ANAHEIM, CA - The Nov.6 mid-term saw nearly 100 Indian-American candidates in federal, state and local office races. This unprecedented involvement in the political arena has boosted the profile of the community. In congressional contests, the re-elections went smoothly while several candidates in their first run, performed strongly. The state races yielded the richest hauls. A few things stand out: a majority of those coming into office are Democrats; women were equally present as candidates and winners;
most are highly educated; a bulk of them are young and show promise for the future. – Editor.
PRAMILA JAYAPAL. WA. DISTRICT 7. DEM
The first Indian-American woman in the House of Representatives the Democrat won re-election by an overwhelming margin, receiving 224,351 or 83.38% of the votes. Her Republican opponent PRAMILA JAYAPAL. WA. DISTRICT 7. Dem.
Craig Keller received only 44,732 or 16.62% percent of the haul.
With the results of the drubbing coming through, Jayapal tweeted, “84%!!!! Thank you Washington’s 7th District, for re-electing me - a proud immigrant, strong woman of color, and fierce progressive - to the U.S. House of Representatives.Oh and this time, I’ll be serving in the majority!!” The next day, she was back to business: I’m so unbelievably proud to welcome my new Democratic colleagues to the House. Welcome, brothers and sisters. Let’s get to work.
Born in Chennai, where her parents still reside, Jayapal came to the US at the age of 16 to attend college at Georgetown University and later received her MBA from Northwestern University. She has spent the last twenty years working internationally and domestically as a leading national advocate for women’s, immigrant, civil, and human rightsJayapal lives in Seattle with her husband Steve. She is the proud mother of a son and step-son, Janak and Michael.
ASH KALRA. CA. DIST 27. DEM
Republican challenger Burt Lancaster stood no chance against Kalra who nabbed 72.2% of the vote. “I am incredibly grateful to the San José voters of Assembly District 27 for sending me back to Sacramento! Your support means the world to me and I do not take this responsibility lightly. Back to work!” he tweeted after his victory.
Like the rest of the voting public glued to the House results on election night, the Democratic Party man gloated, “Well, it looks like the @TheDemocrats will take back the House before we even get to California. Let’s send them reinforcements!”
MONA DAS. WA. DISTRICT 47. DEM
The Democratic challenger won the seat Das 50.5 percent to 49.5 percent of the GOP incumbent Joe Fain. She ran for U.S. Congress in the 8th District before withdrawing before the primary and entering the state Senate race. She attended the University of Cincinnati where she earned her BA in psychology. She later moved to the Pacific Northwest where she established herself in the mortgage business. She went back to school in 2012 to earn a MBA in sustainable business at Pinchot University.
The race was a tough one but saw Fain embroiled on charges of rape.
HARRY SIDHU. MAYOR. ANAHEIM
Sidhu prevailed in a crowded field of seven candidates with 16,856 and 35.9% of the vote. His victory statement read:
“I want to thank my family, my supporters, and, most importantly, the Anaheim community for taking the time to cast your vote for me and the vision we share together for Anaheim’s future. I am honored and thrilled to lead the charge in unifying our city once again. The residents of Anaheim know that it’s time to move past the divisiveness and get back to working with all residents, businesses, and workforce that make Anaheim what it is today. We must return to the understanding that we only succeed when we all succeed. For Anaheim to thrive, we must work together and that starts anew today.”
Sidhu’s financial support for his campaign, was drawn from Anaheim residents and businesses, industry and political associations, and Indian-American business owners. He has previously served as a city council member. He lost the 2016 state assembly elections.
NITESH PATEL. LA PALMA. CITY COUNCIL
With the city looking to vote in two candidates, Patel got the second highest votes polling 1,918 in support. A 15 year resident of the city, the businessman is known to have sponsored several scholarships for students at Kennedy High as well as for city supported events. The businessman is married to Niti and their two daughters are Tulsi and Krishna. His campaign platform states, “I value the quality of life that our city offers and I want to continue to be a part of strengthening the values this community is known for.”
