By Keerthi Ramesh,
Abhiram Garapati, and Indian-American entrepreneur and Central Texas rancher is mounting an unconventional bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, throwing his hat into a crowded Republican primary for Texas’ 31st Congressional District.
Garapati, 50, is one of at least 10 Republicans competing in the March 3 primary to challenge long-time incumbent Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock.
Garapati, who came to the United States from Andhra Pradesh in southern India nearly three decades ago, has drawn attention for blending business experience with rural Texan culture.
Born and raised in the town of Nuzvid, Garapati arrived in the United States in 1997 with “just $500,” according to his campaign. Overcoming early financial struggles, he built a career in real estate investment and later expanded into farming and ranching. He became a U.S. citizen in 2010.
Garapati leads Ant Savings, a commercial real estate firm he founded in 2004, with holdings that include office buildings, restaurants, and health care properties across several states.
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Alongside his business career, Garapati tends cattle and hay on his Central Texas ranch, often sporting the cowboy hat that has become part of his public identity.
“For me, this campaign isn’t about breaking records,” Garapati says on his campaign website. “It’s about showing that anyone who works hard in this country, no matter where they were born, can contribute to its future.”
Garapati’s campaign emphasizes conservative principles familiar to many voters in the sprawling district, which stretches from Temple and Killeen north of Austin to rural counties east of Waco.
In addition to fiscal responsibility and limited government, he underscores a deep connection to rural issues, citing firsthand experience with agriculture and small business challenges.
Unlike many of his opponents, Garapati is self-funding his campaign and has declined to accept contributions from political action committees or individual donors, pledging to forego a congressional salary if elected. He also says he will not trade individual stocks while serving in office.
Garapati’s embrace of local culture, from ranching to his public expressions of faith, sets him apart in a primary that also features a range of traditional political figures and at least one well-known outsider candidate.
Among those challenging Carter is Offer Vince Shlomi, better known nationally for his late-night infomercial persona, who has campaigned on a staunchly anti-“woke” platform.
While not a political novice, Garapati has served as a delegate for the district at the 2024 Republican National Convention. He has yet to secure significant backing from Republican insiders.
Analysts say his personal story and independent funding could attract voters looking for a fresh voice, but overcoming an entrenched incumbent remains a steep climb.
Primary voters in Texas’ 31st District will decide which Republican will face Carter, who is seeking another term, in a district that has leaned reliably Republican for years.