Americans on Tuesday vote in elections that could determine the balance of power in Congress and shape politics across the country. Amid the wider electoral battle, four candidates of Indian origin are chasing milestones that could expand the representation of the Indian-American community in public office.Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is running for governor of Ohio, Democrat Nithya Raman is challenging incumbent Karen Bass for mayor of Los Angeles, Democrat Pooja Sethi is contesting a seat in the Texas House of Representatives, and Democrat Pia Dandiya is seeking election to the US House from Florida.The four contests differ in their political stakes, the offices involved and the issues facing voters. But each offers a glimpse into the growing presence of Indian Americans in US electoral politics.Here is what each candidate could achieve.Vivek Ramaswamy: A first Hindu governor?Vivek Ramaswamy could make history by becoming the first Indian-American governor of Ohio and the first Hindu governor in the United States.Born in Cincinnati to parents who immigrated from India, Ramaswamy grew up in a Hindu family. He studied at Harvard University before earning a law degree from Yale Law School and building a career in biotechnology and investment.He founded Roivant Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company, in 2014 and subsequently became a prominent conservative political commentator. His public profile grew during the 2024 presidential campaign, when he sought the Republican nomination before withdrawing and endorsing President Donald Trump.Ramaswamy became associated with Trump’s efforts to reduce federal government spending and government bureaucracy. He eventually turned his attention to Ohio politics, winning the Republican nomination for governor in May 2026.He is facing Democrat Amy Acton, a physician and former director of the Ohio Department of Health. The winner will succeed Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who is term-limited.The contest is significant beyond Ramaswamy’s background. Ohio has voted Republican in recent presidential elections, and the outcome will test whether Democrats can regain the governorship after nearly two decades without holding it.Ramaswamy’s candidacy also challenges assumptions about the relationship between immigrant identity and political ideology. His Hindu heritage is distinct from the conservative Republican platform on which he is campaigning.
Vivek Ramaswamy could make history by becoming the first Indian-American governor of Ohio.
Nithya Raman: Could Los Angeles get its first South Asian mayor?In California, urban planner and Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman is challenging incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in a contest that could make her the city’s first South Asian mayor.Raman, who was born in India and moved to the US as a child, studied at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before entering electoral politics, she worked on urban planning and homelessness-related issues.She made political history in 2020 when she won a seat on the Los Angeles City Council, becoming the first South Asian to serve on the council and the first Asian-American woman to hold the position.Her work has focused on housing affordability, homelessness and improving city services. Those issues have also become central to her mayoral campaign, as Los Angeles continues to grapple with high housing costs and a persistent homelessness crisis.Bass, who is seeking re-election, has faced scrutiny over her administration’s handling of homelessness and the city’s response to the devastating Palisades fires in 2025.Raman has positioned herself as a candidate for change, while the contest has exposed divisions among Democrats over housing policy, policing and the direction of city government.The race is particularly notable because it is not a conventional contest between Republicans and Democrats. Los Angeles mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan, and both Bass and Raman are Democrats.A Raman victory would therefore be both a milestone for Indian representation and a test of whether voters want a different approach to governing one of America’s largest cities.Pooja Sethi: A potential breakthrough in Texas politicsDemocrat Pooja Sethi is contesting Texas House District 47 against Republican Jennifer Mushtaler.According to election coverage, a victory would make Sethi the first Indian-American and the first Hindu elected to the Texas Legislature. The claim is significant in a state where immigration, education, reproductive rights and the role of government are recurring political flashpoints.Sethi is an immigration lawyer and former chair of the Travis County Democratic Party. Her professional experience has involved legal practice, political organising and community engagement.Her campaign has highlighted public education and affordability. She has advocated better funding for public schools, improved teacher pay and adequate support for students requiring special education. She also opposes school voucher policies that would direct public funds towards private education.The Texas House plays an important role in determining state policy, including education funding, taxation and public services. A seat in the legislature would give Sethi a direct role in shaping laws that affect millions of Texans.Her contest also illustrates how the political participation of Indian Americans extends beyond national elections. State legislatures often make decisions that have a more immediate impact on residents’ daily lives than debates in Washington.However, Sethi’s background alone will not determine the outcome. She faces a Republican opponent in a state where the party has substantial political strength, and the result will depend on voters’ assessment of the candidates and their platforms.
The four contests illustrate the growing visibility of Indian-origin candidates in American politics.
Pia Dandiya: A competitive race for CongressIn Florida, Democrat Pia Dandiya is running for the US House of Representatives from the 22nd Congressional District against Republican Casey Askar.Dandiya was born and raised in Palm Beach County to parents who immigrated from India. Her career has taken her through education, government and the private sector.She began as a teacher before becoming a high school principal. She subsequently served as a White House Fellow, working on domestic policy and education, and later worked at Apple on public-sector initiatives involving education and healthcare.Her campaign has made affordability a central issue, focusing on housing and insurance costs, healthcare, childcare and education. She has also called for government reforms and measures to address the influence of wealthy donors and lobbyists in politics.Dandiya’s contest is among the closely watched congressional races in Florida. The state’s mid-decade redistricting changed the boundaries of the 22nd District, making it more competitive than it was under its previous configuration.The seat has no incumbent in the 2026 election. Representative Lois Frankel, who previously held the district, is seeking re-election in the neighbouring 23rd District.Election forecasters have described the 22nd District as a toss-up, although some assessments give Republicans an advantage. Dandiya therefore faces a closely contested race in which campaign resources, turnout and voter concerns about the cost of living could prove decisive.A victory would add another Indian-American voice to Congress, but her candidacy should be understood primarily in the context of the district’s political dynamics and her policy agenda.Beyond the historic firstsThe four contests illustrate the growing visibility of Indian-origin candidates in American politics. They also demonstrate that the community is not represented by a single political ideology: Ramaswamy is a Republican, while Raman, Sethi and Dandiya are Democrats.The offices they seek carry very different responsibilities. A governor leads a state executive branch; a mayor oversees city administration; a state legislator shapes laws and budgets; and a member of Congress votes on federal legislation.Historic firsts can broaden perceptions of who belongs in positions of power. But representation is only one part of the story. Voters will also judge these candidates on housing, education, healthcare, economic opportunity and public safety.November 3 could therefore become a significant date for Indian-American political representation. Whether it delivers the anticipated breakthroughs will depend on the choices voters make at the ballot box.