Ro Khanna Leads Indian American House Members in Campaign Cash With $16.6 Million
WASHINGTON–Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., has emerged as the fundraising leader among Indian American members of Congress and members-elect, with $16.6 million in campaign cash and no outstanding debt, according to a review of Federal Election Commission records.
Khanna’s cash reserves exceeded the combined $11.1 million held by the seven other Indian American lawmakers and members-elect included in the review.
During the 2026 election cycle, Khanna’s campaign reported $15.3 million in receipts and $9.5 million in spending through October 14. His total cash balance exceeded the amount raised during the reporting period, reflecting funds accumulated from previous election cycles.
Among other incumbent lawmakers, Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., reported the second-largest cash balance at $5.9 million as of September 30. However, his campaign also carried $14.44 million in debt, significantly exceeding its available funds.
Thanedar’s campaign reported $3.2 million in receipts and $4.2 million in expenditures during the election cycle.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., reported approximately $1.75 million in cash, followed by Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif., with $1.65 million. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., held approximately $746,000.
Jayapal’s campaign raised $2.9 million and spent $3.2 million during the reporting period, while Bera reported $1.5 million in receipts and $1.7 million in expenditures. Subramanyam’s campaign collected $1.7 million and spent approximately $1.1 million.
Neither Jayapal nor Subramanyam reported campaign debt, while Bera’s campaign listed $80,000 in outstanding obligations.
Two newly elected Indian American lawmakers, Amish Shah of Arizona and Pia Dandiya of Florida, reported considerably smaller cash balances following their congressional campaigns.
Shah, who defeated Republican Jay Feely in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, raised $5.7 million and spent $5.5 million through October 14. His campaign reported approximately $206,000 in remaining cash and nearly $37,000 in debt.
Dandiya, who defeated Republican Casey Askar in Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, reported $4.6 million in receipts and $3.9 million in spending. Her campaign ended the reporting period with approximately $735,000 in cash and $247,000 in debt.
Both candidates faced Republican opponents who reported substantial campaign spending.
Askar raised $7.4 million, including $6.69 million in personal loans to his campaign. His expenditures totaled $5.5 million, leaving approximately $1.9 million in cash and $6.29 million in debt after $400,000 in loan repayments.
Feely’s campaign reported $3.8 million in receipts and $3.6 million in spending, with approximately $183,000 remaining and $330,000 in debt.
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., reported relatively small balances in his congressional campaign accounts after significant spending and transfers associated with his Senate campaign.
As of September 30, Krishnamoorthi’s House campaign account held approximately $47,000, while his Senate campaign account had about $33,000.
His House campaign reported $3.9 million in receipts and $21 million in expenditures. His Senate campaign reported $31.6 million in receipts and $31.5 million in spending.
Of the Senate campaign’s reported receipts, $19.4 million came from transfers involving other authorized committees.
Such transfers are an important distinction in comparing campaign finances because money moved between committees can appear in multiple accounts, potentially overstating total fundraising if the figures are added together without adjustments.
The financial disclosures highlight significant differences in fundraising capacity, campaign spending and outstanding debt among Indian American congressional candidates, with Khanna maintaining the largest reported cash reserve heading out of the 2026 election cycle. (Source: IANS)
