The 2024 US presidential election continues to be a nail-biter, with the outcome still uncertain. However, amidst the national focus on the White House race, a significant story unfolds in the congressional elections: the impressive success of Indian American candidates.
Five Indian American incumbents were re-elected to the House of Representatives, solidifying their presence in American politics. They are:
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Ami Bera:
A physician by profession, Dr. Bera has represented California’s sixth Congressional District since 2013. This victory marks his seventh consecutive term in office.*
Pramila Jayapal:
A progressive leader and the first South Asian American woman elected to Congress, Jayapal has secured her re-election from Washington’s 7th Congressional District, which includes much of Seattle. She has been a strong advocate for healthcare reform, climate action, and workers’ rights.*
Raja Krishnamoorthi:
A key Democrat candidate in the 2024 US elections, Krishnamoorthi has won re-election to his US House seat representing Illinois. He currently holds the position of the ranking Democratic member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.*
Shri Thanedar:
Thanedar has won re-election in Michigan, defeating Republican candidate Martell Bivings. He secured a comfortable lead with 62.8 percent of the vote. Thanedar was first elected to Congress in 2022, previously serving in the Michigan House of Representatives.*
Ro Khanna:
Representing California’s seventeenth Congressional District since 2017, Khanna has won a second term in the US House. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the Oversight and Accountability Committee.But the most significant development in the 2024 elections is the historic victory of Suhas Subramanyam. He has become the first Indian American elected to the Virginia State Senate, marking a watershed moment for Indian Americans in the East Coast. Representing a district with a large Indian American population in a Washington DC suburb, Subramanyam previously served as a White House Advisor to President Barack Obama. He defeated Republican candidate Mike Clancy in a tight race. A practicing Hindu, Subramanyam has become a popular figure among Indian Americans nationwide, admired for his leadership and public service. He joins the ‘Samosa Caucus’ in the Congress, which now includes six Indian Americans.
Other Indian Americans contesting the elections include:
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Amish Shah:
A Democrat of Indian origin, Shah is currently leading in Arizona’s first Congressional District elections, ahead of incumbent Republican David Schweikert.*
Dr. Prasanth Reddy:
A Republican candidate, Reddy is running for the House of Representatives from Kansas’s third Congressional District against incumbent Democrat Sharice Davids.*
Dr. Rakesh Mohan:
A Republican cardiologist, Mohan contested for the House of Representatives from New Jersey’s third Congressional District.These victories highlight the growing influence of Indian Americans in US politics, demonstrating their commitment to public service and their desire to shape the future of the nation.
