US elections: Samosa Caucus expands, what to know about the Indian-Americans elected to Congress

Here is what you need to know about the Indian-Americans elected to Congress.

1. 01

   Suhas Subramanyam

   Suhas Subramanyam made history as the first Indian-American to be elected to the House of Representatives from Virginia, and the East Coast. As House Rep, he will represent Virginia’s 10th congressional district.

   He is presently the Senator from Virginia’s 32nd District. He has previously served as a delegate on Virginia’s state assembly.

   This victory also makes him the first South Asian, and the first practising Hindu to be elected from the region.

   Suhas Subramanyam is an Indian-American lawyer born to immigrant parents from Bengaluru. A law graduate from Northwestern University, he previously served as a White House advisor to Barack Obama. At the time, he led a task force on technology policy that addressed job creation and regulating new technologies.

   He lives with his wife Miranda and two children in Ashburn, Virginia.

2. 02

   Ami Bera

   Ami Bera has represented California’s 6th congressional district since 2013, and was re-elected for the seventh consecutive term in Tuesday’s election. He is the senior-most Indian American in Congress.

   Bera is a physician and holds an MD from the University of California-Irvine. He advocates for increased healthcare access and has sought to reform the healthcare system in the United States. He has been a vocal advocate for affordable prescription drugs and expanding access to mental health services. Bera also serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he focuses on strengthening US-India relations and promoting global health initiatives.

   Bera’s parents hail from Rajkot, Gujarat. He has previously served as Chief Medical Officer of Sacramento County.

   He lives with his wife Janine and their only child in Elk Grove, California.

3. 03

   Shri Thanedar

   Shri Thanedar was re-elected to Michigan’s 13th congressional district, which he has held since 2023. He served as a member of Michigan’s assembly in 2021-23.

   Born to a low-income Brahmin family in Belagavi in Karnataka, Thanedar obtained a Masters degree in Chemistry from Bombay University. He moved to the US in 1979 aged 24 to pursue his PhD from the University of Akron, graduating three years later. He also holds an MBA.

   He has since built a successful career as a businessman and entrepreneur, founding several companies in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. He sold his main business, Avomeen Analytical Services, for $20 million in 2016.

   His first foray into politics was in the Democratic primaries for Michigan governorship.

   A Politico analysis has compared Thanedar to Trump. Aside from the massive successes and failures the two have had as businessmen, Thanedar, the two have been reported to approach criticism similarly: “Deny everything, apologize for nothing, blame enemies and the media and keep on squeezing his branding—in this case, the word “progressive”—into as many sentences, signs and Google search ads as possible.”

4. 04

   Pramila Jayapal

   Pramila Jayapal, was re-elected to represent Washington's 7th congressional district. She has been a vocal advocate for progressive policies and immigration reform. She is the first South Asian to represent Washington at the federal level.

   Jayapal, born to a Chennai-based Malayali family in India, became the first South Asian American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2017.

   Before her election to Congress, Jayapal served as a Washington State Senator from 2015 to 2017. She is known for her strong advocacy on issues such as Medicare for All, immigration reform, and climate change.

   Jayapal currently serves as the Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a position she has held since 2021. She famously supported the anti-caste legislation passed by Seattle, making it the first city to do so. Her office also sponsored the congressional briefing on caste discrimination last year.

   Jayapal has a BA from Georgetown University, and MBA from Kellogg School, Northwestern University.

   Jayapal is married to Steven Williamson, and is the mother of a transgender child from her previous marriage. She advocates for abortion rights, and in her previous role as the executive director of OneAmerica, has championed civil rights.

5. 05

   Ro Khanna

   Ro Khanna was re-elected to represent California's 17th congressional district, which he has held since 2017.

   Born in Philadelphia to Punjabi parents who immigrated to the US in 1970s, Khanna has been a strong advocate for technology and innovation in Congress. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Agriculture Committee, focusing on bringing tech jobs to rural America and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.

   He was a high school valedictorian, and graduated from Chicago University with the highest honours, before attending Yale Law.

   Khanna was first elected to the US House in 2016, after two unsuccessful attempts in 2004 and 2014. This came after years of political involvement which saw him volunteering on Barack Obama’s state senate campaign, according to Politico.

   Khanna identifies as a ‘progressive capitalist’ and advocates for ‘economic patriotism’, urging consumers to “Buy American.”

6. 06

   Raja Krishnamoorthi

   Raja Krishnamoorthi was re-elected to represent Illinois's 8th congressional district, a position he has held since 2017. Known for his work on education and workforce development, Krishnamoorthi serves on the House Intelligence Committee and the House Oversight Committee. He is also the ranking Democratic member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

   Born in New Delhi, India in 1973 and moved with his family to Peoria, Illinois, where he was raised. Krishnamoorthi holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Princeton University, and is a Harvard Law graduate.

   Krishnamoorthy has previously served as deputy state treasurer.

   He lives in Schaumburg, Illinois, with his wife, Priya, and their three children.

7. 07

   Amish Shah

   Democrat candidate, Amish Shah is currently trailing in a close contest in Arizona’s First District. The physician and healthcare advocate was previously elected to Arizona’s State Assembly thrice – in 2018, 2020 and 2022.

   Shah was born in Chicago to Indian immigrant parents. He holds Bachelor of Arts cum laude and Doctor of Medicine degrees from Northwestern University, as well as a Master of Public Health degree from the University of California-Berkeley.

   He has previously worked as the team physician for the New York Jets football team, and continues to work as an Emergency Room doctor.