As the United States prepares for its November 3 midterm elections, several Indian-origin politicians are seeking key positions across the country. From congressional seats and governorships to attorney general and mayoral races, candidates with Indian roots are emerging as prominent figures in American politics.
Among the prominent names are Democratic lawmakers Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, Ami Bera and Suhas Subramanyam, who are seeking re-election to the US House of Representatives. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is also in the spotlight as the party’s nominee for the Ohio governor’s race.
The 2026 midterm elections will see all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 Senate seats contested. The elections, held halfway through a presidential term, are considered an important test of the ruling administration’s political standing.
Indian-origin candidates are contesting elections across several states, including California, Washington, Virginia, Arizona, Florida, Texas, Ohio, New York and Maryland.
Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna is seeking another term from California’s 17th Congressional District, which covers parts of Silicon Valley.
Born in Philadelphia to Punjabi parents, Khanna is a second-generation Indian-American and belongs to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. His grandfather, Amarnath Vidyalankar, was an Indian freedom fighter who was imprisoned alongside Mahatma Gandhi during the independence movement.
Khanna has frequently criticised US President Donald Trump’s policies, describing them as destructive. He has also expressed confidence in the Democratic Party’s prospects in the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election.
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is among the most prominent Indian-origin candidates in the 2026 elections. The son of immigrants from Kerala, he is contesting the Ohio governor’s election as the Republican Party’s nominee.
Ramaswamy secured Trump’s backing and won the Republican primary in May 2026. He previously served as a co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
He also entered the 2024 US presidential race but later withdrew and endorsed Trump. His business career and substantial wealth have made him a prominent figure in American political and corporate circles.
Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is seeking re-election from Washington’s 7th Congressional District. She has represented the constituency since 2017 and made history as the first Indian-American woman elected to the US House of Representatives.
Jayapal’s family roots are in Kerala. She has been an outspoken voice on immigration, civil rights and voting rights.
She recently raised concerns about reports of large-scale deletions from India’s draft electoral rolls and compared the issue with debates over voting rights in the United States. Indian authorities rejected her criticism of the Election Commission’s electoral roll revision.
Democratic Congressman Ami Bera is seeking re-election from California’s 3rd Congressional District.
Born in the United States to Gujarati parents who migrated from Rajkot, Bera became the third Indian-American to be elected to the US Congress.
He has maintained an active role in strengthening India-US relations. Between January 2015 and January 2017, he served as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.
Democratic Congressman Suhas Subramanyam is seeking another term after making history in the 2024 elections.
He became the first Indian-American elected to Congress from Virginia and the East Coast. His mother is from Bengaluru, while his father is from Chennai.
Subramanyam has spoken positively about India’s role in global affairs, describing it as one of the world’s most important democracies.
Republican candidate Saritha Komatireddy is contesting for the position of New York Attorney General.
She has more than a decade of experience working on cases involving international terrorism, including Al Qaeda and ISIS, as well as Mexican drug cartels.
During her legal career, she held several senior positions, including Chief of International Narcotics and Money Laundering, Deputy Chief of Appeals and Deputy Chief of General Crimes in the National Security and Cybercrime Section.
Nithya Raman, an urban planner and member of the Los Angeles City Council, is contesting the city’s mayoral election.
Raman was elected to the city council in 2020, becoming the first Asian-American woman and the first South Asian to hold a seat on the council. She won a second term in March 2024.
Before entering electoral politics, she worked on homelessness-related initiatives and served as co-chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council’s Homelessness Committee. She also co-founded the SELAH Neighbourhood Homeless Coalition.
Her political work has focused on civil rights, immigration, social services and neighbourhood issues.
Two Indian-origin Democratic candidates are also seeking legislative positions in Texas.
Pooja Sethi, an attorney and former chief of staff in the Texas Legislature, is contesting from Texas House District 47. She has also served as chair of the Travis County Democratic Party.
Sandeep Srivastava is contesting from Texas House District 66. A businessman and community advocate based in the Plano-Frisco area, he is challenging a Republican incumbent who has represented the constituency for five terms.
Pia Dandiya, a former high school principal and first-generation American, is contesting the US House election from Florida’s 22nd Congressional District.
She is the Democratic candidate and faces Republican nominee Casey Askar in the race.
Physician and former Arizona State Representative Amish Shah is contesting from Arizona’s 1st Congressional District as a Democratic candidate.
He is facing Republican Jay Feely, a former National Football League kicker who has received an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
Shah previously served three terms in the Arizona House of Representatives. He also contested the 2024 congressional election but narrowly lost to Republican David Schweikert.
The participation of Indian-origin candidates across multiple states and political offices highlights the growing visibility of the Indian-American community in American public life.
While candidates such as Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Ami Bera are seeking to retain their congressional positions, Vivek Ramaswamy is pursuing a major executive office in Ohio. Others are competing in state legislative, legal and local government elections.
The outcome of these contests will determine how many of these candidates advance their political careers and further strengthen the presence of Indian-origin leaders in American politics. For the Indian diaspora, the elections are also an opportunity to see how leaders with Indian heritage shape policy debates and representation in one of the world’s most influential democracies.
