Five Indian American Democrats Win U.S. House Seats as Community Makes Gains in Midterm Elections

WASHINGTON–Five Indian American Democrats secured victories in the U.S. House of Representatives during Tuesday’s midterm elections, while several other candidates of Indian descent made gains in state and local races across the country, highlighting the community’s growing political influence.

Democrats Pia Dandiya, Suhas Subramanyam, Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna and Ami Bera were projected winners in their respective congressional districts, according to Decision Desk HQ. A sixth Indian American Democrat, physician Amish Shah, held a substantial lead in Arizona, although his race had not been called.

The November 3 elections also produced significant developments in Los Angeles, where Indian American City Council member Nithya Raman moved ahead of incumbent Mayor Karen Bass as additional ballots were counted overnight.

According to ABC7 Los Angeles, Raman received 354,214 votes, representing 50.55% of the total, compared with Bass’s 346,513 votes, or 49.45%, in results released at 2:05 a.m. Pacific Time. The closely contested mayoral election remained undecided.

In Florida, Dandiya, a former school principal whose parents immigrated from India, defeated Republican Casey Askar in the state’s 22nd Congressional District. She received approximately 52% of the vote compared with Askar’s 48%.

Dandiya’s victory adds another Indian American woman to the House of Representatives and expands South Asian American representation in Congress.

In Virginia, Democratic Rep. Suhas Subramanyam secured a second term in the state’s 10th Congressional District, defeating Republican Dave Beckwith with approximately 61.5% of the vote.

“The campaign is over, but the work is just beginning. I look forward to working with our community to deliver change in Washington,” Subramanyam said following his victory.

Three established Indian American Democratic lawmakers also won reelection.

In Washington state’s 7th Congressional District, Rep. Pramila Jayapal secured a sixth term. The Chennai-born lawmaker, who became the first South Asian American woman elected to the House in 2016, remains a prominent voice on immigration reform, health care and progressive economic policies.

In California’s 17th Congressional District, Rep. Ro Khanna defeated Republican Ritesh Tandon, another Indian American candidate, to win a sixth term. Khanna represents Silicon Valley and serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.

Rep. Ami Bera, the longest-serving Indian American currently in Congress, also won an eighth term, defeating Republican Robb Tucker in California’s newly redrawn 3rd Congressional District.

Another potential congressional victory remained within reach in Arizona, where Democrat Amish Shah led Republican Jay Feely in the state’s 1st Congressional District.

Shah, a physician and former Arizona state legislator, had received approximately 54.6% of the vote compared with Feely’s 43.5%, with about 81% of expected ballots counted, according to an overnight update from Decision Desk HQ. The race had not yet been called.

Indian American candidates also recorded victories in statewide elections.

In Maryland, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller secured another four-year term after Democratic Governor Wes Moore won reelection. Miller, who became Maryland’s first Indian American Lieutenant Governor in 2023, will continue serving in the state’s executive leadership.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, whose father is of Indian descent, also won reelection, defeating Republican Eric Toney.

At the state legislative level, several Indian American Democrats either won their contests or held commanding leads as ballots continued to be counted.

In Texas, Democrat Pooja Sethi declared victory in House District 47 after taking approximately 63.4% of the vote against Republican Jennifer Mushtaler’s 36.6%. More than 95% of ballots had been counted, although an independent race projection was not immediately available.

In Georgia, Democrat Jyot Singh declared victory in House District 97, where unofficial returns showed him defeating Republican Yassin Moghazy by approximately 68% to 32%.

In Illinois, Democrat Nabeela Syed led Republican incumbent Darby Hills in the state’s 26th Senate District with approximately 57% of the vote.

Fellow Illinois Democrat Ram Villivalam retained his state Senate seat, while Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Arvind Venkat secured another term in the state’s House of Representatives.

The elections also brought setbacks for several Indian American Republican candidates.

One of the most closely watched contests was the Ohio Governor’s race, where Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy despite his support from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur whose family traces its ancestry to Palakkad in Kerala, conceded the election late Tuesday.

In New York, Republican Saritha Komatireddy lost her bid for Attorney General to Democratic incumbent Letitia James.

Other unsuccessful Indian American candidates included Mahesh Ganorkar in North Carolina and Sandeep Dixit in Ohio.

The midterm elections took place halfway through Trump’s second presidential term, with Democrats projected to gain control of both chambers of Congress.

Voters decided contests for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats, along with numerous governorships, state legislative positions and local offices.

The results underscore the expanding role of Indian Americans in American politics, particularly within the Democratic Party, while also demonstrating the community’s participation across the political spectrum.

Indian American congressional representation dates to 1957, when Dalip Singh Saund became the first Indian-born member of the U.S. Congress.

Nearly seven decades later, politicians of Indian descent are competing for positions ranging from city councils and state legislatures to governorships and seats in Congress.

With five confirmed congressional victories and the possibility of a sixth, the 2026 midterm elections mark another significant chapter in the political advancement of Indian Americans in the United States. (Source: IANS)