Democrats back Indian-American hopefuls Amish Shah, Pia Dandiya for House

Washington,UPDATED: Jul 29, 2026 08:22 IST

The Democratic Party has added two Indian-American candidates, Amish Shah and Pia Dandiya, to its campaign push for the US Congressional elections, as it seeks to win control of the House of Representatives from the Republicans in November.

On Tuesday, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added five candidates, including Shah and Dandiya, to its Red to Blue programme, which offers organisational and fundraising support to candidates contesting competitive races in Republican-leaning districts. The DCCC is backing 30 candidates it believes can flip their seats from the Republicans in the November elections.

Shah, a physician and former state representative, is contesting Arizona's First District against Republican candidate Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. Dandiya, a former high school principal, is seeking Florida's 22nd district in South Florida, a seat created in redistricting where no incumbent is running. She had earlier sought to challenge Republican Brian Mast, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, from Florida's 21st district.

In a statement, DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said: "A working mother who wants to write a new future, Pia is determined to make the American dream more accessible to South Floridians by addressing the affordability crisis, protecting essential programs like Social Security and Medicare, and holding Republicans accountable for their broken promises."

Shah, a three-term member of the Arizona House of Representatives, defeated former broadcast journalist Marlene Galan-Woods in the primary. Galan-Woods had been backed by the DCCC. She is the third DCCC-backed candidate to lose a contested House primary this year, after Jasmeet Bains in California and Joe Baldacci in Maine.

Indian American Impact, an organisation that works for equitable representation for Indian Americans at every level of government, said: "We're in a fight for the future of our democracy and Indian American leaders will play a critical role in winning back the House."

Born in Chicago to Gujarati parents who immigrated to the US in the 1960s, Shah earned his undergraduate degree at Northwestern University and his medical degree at Northwestern University Medical School through the Honours Program in Medical Education. His father is Jain and his mother is Hindu.

Dandiya, born to parents who migrated to the US from India, describes herself on her campaign website as a first-generation American who has worked as a high school principal, policy leader and technology innovator. Born and raised in Palm Beach County in Florida, she began her career as a teacher and later served as a high school principal in Harlem. She also founded a high school aimed at helping low-income students move towards economic freedom. According to her campaign website, every graduate of the school secured admission to college, although 86 per cent of them came from low-income households. It also says she became the founding principal of the school at 28, making her one of the youngest high school principals in the country.

The outgoing House has six Indian Americans: Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Shri Thanedar, Suhas Subramanyam, Ami Bera and Pramila Jayapal. Khanna is keen to make a bid for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 2028, while Krishnamoorthi lost the party primary for the US Senate election from Illinois.

With Shah and Dandiya now in the Red to Blue programme, Democrats have placed two Indian-American candidates in their wider effort to compete strongly in November and try to take control of the House.

With PTI Inputs

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