BURLINGTON, VT—Vermont State Rep. Kesha Ram, the first Indian-American and the first woman of color to run for state-wide office in Vermont, lost the race for Lt. Governor in the state’s Democratic Party primary on Tuesday, Aug. 9.
Twenty-nine-year-old Ram, who has been named in the INDIA New England News’s annual list of 20 outstanding women in 2011, has served in the Vermont legislature as a State Representative for eight years.
Ram lost the Democratic primary to David Zuckerman who won the election this week with 45 percent of the votes. She came third with 18 percent of the votes.
Earlier this this year, Ram told INDIA New England News that “Being in Vermont, I am not only the first Indian-American to run for an office but run for the office of Lieutenant Governor.”
Ram said she has been active with South Asian communities in state, especially with Bhutanese and Nepali communities.
The youngest of three children, Ram is the product of a culturally diverse household – her father immigrated from India, while her mother grew up in Illinois, according to her bio. With her parents as role models in embracing diversity, equity and community service, Ram developed her passion for advocacy and civic engagement in her early years.
She attended the University of Vermont, where she graduated with degrees in Natural Resource Planning and Political Science. She also completed a public law program at American University.
