(January 8, 2026) Zohran Mamdani’s dramatic rise to the top job in New York City has dominated headlines worldwide, symbolising a watershed moment for Indian-American political power. Yet, equally consequential stories have unfolded across the US. In towns and mid-sized cities from New Jersey to Ohio, Indian-American leaders have stepped into the role of mayor, the most visible and executive position in local government.
A mayor in the United States functions as the chief executive officer of a city or township. Depending on the city’s governance structure, the role can include overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets, setting policy priorities, appointing department heads, shaping public safety strategy, driving economic development, and acting as the city’s public face in moments of crisis and celebration. Even in council–manager systems, mayors wield enormous agenda-setting power and civic influence, making the position one of the most consequential in American public life.
While Indian-Americans also recorded significant victories in 2025–26 beyond mayoral offices including Ghazala Hashmi’s historic election as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, legislative wins by J.J. Singh and Balvir Singh, council and school board victories across New Jersey, and Ravi Bhalla’s move to the New Jersey State Assembly, this feature focuses specifically on those who have just secured mayoral or deputy mayoral authority.
Pulkit-Desai, taking oath as Mayor of Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey
Pulkit Desai: Mayor of Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey
Pulkit Desai’s ascent to the mayor’s office in Parsippany-Troy Hills in January 2026 is one of the most compelling Indian-American political stories of the year. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, cybersecurity professional, and community advocate, Desai narrowly defeated a long-serving incumbent to become the township’s first Asian-American mayor, flipping the local power structure in the process.
Desai’s victory was hard-fought, decided by a razor-thin margin, and symbolised changing voter priorities in one of New Jersey’s most diverse municipalities. Before entering office, he served as president of the Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association, where he built a reputation for pragmatic problem-solving and grassroots engagement. His mayoral agenda reflects those roots, focusing on public safety, infrastructure, responsible growth, and modernising municipal services.
As mayor, Desai who was born in India and moved to the U.S. at the age of 12, occupies the township’s most visible leadership role setting the tone for governance, representing Parsippany-Troy Hills publicly, and working closely with the council and administration to deliver results. His election highlights how Indian-American candidates are increasingly competitive and successful in executive races, not just legislative contests.
Ketan Bhuptani takes oath as Deputy Mayor, Livingston, New Jersey
Ketan Bhuptani: Livingston’s first Indian-American deputy mayor
Ketan Bhuptani’s appointment as deputy mayor of Livingston, New Jersey, marks a significant milestone in the township’s civic history. A long-time community volunteer and cultural organiser, Bhuptani became the first Indian-American and Asian-American to hold an executive municipal leadership role in Livingston. His elevation followed his election to the Township Council, where he earned respect for consensus-building and community outreach. Bhuptani has lived in Livingston for the last 23 years with his family since he immigrated from India.
Though Livingston follows a council-manager system, the deputy mayor plays a critical leadership role presiding over council meetings in the mayor’s absence and helping shape policy priorities. Bhuptani’s civic journey began well before politics, notably through his work with Sanskriti of New Jersey, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting Indian culture. That community-first ethos now informs his governance approach, which emphasises inclusivity, transparency, and public engagement.
Bhuptani’s rise reflects a broader shift in suburban America, where Indian-American residents are translating deep community involvement into political leadership. His presence in Livingston’s executive leadership sends a powerful signal about representation at the local level where day-to-day governance most directly affects residents’ lives.
Edison Mayor Sam Joshi takes his oath for a second term
Samip “Sam” Joshi: Re-elected mayor of Edison, New Jersey
Samip “Sam” Joshi’s re-election as mayor of Edison underscores the power of continuity and trust in local governance. Leading one of New Jersey’s most diverse and populous townships, Joshi has built a political identity centred on steady leadership, coalition-building, and responsiveness to residents’ needs. One of the youngest mayors at 35, Joshi was born in the U.S. to parents who moved there 40 years ago.
As mayor, Joshi serves as Edison’s principal executive and ceremonial leader, guiding policy priorities while working closely with the township council and municipal administration. His tenure has focused on infrastructure upgrades, economic development, education partnerships, and inclusive civic engagement which are essential issues in a community shaped by immigration and demographic change.
Joshi’s re-election coincided with Indian-American successes across Edison’s civic institutions, including school boards and the township council, reinforcing the depth of South Asian political participation. His sustained leadership demonstrates that Indian-American mayors are not symbolic placeholders but experienced administrators trusted with long-term governance in complex, multicultural municipalities.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval takes his oath for a second term
Aftab Pureval: Re-elected mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio
Aftab Pureval’s re-election as mayor of Cincinnati positions him as one of the most influential Indian-American mayors in the United States today. First elected in 2021 as the city’s first Asian-American mayor, Pureval governs a major Midwestern city with significant executive authority, overseeing public safety, economic development, housing policy, and sustainability initiatives. Pureval was born in Xenia, Ohio to immigrant parents hailing from Punjab and Tibet.
Before becoming mayor, Pureval served as Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, building a reputation for administrative efficiency and public accountability. As mayor, he has prioritised equitable growth, affordable housing, green investment, and community-based public safety strategies. These policies have resonated with a broad electorate.
Pureval’s re-election affirms that Indian-American leadership has moved well beyond historic “firsts” to sustained governance. His role exemplifies how mayors function as city CEOs, shaping policy outcomes that affect hundreds of thousands of residents while serving as visible representatives of inclusive leadership.
Why these mayoral wins matter
While Indian-Americans continue to make historic gains across American politics from Ghazala Hashmi’s statewide executive victory in Virginia to legislative, council, and school board wins nationwide, mayoral leadership carries a unique weight. Mayors sit at the intersection of policy, administration, and daily civic life, influencing everything from policing and housing to infrastructure and economic growth.
Though Zohran Mamdani’s election captured wider global attention, leaders like Desai, Bhuptani, Joshi, and Pureval illustrate the depth and durability of Indian-American political engagement across the United States. Together, they represent a maturing political community, which is no longer defined solely by headline-making breakthroughs, but by sustained, hands-on governance at the heart of American cities and towns.
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