Indian American Democratic Rep. Ami Bera has secured an eighth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Republican candidate Rob Tucker in California’s newly redrawn 3rd Congressional District.
Bera previously represented the 6th Congressional District and contested the newly drawn 3rd District following a statewide redistricting measure approved by voters last year. It covers El Dorado and Nevada counties and portions of Placer and Sacramento counties.
According to the latest reports, Bera had received about 59.7% of the vote, compared with 40.3% for his Republican challenger, Rob Tucker. The outcome gives the 61-year-old Democrat another term in Congress and extends his record as the longest-serving Indian American currently serving in the U.S. Congress.
The latest New York Times election results showed Bera leading in Nevada County with 59% of the vote, with 54% of ballots counted. Tucker was ahead in Placer County with 56%, with 63% of votes counted. Bera also led in El Dorado and Sacramento counties with 58% and 62%, respectively.
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The redrawing of California’s congressional boundaries played a significant role in the contest.
Proposition 50 was approved by California voters in response to Republican-led redistricting efforts in other states. The new map was designed to give Democrats a stronger opportunity to compete for additional House seats.
Tucker serves on the Nevada County Board of Supervisors. The race was closely watched as one of the contests that could determine whether the redrawn boundaries would translate into additional Democratic seats in Congress.
Bera was born in Los Angeles in 1965 to Gujarati immigrant parents. A physician by profession, he completed his undergraduate studies and medical degree at the University of California, Irvine. He later served as chief medical officer for Sacramento County and worked at the UC Davis School of Medicine as a clinical professor and associate dean for admissions and outreach. He was first elected to the House in 2012.
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Bera has focused on issues including health care affordability, economic development and international relations. He currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and has been particularly involved in matters concerning the Indo-Pacific region and U.S.-India relations.
He is also a member of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. In 2025, he joined a bipartisan resolution calling for greater cooperation between India and the United States in areas including defense, technology and trade.
Bera has been critical of Trump’s H-1B visa policies and his ongoing war against Iran, which he described as an “illegal war” launched without “congressional approval.”
His campaign focused on health care, protecting Medicare and Social Security, women’s reproductive rights, clean energy, jobs and the economy, national security, and wildfire prevention.
Bera’s re-election comes as Indian American representation in U.S. politics continues to attract attention.