Indian-American wins seat in Ohio State Senate making history

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Even as results for the presidential race were awaited, Ohio State Rep. Niraj Antani, a Republican, won his race for the State Senate, becoming the first Indian American in the upper house of the legislature.

Antani was elected from Ohio  Senate’s 6^th District, which encompasses most of Montgomery County.

“I am so grateful for the continued support of this community in which I was born and raised,” said Antani in a statement.

“My grandparents lived much of their life under British rule in India, only gaining their freedom 7 decades ago. That it is possible for their grandson to be elected as Ohio’s first Indian American State Senator is a testament to America’s beauty,” he added.

“I thank the voters for entrusting in me with this sacred honor, to be their voice at the Statehouse. As State Senator, I will work hard every day so all Ohioans can have the opportunity to achieve their American Dream,” said Antani.

Antani was first elected to the Ohio State House in 2014, at the age of 23, and is currently serving his third term representing the 42nd District of Miamisburg.  He is the second Indian-American state elected official in Ohio history after Democrat Jay Goyal who came to office in 2007 and served for three terms.

Antani is the first Indian-American Republican to be elected to the lower house and now to the State Senate.

Antani serves as Vice Chairman of the Rules and Reference Committee and as Vice Chairman

Antani was named to Forbes Magazine’s list of the top “30 Under 30” people in the United States for Law & Politics in 2015. As well, the conservative media organization Newsmax named him the 2nd most influential Republican in the nation under age 30.

In addition, in 2013 he was named to the “Top 30 Conservatives Under Age 30 in the United States” list by Red Alert Politics.

Antani has received the Legislator of the Year Award by the AMVETS Department of Ohio for his work helping veterans, as well as the Friend of Community Colleges Award by the Ohio Association of Community College and the Distinguished Government Service Award by the Ohio Association of Career Colleges and Schools for his work for the betterment of higher education for the middle class. He earned several other awards and recognitions.

A graduate of The Ohio State University, Antani, a strong conservative, is a member of the National Rifle Association, and volunteered for Dayton Right to Life. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Miamisburg, is the 2nd Vice President of the Miamisb

He chaired the Ohio Republican Party Asian Pacific American Advisory Council and serves on the national board of the Republican State Leadership Committee’s Future Majority Project.