Indian-American Candidates Score Victories in US Midterms

Election Results

Democrats took control of both the Senate and the House in the US midterm elections, dealing a major setback to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Amid these results, several Indian-origin candidates secured wins across the country. Suhas Subramanyam won his race in Virginia's 10th congressional district with 61.5% of the vote against Republican Dave Beckwith, who secured 36.4%. Subramanyam previously worked as an advisor to former president Barack Obama. Pia Dandiya, a former high school principal, won her seat in Florida's 22nd Congressional district by beating Republican Casey Askar. Dandiya took 51.9% of the vote while Askar received 49.1%. Meanwhile, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy lost the race to become the governor of Ohio against Democrat Amy Acton following a tough campaign that caused splits in the Republican Party.

More Races

Other Indian-American candidates are waiting for their final vote counts. Democrat Nithya Raman, born in Kerala, is in a tight race with her former boss Karen Bass to become the mayor of Los Angeles. Lawmakers Ro Khanna, Ami Bera, and Pramila Jayapal are trying to keep their seats in the US House, and fellow Democrat Amish Shah is also competing for a congressional spot.

Context

Midterm elections happen halfway through a US presidential term and often shift the balance of power in Washington. Former president Barack Obama reacted to the outcome by stating that voters want leaders who focus on unity and practical solutions.