RO KHANNA. CA. DISTRICT 17. Dem
Khanna scored an impressive re-election victory from the district, which Silicon Valley. He won with 72.5 percent of all the votes polled, while his GOP rival Ron Cohen received 27.5 percent. On Nov.6 he tweeted, “Thank you to everyone who contributed to our huge victory tonight. Together we will continue to build a progressive future that includes Medicare for all, debt-free public college, restraint in foreign policy, and good jobs for every American. #CA17”
After this, “Tonight we once again proved that you don’t need the funding of PACs and special interests to run an effective campaign. You just need people power. I am so honored to represent the great people of #CA17 and will continue to fight for you.”
Khanna received his B.A. in economics with honors from the University of Chicago in 1998, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He attended Yale Law School, receiving his law degree in 2001. He specialized in intellectual property law. Khanna was one of the few Representatives to endorse Bernie Sanders for President. Khanna resides in Fremontwith his wife, Ritu. In July 2017, they had their first child, a boy named Soren.
RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI. IL. DISTRICT 18. Dem
In what many Indian-Americans considered an annoying election, where the popular incumbent and the challenger were both from the community, Raja coasted to an easy victory over Jitendra “JD” Diganvker by nearly 18,600 votes.
“Thank you so much to my constituents for choosing to extend my contract for another two years. I promise I will do you proud. Thank you to my family, my staff and to all of you who supported me in this re-election, as this wouldn’t have happened without you,” Raja stated after his re-election. With an eye beyond election day, he said, “Now that Democrats have been returned to control of the House, we must use our new positions to help move the country forward, while holding the Trump Administration accountable for its actions. We cannot descend into meaningless partisan bickering.”
Raja,the child of immigrants and was reared in Peoria. Scholarships and student loans allowed Raja to graduate summa cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in mechanical engineering and a certificate from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy. He then graduated with honors from Harvard Law School and clerked for a federal judge before practicing law in Chicago. Raja and his wife, Priya, a physician, live in Schaumburg with their two sons and baby daughter.
AMI BERA. CA. DISTRICT 7. Dem
Bera, as a candidate has lived on the edge. He has survived vicious and nail-biting campaigns three times. In his fourth outing, the Democrat won with more than 5 percentage points. He received 52.7% of the votes and his Republican opponent Andrew Grant received 47.3%. Bera, a physician, is the longest-serving Indian-American in Congress. The SoCal raised – LaPalma, Irvine – Rep. has lived in Elk Grove, for 20 years with his wife Janine, who is also a medical doctor and daughter, Sydra. Media reports say he is the only Unitarian Universalist in Congress.
TULSI GABBARD. HI. DISTRICT 2. Dem
Gabbard won another term beating Brian Evans, a Republican. Gabbard had 77.4% of the vote, while her rival got only 22.6%. Gabbard has represented the district in the House since 2013. The US veteran, a Hindu, is drawing attention with talk of her eyeing the 2020 presidential race.
ALI TAJ. COUNCILMEMBER. ARTESIA
Pakistani-American Taj was the highest poll getter with 1,404 or 22.19% of the vote. He has served on the City Council since December 2013. He sought election to the California State Senate but lost the primary on June 5, 2018.
AMISH SHAH. AZ. DIST24. DEM
“Thank you all for your tremendous support. We won! We are grateful and honored to serve as your next representative in the LD24. Thank you to all volunteers, supporters, and donors…and I won’t let you down,” Shah tweeted. Jennifer Longdon took the lead followed by Amish Shah to defeat the GOP’s David Alger Sr.
Shah has spoken of surviving his early trauma with bullying saying, “I had a pretty rough childhood. There were times I would go to my room and pray that God would just take my life, because there seemed to be no safe place for me.” He went on to becoming an ER doctor and worked for a time with the NFL. His platform says, “I will fight harder than anyone to make sure every kid gets a real shot like I did. I will demand that teachers get paid well and treated with respect. And anyone who messes with an American kid will have to mess with me.”
