8 running for US Congress, 27 vying for elective offices in the states
Here is a list of Indian Americans contesting the US midterm elections on Nov 8, 2022
California
Ami Bera, Democrat, US House, CA-6
Vs Tamika Hamilton, Republican
Son of immigrant parents from Gujarat, Bera is seeking reelection to the US House for a sixth term. A physician by profession, he first won election to the House in 2012.
Ro Khanna, Democrat, US House, CA-17
Vs Ritesh Tandon, Republican
Son of immigrant parents from Punjab, Khanna is seeking re-election to the US house for a fourth term. He first came to the House after defeating eight-term incumbent Democrat Mike Honda in 2016.
Khanna also served as the deputy assistant secretary in the Department of Commerce under President Barack Obama from August 8, 2009, to August 2011.
His opponent Tandon has worked as CEO of Kricel Corporation and as a research fellow at the University of California at Berkeley. He has also served as chief liaison officer for Smart Village Movement and on the executive committee of the Sankara Eye Foundation.
Rishi Kumar, Democrat, US House, CA-16
Vs Anna Eshoo, Democrat
Mumbai native Kumar, who came to the US at the age of 21 on a student visa, is engaged in a rematch with Eshoo from the Silicon Valley. A hi-tech business executive, he is currently serving his second term as a Saratoga City council member.
Illinois
Raja Krishnamoorthi, Democrat, US House, IL-8
Vs Chris Dargis, Republican
First elected in 2016, New Delhi born Krishnamoorthi is seeking reelection for a fourth term. Lawyer, businessman Krishnamoorthi served as a policy director on Barack Obama’s US Senate campaign in 2004 and, from 2007 to 2009, he was a deputy state treasurer.
Read: Shri Thanedar wins Michigan Democratic primary in Congress race (August 4, 2022)
Michigan
Shri Thanedar, Democrat, US House, MI-13
Vs Martell Bivings, Republican
A member of the Michigan legislature, Belgaum, India-born Thanedar, 67, is running for election from Michigan’s 13th Congressional District representing most of Detroit.
Thanedar has worked as the CEO and owner of Chemir Analytical Services, chairman and owner of Azopharma Contract Phamaceutical Services, founder and co-owner of Avomeen Analytical Services, and post-doctoral research scholar with the University of Michigan.
Read: Election 2022: Indian American Impact launches WhatsApp tipline (November 4, 2022)
Texas
Sandeep Srivastava, Democrat, US House TX-3
Vs Keith Self, Republican
Lucknow, India-born Srivastava has worked as a broker and real estate consultant with RE/MAX, a data architect with Xerox Corporation, and a principal architect with Fidelity Investments.
Washington
Pramila Jayapal, Democrat, US House, WA-7
Vs Cliff Moon, Republican
India born Jayapal is the first Indian-American woman to serve in the US House. First elected in 2016, she is seeking re-election for a fourth term.
Seattle-based civil rights activist, serving until 2012 as the executive director of OneAmerica, a pro-immigrant advocacy group, Jayapal was a member of State Senate from 2014 to 2016.
In the States
Arizona
Priya Sundareshan, Democrat, State Senate, District 18
Vs Stan Caine, Republican
A voting rights advocate, Priya Sundareshan studied engineering at MIT and law and natural resource economics at the University of Arizona, where she now teaches natural resources law.
Connecticut
Harry Arora, Republican, State treasurer
Vs Erick Russell, Democratic Party, Working Families Party
Indian-born Harry Arora was first elected to the State assembly in a special election on Jan 21, 2020 and re-elected in that November’s general election.
Read: Rishi Bagga wins Democratic nomination for Florida State House (September 6, 2022)
Florida
Rishi Bagga, Democrat, State House, District 35
Vs Fred Hawkins, Republican
Born in Toronto, Bagga moved to the United States when he was 10 years old. If elected, Bagga, an attorney and small business owner, will be the only South Asian in the Florida state legislature.
