Six Indian Americans have secured seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, raising their representation in Congress from five to six. Among the elected is Suhas Subramanyam, an attorney and Virginia State Senator, who made history as the first Indian American to represent Virginia and the East Coast in Congress. Subramanyam defeated Republican Mike Clancy in Virginia’s 10th District.
The five incumbent Indian American lawmakers, Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, and Shri Thanedar, successfully retained their seats. Their re-election strengthens the presence of what has come to be known as the “Samosa Caucus.”
Bera, who represents California’s 6th District, remains the senior-most Indian American in Congress, embarking on his seventh consecutive term. Thanedar retained Michigan’s 13th District, Krishnamoorthi won Illinois’ 8th District for the fifth time, Khanna continued in California’s 17th, and Jayapal held her seat in Washington’s 7th.
In Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, Dr. Amish Shah held a narrow lead over Republican incumbent David Schweikert, with Shah’s votes at 132,712 against Schweikert’s 128,606 as of the latest count, with 63% of ballots tallied.