PADMA KUPPA. MI. DIST 41. DEM
Kuppa collected 51.3% versus 48.7% for Republican Doug Tietz. It was welcome news for the Democratic Party in a GOP stronghold. The elated candidate put out a statement:
We did it - We #Flipped41! In the early hours of Nov. 7, we learned that we won! This win belongs to all of us. This is a victory for our shared values, a vision for our district and our state that is one of hope and positive change.
To the countless volunteers: rain or shine, in the heat and the cold, they went door-to-door, made telephone calls, put up yard signs, stood at the polls, got their friends and neighbors to the polls, and so much more. This is a win for everyone who believes in the beauty of their dreams, as Eleanor Roosevelt said.
I am ready to start working in Lansing with my colleagues from across the state, to ensure that our policies and our budget reflect our priorities: investing in our children’s education and our infrastructure, protecting our environment and all we hold dear.
NIMA KULKARNI. KY. DIST 40. DEM
In a deep red state, Kulkarni overwhelmingly defeated Joshua Neubert grabbing more than 74% of the votes. During the campaign she spoke of her arrival on US shores at the age of 6 and along with her brother Nikhil delivering groceries from the stores that her parents Suhas and Surekha set up. The newly minted legislator has a law degree from the David A. Clarke School of Law, University of DC and an MBA from the University of Louisville. Education was a high priority during her stump for office. The 38 year old becomes the first Indian-American to have run for the state wide office in KY and of course, the first to win.
KUMAR BARVE. MD.DIST 17. DEM
The elder statesman of state legislators in the Indian-American community Barve was among three candidates who were voted into the state House of Delegates. The incumbent was the top vote-getter in the race, receiving 28,469 votes, followed by two other Democrats. The 60 year old has been among the earliest politicians in the community and has name recognition through out his state. He has a degree from Georgetown University. He has been married to Maureen Quinn since 2004.
NIRAJ ANTANI. OH. DIST 42. GOP
A strong conservative, Antani is a member of the NRA and volunteers for Dayton Right to Life. Still in his twenties, the young incumbent won 59.5% of the vote defeating Democrat Zach Dickerson. The day after his victory he tweeted, “It’s a good day at the Statehouse today. Let’s get to work.” In 2016, Newsmax named him the second most influential Republican under 30. In addition, he was named to the “Top 30 Conservatives Under Age 30 in the United States” list by Red Alert Politics. Atani has a degree in Political Science from Ohio State University.
VANDANA SLATTER. WA. DIST 48.DEM
Slatter was first selected to be a rep. in 2017 when the incumbent moved on to another position. This mid-term she contested for the seat. On her victory, she said on Nov.7, “Yesterday was an exciting election night and a step in the right direction. Though I was unopposed, I do not take a single vote for granted. Thank you to everyone who organized, volunteered, and voted, both in my district and across our state and country.I am so grateful for your support, and I can’t wait to get back to work in Olympia.” Slatter has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington. She is also a graduate of the University of British Columbia where she was captain of the women’s varsity fencing team. She and her husband Greg, a research scientist, have one son.
KEVIN THOMAS. NY. DISTRICT 6. DEM
Kevin Thomas came to the US when he was 10. His climb has been quick and he acknowledges this, saying he “understands the promise that the United States holds” and “believes that he is a living testament that the American dream still exists.” His campaign promised that every New Yorker should have the same opportunities that he had.
He is an attorney and an appointee of the US Commission on Civil Rights to the New York State Advisory Committee, a federal agency tasked with civil rights oversight. He had first thought to run for Congress but withdrew and refocused his campaign on the state Senate. It proved to be a good move. Thomasbeat Republican incumbent, Kemp Hannon with 50.6% of the vote. He is married to Rincy, a pharmacist.
RAM VILLIVALAM. IL. DISTRICE 8. DEM
On Nov.6, Ram Villivalam run unopposed. His real test was in March when he ran in the primaries and won handily over incumbent Ira Silverstein – 51% to 30%. He has said, “If I have to get a license from the DMV to prove that I’m a safe driver, a nail technician has to get a license as well, so should a gun dealer. And I also think that we need to focus on investing in clean energy and working to end discrimination based on race, gender and folks in the LGBTQ community.”
