Indian American candidates scored key victories in the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections, securing seats in Congress and state legislatures. From established lawmakers winning re-election to newcomers making their way into elected office, the results highlighted the community’s continued presence in American politics.
Democrats Pia Dandiya and Suhas Subramanyam secured congressional victories, while Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller won another term alongside Gov. Wes Moore. Several other Indian American lawmakers also retained their seats, strengthening the community’s representation at different levels of government.
Here is a list of Indian American candidates who secured victories in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections:
Candidate: Pia Dandiya
District: Florida’s 22nd Congressional District
Party: Democrat
Indian American Democrat Pia Dandiya won Florida’s newly redrawn 22nd Congressional District, defeating Republican businessman Casey Askar in one of the closely watched House races of the 2026 midterm elections.
Dandiya secured approximately 52% of the vote, compared with Askar’s 48%, according to reported results.
A former teacher and high school principal, Dandiya was born and raised in Palm Beach County to Indian immigrant parents. She later served as a White House fellow and worked on public sector initiatives at Apple.
READ: Indian American Pramila Jayapal wins re-election to US House in 2026 midterms
(November 4, 2026)
Her victory marks a milestone for Indian American representation in Congress. She will also add another woman to the informal group of Indian American lawmakers known as the “Samosa Caucus,” which had faced the possibility of losing members following earlier primary defeats.
Candidate: Pramila Jayapal
District: Washington’s 7th Congressional District
Party: Democrat
Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has won re-election to the US House of Representatives from Washington’s 7th Congressional District, extending her presence in Congress.
First elected in 2016, Jayapal represents most of Seattle and surrounding communities. She became the first South Asian American woman elected to Congress and has established herself as a prominent voice on immigration reform, workers’ rights, healthcare and economic equality.
Born in India, Jayapal moved to the United States at the age of 16. Before entering electoral politics, she worked in public health and immigrant rights advocacy and founded the organization OneAmerica.
Her re-election strengthens the position of progressive Indian American lawmakers in Washington as Congress prepares for its next legislative session.
Candidate: Suhas Subramanyam
District: Virginia’s 10th Congressional District
Party: Democrat
Indian American Democratic Congressman Suhas Subramanyam has won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger Dave Beckwith.
Subramanyam secured a second term after winning the seat in 2024. He became the first Indian American to represent Virginia in the House and the first from the East Coast, according to his congressional office.
Before entering Congress, Subramanyam served in Virginia’s House of Delegates and state Senate. He also worked as a technology policy adviser to President Barack Obama and has focused on issues including household costs, healthcare and technology policy.
His re-election adds to the growing presence of Indian American lawmakers in the House.
Candidate: Ro Khanna
District: California’s 17th Congressional District
Party: Democrat
Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna has won re-election to California’s 17th Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger Ritesh Tandon.
READ: Indian American Nabeela Syed flips Republican-held Illinois Senate seat (November 4, 2026)
The contest drew additional attention because both candidates are Indian American, putting two politicians with Indian roots on opposite sides of a race in Silicon Valley.
Khanna has represented the district since 2017 and is known for his work on technology, manufacturing, innovation and economic policy. He has also emerged as a prominent progressive voice within the Democratic Party.
Born in Philadelphia to Indian immigrant parents, Khanna holds an economics degree from the University of Chicago and a law degree from Yale University. Before entering Congress, he taught economics at Stanford University and served in the Obama administration.
His victory gives him another term in the House and maintains his position as one of the most visible Indian American lawmakers in Washington.
Candidate: Ami Bera
District: California’s 3rd Congressional District
Party: Democrat
Indian American Democratic Congressman Ami Bera has won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Republican challenger Robb Tucker, according to a report by the Press Trust of India.
The victory gives Bera, 61, another term in Congress and extends his record as the longest-serving Indian American member of the House.
A physician by training, Bera has focused on healthcare policy, foreign relations and economic issues during his time in Congress. He was first elected in 2012 and took office in January 2013.
Born in Los Angeles in 1965 to Gujarati immigrant parents, Bera attended public schools in California before earning a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and a medical degree from the University of California, Irvine.
His latest victory continues a congressional career spanning more than a decade and reinforces the presence of Indian American lawmakers in Washington.
Candidate: Aruna Miller
Post: Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
Party: Democrat
Indian American Democrat Aruna Miller has secured another term as Maryland’s lieutenant governor alongside Governor Wes Moore. The Democratic ticket defeated the Republican team led by former state delegate Dan Cox, with Rob Krop running for lieutenant governor.
READ: List of Indian Americans to watch in the 2026 midterm elections (October 30, 2026)
The Moore-Miller ticket received 761,368 votes, or 62.62%, while the Republican ticket secured 406,637 votes, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections.
Born in Hyderabad, India, Miller moved to the United States with her family at the age of seven. Before becoming lieutenant governor, she spent 25 years working in transportation for Montgomery County and served in the Maryland House of Delegates.
Miller became Maryland’s first woman of color and first immigrant elected to statewide office. Her re-election ensures continued Indian American representation in one of the state’s highest executive positions.
Candidate: Nabeela Syed
District: Illinois Senate District 26
Party: Democrat
Indian American Democrat Nabeela Syed won Illinois Senate District 26, defeating Republican Darby Hills and flipping a Republican-held seat, according to reported election results.
Syed secured 57% of the vote against Hills’ 43%. The district covers communities in Chicago’s northwestern suburbs.
The victory marks another milestone in Syed’s political career. In 2022, she was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives at the age of 23, becoming one of the youngest lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly.
An Indian American Muslim, Syed has emerged as part of a younger generation of leaders entering American politics. Her latest victory expands her role in state government and gives Democrats another seat in the Illinois Senate.