A statewide survey of 1,000 South Asian Texans found that while 67% of respondents identified at least somewhat strongly as Texan, only 34% felt completely or mostly accepted in the state, according to a statement from the South Asian American Voter Empowerment of Texas Education Fund (SAAVETX EF).
The organization commissioned the survey to examine challenges facing South Asian Texans, efforts to build civic representation in the American South, and whether concerns about belonging could discourage electoral participation.
Released in collaboration with UC San Diego ahead of the November 3, 2026, midterm election, the report, “Belonging Under Pressure: SAAVETX EF South Asian Community Survey,” examined discrimination, political representation, belonging, and civic engagement.
According to the statement, the research drew on nearly a decade of SAAVETX EF’s community outreach and came amid national attention to anti-South Asian hate and concerns about political inclusion.
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The survey found that 58% of respondents reported at least one experience of hate in Texas during the previous year because of their race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, accent, or immigration background. Reported experiences included online harassment, threats of violence, and damage to places of worship.
Additionally, 64% said they had frequently or sometimes heard South Asians or immigrants described as “invaders” or “outsiders” during the previous two years.
Concerns about representation also emerged. According to the statement, 64% of respondents said elected officials understood their community’s concerns poorly or not at all, while 54% believed the community had little or no political power.
Political rhetoric was another concern, with 62% saying it contributed a great deal or somewhat to hostility toward South Asians. Meanwhile, 78% said they would be much or somewhat more likely to support a candidate who spoke out against discrimination toward South Asians.
Despite these concerns, respondents reported substantial civic involvement. The survey found that 92% had participated in at least one civic activity other than voting. Half said the political climate toward South Asians, immigrants, or religious communities had made them more motivated to vote in the November election.
The survey also recorded electoral preferences among registered voters. In the U.S. Senate race, 66% preferred James Talarico, while 21% preferred Ken Paxton. In the gubernatorial race, 63% preferred Gina Hinojosa, compared with 27% who preferred Greg Abbott.
Asked about their participation in the 2024 presidential election, 65% reported voting for Kamala Harris and 25% for Donald Trump.
The statement emphasized that these findings reflected respondents’ reported preferences and intended voting behavior. They did not constitute endorsements by SAAVETX EF and should not be considered representative of all South Asian Texans.
“We belong here. We are Texans. We are raising families, building businesses, contributing to our communities, and participating in the civic life of this state. Yet our survey shows a painful gap between identifying as Texan and feeling accepted,” said Chanda Parbhoo, founder and executive director of SAAVETX EF.
“SAAVETX EF understands the unique challenges of organizing in the American South. Our community is tired of being treated as outsiders and used as political pawns.”
Parbhoo said hostility fueled by candidates and elected officials could undermine people’s sense of safety and confidence in the institutions responsible for protecting them. She added that political leaders should recognize South Asian Texans’ concerns and their right to participate in democracy without fear.
“The survey reveals a community confronting exclusion but also highly civically engaged. Encouraging others to vote, organizing, and making their voices heard are just some of the ways that South Asian Texans are challenging the climate of hostility in their day-to-day lives. Participation gives communities a means to demand recognition, hold leaders accountable, and ultimately shape the decisions that affect their lives,” said Tom K. Wong, founding director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Center at UC San Diego.