Villivalam was born and lives in Chicago. He got his degree in political science and government from George Washington University in 2009. His career experience includes working as a consultant in healthcare.
MUJTABA MOHAMMED. NC. DISTRICT 38. DEM
On Nov.7 Mohammed tweeted with glee, “Goodbye Supermajority. Hello progress. Let’s do this!” He was part of the victorious State Senate candidates who swept into office with 81.7% of the vote defeating Richard Rivette of the Republican party who was able to garner only 11,882 votes.
The Charlotte resident said his mom and dad on immigrating from India, taught him the importance of putting family before self, helping others, and appreciating the simple blessings in life. It was this foundation that led Mujtaba to pursue a career in public interest law. As a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, he says education is critical in a person’s growth and success. Mohammed and his wife Saba have two boys aged 4 and 2.
JAY CHAUDHURI. NC. DISTRICT 15. DEM
“Congratulations to @NCSenateDems for breaking the GOP supermajority after EIGHT YEARS! Thanks to everyone’s door knocking, texting, and contributions, we did it!” was Chaudhuri’s reaction on election night. In his re-election he polled 73.1% of the votes overwhelmingly defeating Libertarian challenger Brian Lewis and Republican Alan David Michael. He has said, he “will be a voice for progressive values by standing up against the Tea Party and right-wing Republicans.” He has promised to lead the fight to protect a woman’s right to choose and push for stronger gun control laws. Born in Chattanooga, Chaudhuri has degrees from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and North Carolina Central University School of Law. He lives with his wife Sejal Mehta, a former New York City prosecutor and their two children.
MANKA DHINGRA. WA. DISTRICT 45. DEM
Running on a platform for education, health and accountability, Dhingra won her seat comfortably defeating Republican Dave Fonk with 39,860 votes that added up to 63.4% of the poll. She was born in Bhopal, where her father worked for Union Carbide and her mother was a schoolteacher. After her father died of colon cancer, Dhingra moved to California with her mother at the age of 13, joining her relatives. She has her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law. She lives with her husband Harjit in Redmond, where he works for Space X. The couple have two teenage children.
VIN GOPAL. NJ. DISTRICT 11. DEM
Gopal in 2017 became the first Indian-American to be elected to the state’s Senate when he caused a shock upset winning over a more well recognized candidate. This election cycle he retained his seat easily. The 33 year old’s family is from Southern India. His parents came to the NJ in the early 1970s. Gopal holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Pennsylvania State University.
JOSH KAUL. WI. ATTORNEY GENERAL
Former federal prosecutor Josh Kaul declared victory over Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel on Nov.7. The election was a fraught one with healthcare at the center of the campaign. Schimel had filed a lawsuit to end Obamacare.
“Thank you, Wisconsin! This election has confirmed that Wisconsinites want elected officials to keep protections in place for people with a pre-existing condition. And as Attorney General, I’ll advocate for expanding Medicaid in Wisconsin,” Kaul said.
Kaul, 37, has a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a law degree from Stanford University.
LOSSES
Former diplomat Sri Preston Kulkarni running from TX District 24 failed to unseat incumbent Pete Olson. The Democrat lost by 5 percentage points. Former Ambassador to India, Richard Verma campaigned for him. Ro Khanna after election night tweeted, “Although @SriPKulkarni didn’t come out on top last night, he ran an inspiring and uplifting race in #TX22. I proudly endorsed him.”
Hiral Tipireni who was contesting from District 8 in AZ lost to GOP Rep. Debbie Lesko, 56.7 percent to 43.3 percent. Lesko was first elected to Congress earlier this year by defeating Tipirneni in a special election.
Aftab Pureval was endorsed by former President Barrack Obama in OH but lost to incumbent GOP Rep. Steve Chabot by more than 5 percentage points
Other Indian American congressional candidates who lost include Chintan Desai in AK’s 1st district, Sanjay Patel in FL’s 8th, Amita Malik in AZ’s 6th all Democrats. Harry Arora from CT’s 4th lost as the GOP candidate. Independent Shiva Ayyadurai running for a Senate seat from MA and making controversial statements about the eventual victor, Elizabeth Warren earned 3.4% of the vote.
