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NA Newsline-Special Section NOVEMBER 20, 2026 | The Indian Eye 13

US MIDETERM ELECTIONS

A community comes of age

in American politics

From Congress and state legislatures to the mayor’s office in Los Angeles, Indian Americans are
moving beyond symbolic representation to become an increasingly influential force in US politics.

he election of Nithya Raman
as the next mayor of Los Ange-
Tles marks a significant moment
in the political evolution of the Indian
American community. Born in India
and raised in the United States, Ra-
man defeated incumbent Karen Bass
to lead America’s second-largest city,
becoming one of the most prominent
Indian-origin politicians to hold exec-
utive office in the country.
Her victory is part of a broader
political story unfolding across the
United States. In the November 3
midterm elections, Indian Ameri-
can candidates registered victories electorate, addressing issues such as
in congressional, state and local rac- healthcare, employment, education,
es, strengthening their presence in immigration, housing and the cost of
American political institutions. From living. Their political success increas-
Washington to California, Virginia, ingly depends on how effectively they
Maryland and Florida, politicians of connect their personal backgrounds
Indian origin are increasingly moving with the everyday concerns of Amer-
into positions where they can shape ican voters.
legislation, influence public policy the past two years … has rejected im- ington DC Council and Jyot Singh’s Raman’s campaign illustrated
and participate in decisions affecting migrants,” Raman said after her vic- victory in Georgia’s state House. this particularly well. Her victory was
the country. tory. “This city has opened its arms But the larger development is not not primarily a referendum on her
What makes this moment partic- to people to come and build their simply the number of Indian-origin Indian heritage. It was a contest over
ularly significant is that the commu- dreams here.” candidates winning elections. It is the the future of Los Angeles, its hous-
nity’s political journey is beginning The congressional results rein- nature of their political participation. ing crisis, homelessness, public safety
to move beyond the pursuit of repre- force this trend. Four Indian Amer- The number of Indian American rep- and the performance of the incum-
sentation. Indian Americans are in- ican Democratic lawmakers — Ami resentatives in the House, for instance, bent administration. Political observ-
creasingly emerging as political lead- Bera, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal rose from one in 2012 to six in 2024. ers described her appeal as one built
ers in their own right, competing for and Suhas Subramanyam — retained Mishi Choudhary, founder of around practical municipal concerns
powerful offices, building electoral their seats in the House of Represen- SFLC.in and a technology lawyer, rather than ethnic identity.
coalitions and influencing the direc- tatives. Pia Dandiya, a former teach- sees this as a transition from eco- Yet identity remains significant.
tion of both major political parties. er and high school principal whose nomic influence to political partici- For immigrant families, the sight
Raman’s victory in Los Angeles parents immigrated from India, pation. “Indian Americans have long of someone who shares their back-
is perhaps the most striking example. made her debut in Congress after had economic influence in the US. ground occupying positions of politi-
She secured 52 per cent of the vote winning Florida’s 22nd Congressio- What we now see is their willingness cal authority carries symbolic weight.
against Bass’s 48 per cent, becom- nal District. to exercise political power,” she said. Raman acknowledged this when she
ing the first challenger to defeat an At the state level, Maryland Lieu- She described the victories of spoke about the significance of an
incumbent Los Angeles mayor in tenant Governor Aruna Miller won Subramanyam and Dandiya as evi- immigrant winning the mayoralty at
more than two decades. Her cam- another term alongside Governor Wes dence of political maturity, arguing a time of growing hostility towards
paign, which received support from Moore. Miller made history in 2023 as that candidates of Indian origin were immigration. “The idea that Ange-
the Democratic Socialists of Ameri- the first Indian American woman to increasingly building electoral coali- lenos voted for an immigrant to be
ca, centred on housing affordability, become a lieutenant governor in the tions beyond their own communities. their next mayor at this moment in
homelessness, public safety and im- United States. In Wisconsin, Attorney That distinction is important. American history is so deeply moving
proving the city’s basic services. General Josh Kaul secured a third Indian American candidates cannot to me,” she said.
“This city has given me and my term. Indian American candidates win competitive elections by relying The next challenge is to translate
family so much — and at a time also won local contests, including exclusively on diaspora votes. They electoral success into lasting policy-
when the federal government, over Aparna Raj’s election to the Wash- have to appeal to a much wider making influence.

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