READ: Elections 2022: Ballot paper vs voting machine row continues (November 3, 2022)
Georgia
Om Duggal, Democrat, State House, District 99
Vs Matt Reeves, Republican
New Delhi, India-born Duggal, immigrated to the United States with his family over two decades ago. In 2004, he opened two hotels and was involved in the development of a small residential community in Duluth, Georgia.
Illinois
Nabeela Syed, Democrat, State House, District 51
Vs Chris Bos, Republican incumbent
If elected, Syed 23, would be the first South Asian American in the Illinois legislature. She has worked as an organizer with such groups as EMILY’s List to raise money to elect Democrats to Congress and has worked as a high school debate coach.
Read: Two Indian Americans win Democratic primaries for Illinois House (June 30, 2022)
Kevin Olickal, 29, Democrat, State House, District 16
Vs Vince Romano, Republican
If elected, Olickal, 29, would be the first South Asian American in the Illinois legislature. Son of Malayali immigrant parents, Olickal, is a part-time law student and the executive director of the Indo-American Democratic Organization.
READ: Will AI turn the tide in midterm elections? (November 1, 2022)
Iowa
Suresh Reddy, Democrat, State House, District 43
Vs Eddie Andrews, Republican
Software engineer Suresh Reddy is a member of the Johnston City Council since 2019. Prior to being elected to the City Council, Reddy was on the Johnston’s Planning and Zoning Commission for 2.5 years.
Megan Srinivas, Democrat, State House, District 30
Vs Jerry Cheevers, Republican
An infectious disease physician, Megan Srinivas is contracted with Broadlawns Medical Center and works remotely for the University of North Carolina School for Medicine. She chaired Iowa’s Biden-Harris Covid Response Council in 2020.
If elected, she would be the second Asian American woman to serve in the Iowa House after Swati Dandekar.
Maryland
Aruna Miller, Democrat, Lieutenant Governor
Vs Dan Cox-Gordana Schifanelli, Republican
Andhra Pradesh, India-born Aruna Miller, 57, is the running mate of Maryland’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore. If elected, she would become Maryland’s first Asian-American lieutenant governor and the first immigrant to be elected to statewide office.
A transportation engineer by profession, Miller is a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates. She came to the United States with her family when she was seven years old and became a citizen in 2000.
Read: Opinion | More than just money: Aruna Miller has courted Hindu nationalists for nearly a decade (November 4, 2022)
Kumar P Barve, Democrat, State House, District 17
Vs Julie Palakovich Carr, Democrat
First elected to Maryland House of delegates in 1990, Barve, 64, a finance analyst, is running for re-election. Son of Indian American parents, he was the first person of Indian descent to be elected to a state legislature in the United States.
Michigan
Padma Kuppa, Democrat, State Senate District 9
Vs Michael Webber, Republican
Born in Bhilai, India Padma Kuppa is the first Indian immigrant and Hindu in the Michigan state legislature. Currently serving her second term in the State House, she is running for State Senate this time. An engineer from NIT Warangal, she is an automotive and IT professional and a civic and interfaith leader.
Ranjeev Puri, Democrat, State Senate District 21
Vs John Anthony, Republican
The son of immigrants, Puri is serving his first term in the State Senate representing the cities of Canton, Belleville, and Van Buren Township.
He has worked as a business manager at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and volunteered with South Asians of Michigan Organizing for Serious Actions (SAMOSA), Moms Demand Action, Arts and Partnership Board Canton, Sikh Gurdwara of Canton, and New American Leaders.
Sam Singh, Democrat, State Senate, District 28
Vs Daylen Howard, Republican
Former East Lansing mayor, Sam Singh, was elected to the East Lansing City Council at the age of 24 and was elected as mayor in 2005. He also served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2013-18.
Aisha Farooqi, Democrat, State House District 57
Vs Thomas Kuhn, Republican
Aisha Farooqi has worked as an attorney and filmmaker. She has served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for the City of Sterling Heights and has been a member of the Macomb County Black Caucus and the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council of Detroit.