PRAMILA JAYAPAL. WA. DISTRICT 7. DEM
The first Indian-American woman in the House of Representatives the Democrat won re-election by an overwhelming margin, receiving 224,351 or 83.38% of the votes. Her Republican opponent PRAMILA JAYAPAL. WA. DISTRICT 7. Dem.
Craig Keller received only 44,732 or 16.62% percent of the haul.
With the results of the drubbing coming through, Jayapal tweeted, “84%!!!! Thank you Washington’s 7th District, for re-electing me - a proud immigrant, strong woman of color, and fierce progressive - to the U.S. House of Representatives.Oh and this time, I’ll be serving in the majority!!” The next day, she was back to business: I’m so unbelievably proud to welcome my new Democratic colleagues to the House. Welcome, brothers and sisters. Let’s get to work.
Born in Chennai, where her parents still reside, Jayapal came to the US at the age of 16 to attend college at Georgetown University and later received her MBA from Northwestern University. She has spent the last twenty years working internationally and domestically as a leading national advocate for women’s, immigrant, civil, and human rightsJayapal lives in Seattle with her husband Steve. She is the proud mother of a son and step-son, Janak and Michael.
ASH KALRA. CA. DIST 27. DEM
Republican challenger Burt Lancaster stood no chance against Kalra who nabbed 72.2% of the vote. “I am incredibly grateful to the San José voters of Assembly District 27 for sending me back to Sacramento! Your support means the world to me and I do not take this responsibility lightly. Back to work!” he tweeted after his victory.
Like the rest of the voting public glued to the House results on election night, the Democratic Party man gloated, “Well, it looks like the @TheDemocrats will take back the House before we even get to California. Let’s send them reinforcements!”
MONA DAS. WA. DISTRICT 47. DEM
The Democratic challenger won the seat Das 50.5 percent to 49.5 percent of the GOP incumbent Joe Fain. She ran for U.S. Congress in the 8th District before withdrawing before the primary and entering the state Senate race. She attended the University of Cincinnati where she earned her BA in psychology. She later moved to the Pacific Northwest where she established herself in the mortgage business. She went back to school in 2012 to earn a MBA in sustainable business at Pinchot University.
The race was a tough one but saw Fain embroiled on charges of rape.
HARRY SIDHU. MAYOR. ANAHEIM
Sidhu prevailed in a crowded field of seven candidates with 16,856 and 35.9% of the vote. His victory statement read:
“I want to thank my family, my supporters, and, most importantly, the Anaheim community for taking the time to cast your vote for me and the vision we share together for Anaheim’s future. I am honored and thrilled to lead the charge in unifying our city once again. The residents of Anaheim know that it’s time to move past the divisiveness and get back to working with all residents, businesses, and workforce that make Anaheim what it is today. We must return to the understanding that we only succeed when we all succeed. For Anaheim to thrive, we must work together and that starts anew today.”
Sidhu’s financial support for his campaign, was drawn from Anaheim residents and businesses, industry and political associations, and Indian-American business owners. He has previously served as a city council member. He lost the 2016 state assembly elections.
NITESH PATEL. LA PALMA. CITY COUNCIL
With the city looking to vote in two candidates, Patel got the second highest votes polling 1,918 in support. A 15 year resident of the city, the businessman is known to have sponsored several scholarships for students at Kennedy High as well as for city supported events. The businessman is married to Niti and their two daughters are Tulsi and Krishna. His campaign platform states, “I value the quality of life that our city offers and I want to continue to be a part of strengthening the values this community is known for.”
