From Zohran Mamdani to Ro Khanna, seven Indian-Americans who have won election battles in the US
Mamdani recently won the Democratic Party's New York primary for the November mayoral election. In this context, let's take a look at Indian-Americans who were elected to the House of Representatives in the elections that put Donald Trump in the White House for a second term
Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks in the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at NBC Studios on June 4, 2025 in New York City. Image: Yuki Iwamura-Pool/Getty Images/AFP
Indian social media is abuzz with the name of the Democratic Party's candidate for the upcoming New York City mayor elections in November: Zohran Mamdani.
The borderless reach of his campaign to win the Democratic mayoral primary has many wishing they had a young, passionate, and charismatic politician representing their concerns and leading their municipal corporation. At least, that is what social media seems to want. Born in Uganda, Mamdani is the son of renowned historian Mahmood Mamdani, author of the book "Saviors and Survivors" about the Darfur war, and filmmaker Mira Nair, who directed the classic "Salaam Bombay!" Nair's cinematic flair is evident in the 33-year-old's campaign, which features Eastman colours, catchy tunes, and a deft use of video. Meanwhile, his father's political acumen is reflected in his conversations with voters, who discuss lower rents, free daycare, and other populist ideas in the notoriously expensive metropolis.
A self-declared socialist, Zohran Mamdani surprisingly beat out former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who conceded after 95 percent of the votes were counted in the primary. Mamdani had taken 43 percent of the vote, and Cuomo, who was weighed down by having to quit in disgrace four years ago after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment, had around 36 percent and appeared to have no chance to catch up to his rival.
Currently a New York state assemblyman representing the borough of Queens, Mamdani is backed by the Democratic Socialists of America party -- the kind of niche, leftist affiliation that many Democratic leaders believe their party needs to shed. US Senator Bernie Sanders and progressive congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorse him.
Mamdani bills himself as Trump's "worst nightmare" and champions social policies like free bus travel, raising the minimum wage to $30 per hour by 2030, and a tax hike for the wealthy. He will soon face several contenders in November, including current Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who has vowed to run again as an independent. Andrew Cuomo is also considering the same path, making things complicated for the young candidate.
Mamdani isn't the only Indian- American public representative. Here's a look at six other Indian-Americans who are currently serving in the House of Representatives who emerged victorious in the hard-fought battle of the 2024 US elections.
Raja Krishnamoorthi
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Raja Krishnamoorthi
Krishnamoorthi was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016. This is his fifth term from the
8th Congressional District of Illinois. This year, the Democrat defeated Republican candidate Mark Rice. Krishnamoorthi's parents moved to the US when he was three. He studied mechanical engineering at Princeton University, followed by a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. After practicing law at various firms, Krishnamoorthi became Deputy Treasurer at the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office. Since becoming a House member, he has served on prominent House Committees such as the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the US and the Chinese Communist Party and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Immigration Task Force.
Suhas Subramanyam
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Suhas Subramanyam
Subramanyam, a Democrat candidate, defeated Republican Mike Clancy by 16,875 votes. He will represent the 10th Congressional District of Virginia in the US House of Representatives. Subramanyam is a state senator in the Virginia State Senate. He was born in Huston, Texas, in 1979 to Indian parents who moved to the US from Bengaluru. Subramanyam went to Tulane University, where he completed his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy. He then obtained his Doctor of Law from Northwestern University. During the Obama administration in 2015-17, he worked with the White House as a Policy Advisor on technology policies. In 2020, he was elected delegate to the Virginia House of Delegates.
Thanedar, a Democratic candidate, has won the US House of Representatives election from the 13th District of Michigan. He secured 69 percent votes, defeating Republican candidate Martell Bivings by 141,698 votes. This is Thanedar’s second term in the US House; he had previously represented the 13th district in the US House since January 2023. Prior to the US House, Thanedar was elected as a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives in 2021. Born in Karnataka, Thanedar obtained his master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Mumbai. In 1979, he moved to the US for his PhD. Soon, he started his entrepreneurial journey, which earned him a name in the business world.
Ami Bera
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Ami Bera
Bera, a Democrat, has been re-elected to the US House from the 6th Congressional District of California. Previously he represented the 7th district from 2013 to 2023. He was a House Foreign Affairs Committee member, serving as a Ranking Rember on Indo-Pacific affairs. Bera was born and brought up in California; his parents moved to the US in 1958. He studied medicine and received his MD from the University of California. After a long career as a medical professional, clinical professor, and as Chief Medical Officer of Sacramento County, Bera entered politics in 2010.
Rao Khanna
Image: Sarah Silbiger / Reuters
Ro Khanna
Khanna won his House of Representatives seat from the 17th Congressional District of California for the fifth time. He first won in 2016 after an unsuccessful attempt in 2014. Previously, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce in the Obama Administration. Khanna’s parents migrated to the US in the 1970s. He completed his BA in economics at the University of Chicago and obtained a law degree at Yale University. He counselled several companies in legal matters for some time and worked as a visiting professor at Stanford University. Khanna held several important positions in the House. He was co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans and Chair of the House Oversight and Reform Environmental Subcommittee
Pramila Jayapal
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Pramila Jayapal
Jayapal, a Democrat, emerged victorious for the fifth time from Washington’s 7th Congressional District for the US House of Representatives. She received 85 percent of the votes and won by 218,519 votes. Jayapal is the first Indian-American woman elected to the US House of Representatives. Prior to the US House, she was elected to the Washington State Senate in 2015. She is known for her strong advocacy for a fair immigration system. She was a member of the House Judiciary Committee as well as the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity. Jayapal was born and brought up in Chennai, and moved to the US at the age of 16 to study at Georgetown University. She also has an MBA from Northwestern University.