain, according to her biography on Dancing Storytellers website. Some of her other notable work include dancing LIVE on KTLA 5’s Morning News, A.R Rahman’s Concert at the Hollywood Bowl, with pop stars’ Latto & Anne Marie’s in music video I Just Called , the launch of Netflix series: We Speak Dance, and choreographing for the playWest Bol- lywood written by Aruna Harjani, directed by Kiff Scholl. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:@SIERRAMADREPLAYHOUSE.ORG PHOTO:SCREENSHOT FROM @DANCINGSTORYTELLERS.COM PHOTO:SCREENSHOT FROM @DANCINGSTORYTELLERS.COM Sierra Madre Playhouse in California features Indian mythology through dance. Tulsi Shah. Danish Bhandara. Community News India Times (August 29, 2026 - September 4, 2026) September 4, 2026 9