Read: Indian Americans win big in Democratic primaries for state houses (August 4, 2022)
Ajay V. Raman, Democrat, Oakland County Commissioner
Vs Robert Smiley, Republican
A physician, business owner and first-generation Indian-American, Ajay V. Raman is running from District 14. He lost his maiden run as mayor of Novi, Michigan, to incumbent candidate Bob Gatt last year.
New Hampshire
Neil Misra, Democrat, State House, District Rockingham 25
Vs Lorie Ball, Republican
A lifelong resident of Salem, New Hampshire, Neil Misra interned for Congresswoman Ann Kuster during his undergraduate studies at George Washington University. He has master’s degrees in International Politics and Global Area Studies from Cambridge and Oxford Universities.
Read: Indian American Neil Misra running for New Hampshire House (September 22, 2022)
Ohio
Anita Somani, Democrat, State House, District 11
Vs Omar Tarazi, Republican
An obstetrician-gynecologist for OhioHealth, Anita Somani is a graduate of the Medical College of Ohio. She is a member of the Academy of Medicine and has served as a delegate and alternate delegate to the Ohio State Medical Association.
Pennsylvania
Dr Arvind Venkat, Democrat, State House, District 30
Vs Cindy Kirk, Republican
If elected Venkat, an emergency room doctor at Allegheny General Hospital, will be the only physician and only person of South Asian descent in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly. He has received endorsements from Indian American Impact, a leading community organization, and several state politicians.
Anna Thomas, Democrat, State House, District 137
Vs Joe Emrick, Republican
Born and raised in Bethlehem Township, Anna Thomas has a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. She has conducted research into ways American industry can expand energy production while reducing environmental impact.
Texas
Juli Mathew, Democrat, Fort Bend County Court at Law No. 3
Vs Andrew Dornburg, Republican
A judge for the Fort Bend County Court at Law No. 3 since 2019, Juli Mathew is running for re-election.
KP George, Democrat, Fort Bend County Commissioners Court
Vs Trever Nehls, Republican
Fort Bend County Commissioners Court Judge since 2019, KP George is running for re-election.
Surendran Pattel, Texas District Court 240, Judge
Vs Edward Krenek, Republican
A trial and appellate attorney with 26 years experience in India and in Texas, Surendran Pattel is running for Judge.
Zohaib Qadri, Non partisan, Austin City Council
Zohaib Qadri (also known as Zo) is running for election to the Austin City Council to represent District 9 in Texas.
Utah
Simarjit Singh Gill, Democrat Salt Lake County, District Attorney
Vs Danielle Ahn, Republican
First elected as District Attorney for Salt Lake County, in November 2010, Sim Gill is running for a fourth term. Gill earlier worked as Salt Lake City’s Chief Prosecutor.
Vermont
Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Democrat, State Senate, Chittenden Southeast District
Elected to the Vermont Senate in 2020, Kesha Ram Hinsdale is seeking reelection. She served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 2009 to 2016. The youngest Indian American to ever serve in state elected office, Ram was the youngest state legislator in the US.
Read: Harry Arora, Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Josh Kaul win party primaries (August 11, 2022)
Washington
Manka Dhingra, Democrat, State Senate, District 45
Vs Ryika Hooshangi, Republican
First elected to the Senate in November 2017, Manka Dhingra was first Sikh state legislator elected in the US. Currently Deputy Majority Leader of the Washington State Senate, she is running for reelection.
Dhingra’s professional experience includes working as a senior deputy prosecuting attorney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Vandana Slatter, Democrat, State House District 48
A former Bellevue City Council member, community leader, public school parent, and biotech and healthcare professional, was first elected in 2020. She is running for a second term.
Wisconsin
Josh Kaul, Democrat, Attorney General
Vs Eric Toney, Republican
Josh Kaul’s election in 2018 as Attorney General switched the office from Republican to Democratic for the first time since January 2007, when Kaul’s mother, Peggy Lautenschlager, left the office after serving a four-year term
From 2010 to 2014, Kaul was an assistant US attorney in the US District Court for the District of Maryland.