The article first appeared in The Times of India on November 7, 2024
Six Indian Americans have won elections to the House of Representatives, increasing their number from five in the current Congress.
Indian-American lawyer Suhas Subramanyam created history by becoming the first from the community to be elected from Virginia and the entire East Coast. He defeated Mike Clancy of Republican Party. He is currently a Virginia State Senator.
There is a possibility that the number of Indian Americans in the House of Representatives could increase to seven as Amish Shah was leading by a slender margin against his Republican incumbent in the first Congressional district of Arizona.
“I am honoured and humbled that the people of Virginia’s 10th district put their trust in me to take on the toughest fights and deliver results in Congress,” said Subramanyam, who had previously served as a White House advisor to President Barack Obama. He is a Hindu by faith and is popular among Indian Americans nationwide.
He joins the ‘Samosa Caucus’ in Congress that currently comprises five Indian Americans – Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Shri Thanedar. All the five existing Indian American members were re-elected to the House of Representatives.