RO KHANNA. CA. DISTRICT 17. Dem
Khanna scored an impressive re-election victory from the district, which Silicon Valley. He won with 72.5 percent of all the votes polled, while his GOP rival Ron Cohen received 27.5 percent. On Nov.6 he tweeted, “Thank you to everyone who contributed to our huge victory tonight. Together we will continue to build a progressive future that includes Medicare for all, debt-free public college, restraint in foreign policy, and good jobs for every American. #CA17”
After this, “Tonight we once again proved that you don’t need the funding of PACs and special interests to run an effective campaign. You just need people power. I am so honored to represent the great people of #CA17 and will continue to fight for you.”
Khanna received his B.A. in economics with honors from the University of Chicago in 1998, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He attended Yale Law School, receiving his law degree in 2001. He specialized in intellectual property law. Khanna was one of the few Representatives to endorse Bernie Sanders for President. Khanna resides in Fremontwith his wife, Ritu. In July 2017, they had their first child, a boy named Soren.
RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI. IL. DISTRICT 18. Dem
In what many Indian-Americans considered an annoying election, where the popular incumbent and the challenger were both from the community, Raja coasted to an easy victory over Jitendra “JD” Diganvker by nearly 18,600 votes.
“Thank you so much to my constituents for choosing to extend my contract for another two years. I promise I will do you proud. Thank you to my family, my staff and to all of you who supported me in this re-election, as this wouldn’t have happened without you,” Raja stated after his re-election. With an eye beyond election day, he said, “Now that Democrats have been returned to control of the House, we must use our new positions to help move the country forward, while holding the Trump Administration accountable for its actions. We cannot descend into meaningless partisan bickering.”
Raja,the child of immigrants and was reared in Peoria. Scholarships and student loans allowed Raja to graduate summa cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in mechanical engineering and a certificate from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy. He then graduated with honors from Harvard Law School and clerked for a federal judge before practicing law in Chicago. Raja and his wife, Priya, a physician, live in Schaumburg with their two sons and baby daughter.
AMI BERA. CA. DISTRICT 7. Dem
Bera, as a candidate has lived on the edge. He has survived vicious and nail-biting campaigns three times. In his fourth outing, the Democrat won with more than 5 percentage points. He received 52.7% of the votes and his Republican opponent Andrew Grant received 47.3%. Bera, a physician, is the longest-serving Indian-American in Congress. The SoCal raised – LaPalma, Irvine – Rep. has lived in Elk Grove, for 20 years with his wife Janine, who is also a medical doctor and daughter, Sydra. Media reports say he is the only Unitarian Universalist in Congress.
TULSI GABBARD. HI. DISTRICT 2. Dem
Gabbard won another term beating Brian Evans, a Republican. Gabbard had 77.4% of the vote, while her rival got only 22.6%. Gabbard has represented the district in the House since 2013. The US veteran, a Hindu, is drawing attention with talk of her eyeing the 2020 presidential race.
ALI TAJ. COUNCILMEMBER. ARTESIA
Pakistani-American Taj was the highest poll getter with 1,404 or 22.19% of the vote. He has served on the City Council since December 2013. He sought election to the California State Senate but lost the primary on June 5, 2018.
AMISH SHAH. AZ. DIST24. DEM
“Thank you all for your tremendous support. We won! We are grateful and honored to serve as your next representative in the LD24. Thank you to all volunteers, supporters, and donors…and I won’t let you down,” Shah tweeted. Jennifer Longdon took the lead followed by Amish Shah to defeat the GOP’s David Alger Sr.
Shah has spoken of surviving his early trauma with bullying saying, “I had a pretty rough childhood. There were times I would go to my room and pray that God would just take my life, because there seemed to be no safe place for me.” He went on to becoming an ER doctor and worked for a time with the NFL. His platform says, “I will fight harder than anyone to make sure every kid gets a real shot like I did. I will demand that teachers get paid well and treated with respect. And anyone who messes with an American kid will have to mess with me.”
PADMA KUPPA. MI. DIST 41. DEM
Kuppa collected 51.3% versus 48.7% for Republican Doug Tietz. It was welcome news for the Democratic Party in a GOP stronghold. The elated candidate put out a statement:
We did it - We #Flipped41! In the early hours of Nov. 7, we learned that we won! This win belongs to all of us. This is a victory for our shared values, a vision for our district and our state that is one of hope and positive change.
