Indian-origin Democrats shine in US midterms; Vivek Ramaswamy, Mahesh Ganorkar lose

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MIDTERMS SHOWDOWN

Indian-American Democratic lawmakers Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Suhas Subramanyam and Pramila Jayapal have been re-elected to the US House of Representatives, while Pia Dandiya has made her debut in the US Congress, marking a strong showing by the community in the midterm elections.

Several other Indian-American candidates contested elections for offices ranging from governor to state legislatures and local bodies.

The elections, held on Tuesday, covered all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives, 35 Senate seats, 36 gubernatorial posts and several local public offices.

Bera, 61, has won re-election to the US House from California's 3rd Congressional District, defeating Republican Robb Tucker. He has secured an eighth term.

A physician-turned-politician, Bera is the longest-serving Indian-American in the US Congress and is considered a prominent voice on healthcare and diplomacy.

He was first elected to Congress in 2012 and took office in January 2013. He currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Born in Los Angeles in 1965 to Gujarati immigrant parents, Bera attended public schools in California. He earned a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of California, Irvine.

Khanna, 50, has won re-election from California's 17th Congressional District, located in the heart of Silicon Valley. He is completing his fifth term and will begin his sixth in January.

Khanna was born in Philadelphia to a middle-class family. Both his parents immigrated to the United States from India in the 1970s.

Subramanyam, 40, has been re-elected from Virginia's 10th Congressional District, defeating Republican Dave Beckwith. He secured over 61 per cent of the vote against Beckwith.

Subramanyam previously served as an adviser to former US President Barack Obama. Born in Houston to Indian parents, he attended Tulane University in New Orleans. He was first elected to Congress in 2024 and will now serve his second term.

Jayapal, who represents Washington's 7th Congressional District, has secured a sixth term in the House of Representatives.

Last month, her criticism of India's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls drew a public rebuke from India's ambassador to the US.

Jayapal, who was first elected to Congress in 2016, has been a prominent voice on immigration reform and healthcare issues.

Dandiya, 39, won Florida's 22nd Congressional District, defeating Republican Casey Askar. She secured 51.9 per cent of the vote.

A former high school principal, Dandiya was born and raised in Palm Beach County in Florida. She began her career as a teacher before becoming a high school principal in Harlem, New York.

In Maryland, Indian-American Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, a Democrat, secured another term.

Meanwhile, Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy, who was backed by US President Donald Trump, lost Ohio's gubernatorial race to Democrat Amy Acton. Ramaswamy, the son of immigrants from Kerala, had won the Republican primary in May.

Republican Mahesh Ganorkar lost the contest for North Carolina's 4th Congressional District to Democratic incumbent Valerie Foushee.

Democrats have won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, taking control of Congress from the Republican Party.

The Congress elected on November 3 is sworn in on January 3, 2027.

Based on race calls as of November 4, the incoming Senate has 53 Democrats and 42 Republicans, with 5 races still uncalled. Democrats have won control, according to official figures.

In the House, the count so far is 223 Democrats and 131 Republicans, with 81 seats still uncalled. Democrats have won control.

As of November 2, the US Senate comprised 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two Independents, while the House of Representatives had 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats and one Independent, with two of its 435 seats vacant, according to congressional data.

Several other Indian-American candidates were also awaiting the outcome of their contests.

The results of several other Indian-American candidates were also awaited.

Democrat Amish Shah contested Republican Jay Feely in Arizona's 1st Congressional District, while Indian-American Nithya Raman faced incumbent Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral race.

In Texas, Democrat Pooja Sethi contested Republican Jennifer Mushtaler in House District 47, while fellow Democrat Sandeep Srivastava faced incumbent Republican Matt Shaheen in District 66.

The Indian-American community is estimated to number over 5 million, making it the second-largest Asian-origin population in the United States.

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