Six Indian-Americans have won elections to the U.S. House of Representatives, bringing the total number of Indian-American lawmakers in Congress to six, up from five. Indian-American lawyer Suhas Subramanyam made history by becoming the first from the community to be elected from Virginia and the East Coast, defeating Republican Mike Clancy. Subramanyam, currently a Virginia State Senator, expressed his gratitude, stating, “ I am honoured and humbled that the people of Virginia’s 10th District put their trust in me to take on the toughest fights and deliver results in Congress. This district is my home. I got married here, my wife Miranda and I are raising our daughters here, and the issues our community faces are personal to our family.”
Dr. Amish Shah Could Bring Total to Seven
In Arizona, Dr. Amish Shah, a Democratic candidate, was leading by a narrow margin against Republican incumbent David Schweikert in the first Congressional District. With 63% of votes counted, Shah had 132,712 votes compared to Schweikert’s 128,606, suggesting that the number of Indian Americans in the House could increase to seven if Shah wins.
Subramanyam Joins the ‘Samosa Caucus’
Subramanyam joins the ranks of the so-called “Samosa Caucus” in Congress, which includes five other Indian-American representatives: Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, and Shri Thanedar. These representatives were all re-elected to the House in this cycle.
Re-election of Existing Indian-American Congress Members
Shri Thanedar was re-elected for a second consecutive term from Michigan’s 13th District, having first won the seat in 2023. Raja Krishnamoorthi won his fifth consecutive term representing Illinois’ 7th District, saying, “Despite some hard times, we did. My mission in Congress is to fight for all the other families that are pursuing their dreams, no matter where they come from, how they worship, or the number of letters in their names… there are 29 in mine.” Ro Khanna, representing California’s 17th District, and Pramila Jayapal, representing Washington’s 7th District, were also re-elected. Dr. Ami Bera, the longest-serving Indian-American Congressman, was re-elected to California’s 6th District for his seventh consecutive term.
Indian-American Influence Growing in Congress
The growing influence of Indian-American lawmakers reflects a significant shift in U.S. politics. As the 2024 elections continue, Subramanyam’s win and Shah’s potential victory further highlight the increasing representation of Indian-Americans in the U.S. political landscape.
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