To the countless volunteers: rain or shine, in the heat and the cold, they went door-to-door, made telephone calls, put up yard signs, stood at the polls, got their friends and neighbors to the polls, and so much more. This is a win for everyone who believes in the beauty of their dreams, as Eleanor Roosevelt said.
I am ready to start working in Lansing with my colleagues from across the state, to ensure that our policies and our budget reflect our priorities: investing in our children’s education and our infrastructure, protecting our environment and all we hold dear.
NIMA KULKARNI. KY. DIST 40. DEM
In a deep red state, Kulkarni overwhelmingly defeated Joshua Neubert grabbing more than 74% of the votes. During the campaign she spoke of her arrival on US shores at the age of 6 and along with her brother Nikhil delivering groceries from the stores that her parents Suhas and Surekha set up. The newly minted legislator has a law degree from the David A. Clarke School of Law, University of DC and an MBA from the University of Louisville. Education was a high priority during her stump for office. The 38 year old becomes the first Indian-American to have run for the state wide office in KY and of course, the first to win.
KUMAR BARVE. MD.DIST 17. DEM
The elder statesman of state legislators in the Indian-American community Barve was among three candidates who were voted into the state House of Delegates. The incumbent was the top vote-getter in the race, receiving 28,469 votes, followed by two other Democrats. The 60 year old has been among the earliest politicians in the community and has name recognition through out his state. He has a degree from Georgetown University. He has been married to Maureen Quinn since 2004.
NIRAJ ANTANI. OH. DIST 42. GOP
A strong conservative, Antani is a member of the NRA and volunteers for Dayton Right to Life. Still in his twenties, the young incumbent won 59.5% of the vote defeating Democrat Zach Dickerson. The day after his victory he tweeted, “It’s a good day at the Statehouse today. Let’s get to work.” In 2016, Newsmax named him the second most influential Republican under 30. In addition, he was named to the “Top 30 Conservatives Under Age 30 in the United States” list by Red Alert Politics. Atani has a degree in Political Science from Ohio State University.
VANDANA SLATTER. WA. DIST 48.DEM
Slatter was first selected to be a rep. in 2017 when the incumbent moved on to another position. This mid-term she contested for the seat. On her victory, she said on Nov.7, “Yesterday was an exciting election night and a step in the right direction. Though I was unopposed, I do not take a single vote for granted. Thank you to everyone who organized, volunteered, and voted, both in my district and across our state and country.I am so grateful for your support, and I can’t wait to get back to work in Olympia.” Slatter has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington. She is also a graduate of the University of British Columbia where she was captain of the women’s varsity fencing team. She and her husband Greg, a research scientist, have one son.
KEVIN THOMAS. NY. DISTRICT 6. DEM
Kevin Thomas came to the US when he was 10. His climb has been quick and he acknowledges this, saying he “understands the promise that the United States holds” and “believes that he is a living testament that the American dream still exists.” His campaign promised that every New Yorker should have the same opportunities that he had.
He is an attorney and an appointee of the US Commission on Civil Rights to the New York State Advisory Committee, a federal agency tasked with civil rights oversight. He had first thought to run for Congress but withdrew and refocused his campaign on the state Senate. It proved to be a good move. Thomasbeat Republican incumbent, Kemp Hannon with 50.6% of the vote. He is married to Rincy, a pharmacist.
RAM VILLIVALAM. IL. DISTRICE 8. DEM
On Nov.6, Ram Villivalam run unopposed. His real test was in March when he ran in the primaries and won handily over incumbent Ira Silverstein – 51% to 30%. He has said, “If I have to get a license from the DMV to prove that I’m a safe driver, a nail technician has to get a license as well, so should a gun dealer. And I also think that we need to focus on investing in clean energy and working to end discrimination based on race, gender and folks in the LGBTQ community.”
Villivalam was born and lives in Chicago. He got his degree in political science and government from George Washington University in 2009. His career experience includes working as a consultant in healthcare.
