Indian American incumbents retain US House seats. Suhas Subramanyam adds fresh flavor to ‘Samosa’ caucus

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Virginia State Senator, Suhas Subramanyam has made history as the first Indian American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Commonwealth.

His victory raises the number of Indian American lawmakers in the House to six. He will be representing the “Samosa Caucus,” a term coined by Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois, to describe the group of Indian American legislators serving in the US Congress.

“I am honored 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 Congressman-elect Subramanyam in a statement. “This district is my home. I got married here, my wife Miranda and I are raising our daughters here, and the issues our community faces are personal to our family. It is an honor to continue serving this district in Washington.”

Referring to Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton as his “dear friend and mentor,” Subramanyam commended her “incredible record of service.” He went on to state, “Following in her footsteps will be no easy task, but I will work to continue her legacy.”

He also expressed gratitude to his Republican opponent, Mike Clancy, for running a spirited campaign. Subramanyam shared that he is committed to collaborating with Clancy and his supporters to strengthen the community and serve as a representative for all Virginians.

“Making history isn’t easy, and this win would not have been possible without the hard work of our staff, volunteers, friends, and family. This honor would not have been possible without them,” emphasized Subramanyam noting it is time to tackle the hard battles and build a brighter future for his constituents.

The other five Indian American lawmakers, all Democrats, including, Ro Khanna of California, Krishnamoorthi, Shri Thanedar from Michigan, Pramila Jayapal of Washington state, and Dr. Ami Bera of California, retained their seats.

Rep. Krishnamoorthi, re-elected from Illinois’ 8th Congressional District, emphasized his commitment to expanding investments in Illinois’ workforce and attracting more 21st-century jobs to the state. He pledged to protect Social Security and Medicare, defend women’s reproductive rights, advocate for sensible gun laws, ensure the safety of children in schools, and oppose entities like Big Tobacco and Big Tech that, according to him, seek to profit from America’s youth.

“My parents came to this country with little more than a dream for their family’s future and the faith that they could achieve it here in America,” Krishnamoorthi concluded in a statement. “Despite some hard times, we did. My mission in Congress is to fight for all the other families that are pursuing their dreams, no matter where they come from, how they worship, or the number of letters in their names… there are 29 in mine.”

Re-elected for a second term from the Michigan’s 13^th District, Congressman Thanedar credited his victory to his “record of delivering strong constituent services, standing up for working families, fighting for unions, and always fighting for reproductive freedom.”

“Everywhere I go, constituents always come up to me and tell me how my office helped them with their immigration issues, secure a visa, get veterans benefits, get their tax returns, etc. That is a testament to my team, and I couldn’t be prouder of all their hard work and how effective we are in serving our constituents,” added Rep. Thanedar.

Rep. Jayapal, who was re-elected from the 7^th district in Washington, said, “From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Our campaign, and our movement, has always been about lifting people up, fighting for poor and working people, and bringing all of us together. I’m so proud to represent Washington’s 7th district and I look forward to joining together to continue fighting for progress and opportunity for all.”

As the South Asian Herald went to press, votes were still being counted in a close race between former Arizona State Representative Dr. Amish Shah, running for US Congress from the 1^st Congressional District, and Republican incumbent David Schweikert. If elected, Dr. Shah could become the seventh Indian American lawmaker to join the Caucus. The Associated Press had not called the race till late evening of November 7.

There are also other South Asian candidates who were successful in their State Senate and House elections.

“I am honored to be re-elected as our State Representative,” said Arvind Venkat, who was re-elected as the State Representative for Pennsylvania’s 30^th House District. He thanked all his neighbors in McCandless, Franklin Park, Ohio Twp, Kilbuck, Emsworth, Ben Avon Heights Borough, and western Township of Hampton.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone who supported me in this re-election! Your votes and trust mean the world to me. Thank you for believing in our vision and for standing by my side. Let’s keep moving forward together,” said Georgia Democratic State Senator, Nabilah Islam Parkes who was re-elected to the 7^thDistrict.

“To my fellow Georgians: thank you for entrusting me with a second term. I will continue to fight for our families, help our communities prosper, and protect our fundamental rights and freedoms – including the right to an abortion and the right to vote,” she added.

But another GA State Senate candidate from District 48, Ashwin Ramaswami, lost to Republican Shawn Still. Congratulating Still, Ramaswami noted, “I’m looking forward to working together on the issues that matter to our district. Our campaign brought together historically overlooked communities and turned out the vote like never before. Onwards and upwards.”

Salman Bhojani from Texas House District 92, who was re-elected, thanked all his supporters, donors, and constituents, noting, “I cannot thank you enough. And to every voter—no matter your party, beliefs, or background—I look forward to serving you for two more years.”

Nabeela Syed who was reelected to the State House from 51^st District in Illinois noted “It feels surreal that at 25 years old, I will have the opportunity to serve my second term as State Representative for the community I was born and raised in.”