New Delhi: Five Indian-American Democrats have emerged as projected winners in the US House of representatives following Tuesday’s midterm elections, with newcomer Pia Dandiya joining four incumbent lawmakers who retained their seats. Another Indian-American Democrat, Amish Shah, was leading in Arizona as counting continued, while Republican, Vivek Ramaswamy, lost the Ohio governor’s race.
The five projected winners are Dandiya, Suhas Subramanyam, Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna and Ami Bera, IANS reported on Wednesday, citing projections by Decision Desk HQ.
Dandiya, a former school principal whose parents immigrated from India, defeated Republican Casey Askar in Florida’s 22nd congressional district, securing approximately 52 per cent of the vote against Askar’s 48 per cent.
Her victory marks her congressional debut, with CBS News independently projecting her as the winner in the newly redrawn constituency.
In Virginia’s 10th congressional district, Subramanyam secured re-election, defeating Republican Dave Beckwith with more than 61 per cent 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 in his victory statement.
Pramila Jayapal retained Washington’s 7th congressional district, while Ro Khanna defeated fellow Indian-American Republican Ritesh Tandon in California’s 17th district, which covers parts of Silicon Valley.
California Democrat Ami Bera was projected to defeat Republican Robb Tucker in the newly redrawn 3rd congressional district, putting him on course for an eighth term. A physician by training, Bera first entered Congress in 2013 and is its longest-serving Indian-American member.
Meanwhile, physician and former Arizona legislator, Amish Shah, was leading Republican Jay Feely in Arizona’s 1st congressional district, although the race remained uncalled. Shah had secured approximately 54.6 per cent against Feely’s 43.5 per cent, with around 81 per cent of expected votes counted in an overnight decision, Desk HQ update, IANS reported.
Indian-American candidates also recorded mixed results in state-level elections.
In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, despite his endorsements from the president, Donald Trump, and Vice president, JD Vance.
Acton became the first woman elected governor of Ohio and the first Democrat to win the office in two decades. Ramaswamy conceded defeat late Tuesday, Reuters reported.
Maryland’s Indian-American lieutenant governor, Aruna Miller, secured another four-year term alongside the Democratic governor, Wes Moore, while the Wisconsin attorney general, Josh Kaul, whose father is of Indian origin, also won re-election.
In Texas, Democrat Pooja Sethi led Republican Jennifer Mushtaler in house district 47 with approximately 63.4 per cent of the vote. Sethi declared victory, although an independent projection was not immediately available.
Other Indian-American candidates reporting victories or leads included Jyot Singh in Georgia, Nabeela Syed and Ram Villivalam in Illinois, and Arvind Venkat in Pennsylvania.
However, Republican Saritha Komatireddy lost New York’s attorney general election to incumbent Democrat Letitia James, while Mahesh Ganorkar lost his congressional contest in North Carolina.
In Los Angeles, Indian-American city council member, Nithya Raman, was leading incumbent Mayor Karen Bass with 50.55 per cent against 49.45 per cent in an overnight count, although the mayoral contest remained undecided.
The November 3 elections, held midway through Trump’s second presidential term, involved all 435 House seats, 35 senate seats and 36 governorships, alongside state and local offices. The outcome could also influence Washington’s approach to trade, immigration and defence cooperation with India, RNA Media reported ahead of the vote.
Democrats secured projected control of both chambers of congress, dealing a major setback to the president, Donald Trump’s Republican Party, RNA Media reported on Wednesday. Counting continued in several constituencies.
Indian-American representation in congress dates to 1957, when Dalip Singh Saund became the first Indian-born member of the House of Representatives.