Washington: At least ten Indian-Americans, nearly all of whom are Democrats, have emerged victorious in local and state-level surveys conducted across the United States, demonstrating the increasing political clout of an ethnic group that makes up just over 1% of the total population. Ghazala Hashmi, a native of Hyderabad, won re-election to the Virginia State Senate for a third term.
She was the first Muslim woman and Indian-American elected to the Virginia state legislature in history. The Virginia State Senate seat held by Suhas Subramanyam was reelected. In 2019 and 2021, he was chosen to serve two terms in the House of Delegates. Born in Houston, Subramanian is the first Hindu elected to the Virginia House. He previously served as a technology policy advisor in the Obama White House.
Business leader Kannan Srinivasan, who immigrated from India in the 90s, was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from the India-American-dominated Loudon County area. All three winners in Virginia are from the Democratic Party, as are the three winners from New Jersey.
Both Democratic Party-affiliated Indian Americans, Raj Mukherji and Vin Gopal, were elected to the State Senate in New Jersey. Re-elected to the Burlington County Board of County Commissioner position in New Jersey is Indian-American educator Balvir Singh.
Meanwhile, Indian-American physician Dr. Anita Joshi won the West District seat for the Carmel City Council in Indiana, and Democrat Neil Makhija won the coveted job of Montgomery County Commissioner in Pennsylvania.