The Texas midterm took an interesting turn after 21-year-old Vasant Bhatt, a student at the University of Houston, urged the Indian-American community to reject the hatred against India and Hinduism and vote for Democrat James Talarico against Ken Paxton. Bhatt, who identified with conservative politics so far, was mocked online and asked to go back to India. MAGA activists defended their India-hatred, making Bhatt an example of how Indian-origin people who are US citizens by birth take the side of Indian-Americans and consider themselves Indian despite being born in the US. Bhatt was dropped from a conservative news website, Campus Reform, after his viral social media post.Speaking to TOI.com, Bhatt said his parents grew concerned about the amount of public attention his social media post got and the hostility he received thereafter. “Their primary concern has been my safety and well-being,” the second-generation Indian-American said.Having interned with Ted Cruz’s team earlier, Bhatt developed his alignment with conservative politics, but the India-hatred in Texas by MAGA drove him away. He is now politically homeless, though he said several Democratic political strategists reached out to him in the aftermath of the controversy. “I remain politically independent and my decision to speak out was entirely my own,” Bhatt said.
Can’t be a perpetual foreigner at home
On October 19, Bhatt announced that he cast his ballot for James Talarico. “As a second-generation Indian American, I am thoroughly disgusted by the xenophobia, racial resentment, and increasingly brazen attacks on my identity. My family has contributed to the American story through hard work, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in the opportunities this nation promises. I am every bit as American as anyone else, and I will not tolerate being treated as a perpetual foreigner in the country I call home,” he explained the reason and then urged every eligible Texan to go out and vote.“This election is about the kind of state and country we are prepared to defend—and the principles we refuse to surrender,” he added. He tagged Talarico’s team and Texas Democrats in his post.
Ken Paxton vs James Talarico
Texas saw historic turnout in the early voting, with more than 4.5 million voters already having cast their ballots. In five of six public polls released over the past week, Talarico leads Paxton. The sixth poll, from Fox News, puts both candidates at 49 percent. Kalshi traders gave Talarico a 65 percent chance of winning on Monday, and the site’s margin market points to a win of about 2.2 points. Polymarket had Talarico at 64 percent.No Democrat has won a US Senate race in Texas since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988.Paxton, as the Attorney General of Texas, launched a massive crackdown on H-1B abuse in the state. He targeted ‘ghost offices’ committing H-1B visa fraud.