WASHINGTON– Mamta Singh has made history in Jersey City, becoming the first Indian American ever elected to public office in one of the United States’ most prominent Indian American population centers. Singh won a Council At-Large seat this week, marking a major milestone for a community that has helped shape the city’s cultural and economic life for decades.
Her victory came on a night of sweeping political change, as reform-focused Councilmember James Solomon won the mayoral runoff with a strong mandate. But for thousands of Indian American residents across Journal Square, Exchange Place and other neighborhoods — including the area often referred to as “Little India” — Singh’s breakthrough stood out as the defining moment of the night.
Despite the community’s long-standing presence and influence, Jersey City had never elected an Indian American to City Hall until now. Singh’s win closes that gap and offers a new level of visibility and representation for a diaspora community deeply woven into the city’s identity.
Running on Solomon’s “Team Solomon” slate alongside Rolando Lavarro and Michael Griffin, Singh campaigned on stabilizing property taxes, expanding youth recreation programs and improving services for working families. Her long record in community advocacy, however, proved most compelling to voters.
A nonprofit leader and organizer, Singh founded JCFamilies, one of the city’s most active community groups focused on women, children and working parents. She also created Indians In Jersey City, an organization dedicated to supporting immigrant families and celebrating Indian culture through festivals, gatherings and community forums. Over the years, she has earned recognition as a trusted bridge between newly arrived immigrants and long-time residents navigating schools, services and everyday life in the city.
Singh’s historic win came alongside Solomon’s decisive victory over former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey, signaling a broader shift in the city’s political leadership. (Source: IANS)