MUJTABA MOHAMMED. NC. DISTRICT 38. DEM
On Nov.7 Mohammed tweeted with glee, “Goodbye Supermajority. Hello progress. Let’s do this!” He was part of the victorious State Senate candidates who swept into office with 81.7% of the vote defeating Richard Rivette of the Republican party who was able to garner only 11,882 votes.
The Charlotte resident said his mom and dad on immigrating from India, taught him the importance of putting family before self, helping others, and appreciating the simple blessings in life. It was this foundation that led Mujtaba to pursue a career in public interest law. As a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, he says education is critical in a person’s growth and success. Mohammed and his wife Saba have two boys aged 4 and 2.
JAY CHAUDHURI. NC. DISTRICT 15. DEM
“Congratulations to @NCSenateDems for breaking the GOP supermajority after EIGHT YEARS! Thanks to everyone’s door knocking, texting, and contributions, we did it!” was Chaudhuri’s reaction on election night. In his re-election he polled 73.1% of the votes overwhelmingly defeating Libertarian challenger Brian Lewis and Republican Alan David Michael. He has said, he “will be a voice for progressive values by standing up against the Tea Party and right-wing Republicans.” He has promised to lead the fight to protect a woman’s right to choose and push for stronger gun control laws. Born in Chattanooga, Chaudhuri has degrees from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and North Carolina Central University School of Law. He lives with his wife Sejal Mehta, a former New York City prosecutor and their two children.
MANKA DHINGRA. WA. DISTRICT 45. DEM
Running on a platform for education, health and accountability, Dhingra won her seat comfortably defeating Republican Dave Fonk with 39,860 votes that added up to 63.4% of the poll. She was born in Bhopal, where her father worked for Union Carbide and her mother was a schoolteacher. After her father died of colon cancer, Dhingra moved to California with her mother at the age of 13, joining her relatives. She has her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law. She lives with her husband Harjit in Redmond, where he works for Space X. The couple have two teenage children.
VIN GOPAL. NJ. DISTRICT 11. DEM
Gopal in 2017 became the first Indian-American to be elected to the state’s Senate when he caused a shock upset winning over a more well recognized candidate. This election cycle he retained his seat easily. The 33 year old’s family is from Southern India. His parents came to the NJ in the early 1970s. Gopal holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Pennsylvania State University.
JOSH KAUL. WI. ATTORNEY GENERAL
Former federal prosecutor Josh Kaul declared victory over Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel on Nov.7. The election was a fraught one with healthcare at the center of the campaign. Schimel had filed a lawsuit to end Obamacare.
“Thank you, Wisconsin! This election has confirmed that Wisconsinites want elected officials to keep protections in place for people with a pre-existing condition. And as Attorney General, I’ll advocate for expanding Medicaid in Wisconsin,” Kaul said.
Kaul, 37, has a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a law degree from Stanford University.
LOSSES
Former diplomat Sri Preston Kulkarni running from TX District 24 failed to unseat incumbent Pete Olson. The Democrat lost by 5 percentage points. Former Ambassador to India, Richard Verma campaigned for him. Ro Khanna after election night tweeted, “Although @SriPKulkarni didn’t come out on top last night, he ran an inspiring and uplifting race in #TX22. I proudly endorsed him.”
Hiral Tipireni who was contesting from District 8 in AZ lost to GOP Rep. Debbie Lesko, 56.7 percent to 43.3 percent. Lesko was first elected to Congress earlier this year by defeating Tipirneni in a special election.
Aftab Pureval was endorsed by former President Barrack Obama in OH but lost to incumbent GOP Rep. Steve Chabot by more than 5 percentage points
Other Indian American congressional candidates who lost include Chintan Desai in AK’s 1st district, Sanjay Patel in FL’s 8th, Amita Malik in AZ’s 6th all Democrats. Harry Arora from CT’s 4th lost as the GOP candidate. Independent Shiva Ayyadurai running for a Senate seat from MA and making controversial statements about the eventual victor, Elizabeth Warren earned 3.4% of the vote.