US midterm elections 2026: Vivek Ramaswamy, Ro Khanna among Indian-origin faces to watch

As the United States heads into its November 3 midterm elections, several Indian-origin candidates are in the fray for key political positions, including seats in Congress, governorships, and state- and local offices. Among the prominent names are Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, who is contesting the Ohio governor's race, and Democratic lawmakers Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, Ami Bera and Suhas Subramanyam, who are seeking re-election to the US House of Representatives. The list also includes Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, who is seeking another term, and Nithya Raman, who is contesting the Los Angeles mayoral election.

Several other Indian-American candidates are running for congressional seats, state legislatures and important public offices across the country. The November 3 elections will be a crucial political test for President Donald Trump and his Republican Party, with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats up for election. Two additional Senate contests are special elections in Ohio and Florida. According to news agency PTI, Indian Americans number an estimated 5.2 million in the US, and the elections could mark another step in the community's growing presence in American public life.

Vivek Ramaswamy: Republican candidate for Ohio governor One of the most closely watched Indian-origin candidates is Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, who is taking on Democrat Amy Acton in the Ohio governor's race. Vivek Ramaswamy. (REUTERS) Born in Cincinnati to parents who immigrated from Kerala, Ramaswamy first gained national attention during his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. Before entering politics, he built a career in biotechnology and founded Roivant Sciences in 2014. He withdrew from the presidential race in January 2024 and endorsed Trump. Following Trump's election victory, Ramaswamy was selected alongside Elon Musk to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), although he subsequently left the initiative to pursue his political ambitions.

Ramaswamy secured the Republican nomination in May 2026 after launching his gubernatorial campaign in February 2025. If elected, he would become the third governor of Indian heritage in the US, following Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Nikki Haley of South Carolina, PTI reported. He could also become the first Hindu governor of an American state. Aruna Miller: Maryland lieutenant governor Aruna Miller (AFP) Aruna Miller, who was born in Hyderabad, is seeking re-election as Maryland's lieutenant governor. Miller is among the most prominent Indian-origin politicians in the US and already holds one of the highest elected executive offices occupied by an Indian-American in the country.

Ro Khanna: Democratic Congressman from California Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna is seeking another term from California's 17th Congressional District, which covers parts of Silicon Valley. He faces Republican challenger Ritesh Tandon, an Indian-American entrepreneur. Ro Khanna (REUTERS) Born in Philadelphia to Punjabi parents, Khanna is a second-generation immigrant. His grandfather, Amarnath Vidyalankar, was a freedom fighter who was imprisoned alongside Mahatma Gandhi. A prominent voice in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, Khanna has frequently criticised Trump's policies. He has described the President's policies as "utterly destructive" and predicted Democratic victories in the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential election.

Pramila Jayapal: Democratic Congresswoman from Washington Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is seeking re-election from Washington's 7th Congressional District, which she has represented since 2017. She made history as the first Indian-American woman elected to the US House of Representatives. Jayapal's family has roots in Kerala. She has recently drawn attention for commenting on India's electoral roll revision, after reports that around 13 crore names could be removed from draft electoral rolls. She compared the developments in India with attempts in the US to weaken voting rights, comments that India rejected.

She faces Republican challenger Nirav Sheth, a Gujarat-born former US Marine, PTI reported. Ami Bera: Democratic Congressman from California Ami Bera is seeking another term from California's 3rd Congressional District. Born in the US to Gujarati parents who migrated from Rajkot, Bera became the third Indian-American to be elected to the US Congress. He has also been involved in strengthening India-US ties, having served as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans during the 114th Congress, from January 2015 to January 2017. Suhas Subramanyam: Democratic Congressman from Virginia Democratic Congressman Suhas Subramanyam is seeking re-election from Virginia.

He made history in 2024 by becoming the first Indian-American elected to Congress from the state and the East Coast. His mother is from Bengaluru and his father from Chennai. Subramanyam has previously described India as one of the world's most important democracies. Saritha Komatireddy: Republican candidate for New York attorney general Republican Saritha Komatireddy is contesting against incumbent Democrat Letitia James for the post of New York attorney general. Komatireddy has spent more than a decade working on cases involving Al Qaeda, ISIS and Mexican drug cartels. She has held several senior positions, including chief of international narcotics and money laundering, deputy chief of appeals and deputy chief of general crimes in the National Security and Cybercrime Section.

PTI reported that she has received Trump's endorsement. Nithya Raman: Los Angeles mayoral candidate Urban planner and Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman is seeking to become the mayor of the second-largest city in the US. Raman was elected to the city council in 2020, becoming the first Asian-American woman and the first South Asian to hold the position. She won a second term in March 2024. Before entering electoral politics, she served as co-chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council's Homelessness Committee and co-founded the SELAH Neighbourhood Homeless Coalition. She currently chairs the council's Civil Rights, Immigration, Social Services and Neighbourhoods Committee.

Other Indian-origin candidates in the race Several other Indian-American candidates are contesting congressional and state-level elections across the US. Amish Shah: A physician and former three-term member of the Arizona House of Representatives, Shah is the Democratic candidate from Arizona's 1st Congressional District. He is facing Republican Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker who has received Trump's endorsement. Shah narrowly lost the 2024 congressional election to Republican David Schweikert. Pia Dandiya: A former high school principal, Dandiya is contesting from Florida's 22nd Congressional District as a Democrat.

She is facing Republican Casey Askar. PTI reported that Dandiya has received backing from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Pooja Sethi: An attorney and former chief of staff in the Texas Legislature, Sethi is contesting Texas House District 47 as a Democrat. She has also served as chair of the Travis County Democratic Party. Sandeep Srivastava: A businessman and community advocate, Srivastava is contesting Texas House District 66 as a Democrat. He is challenging a Republican incumbent who has represented the constituency for five terms. Ritesh Tandon: An Indian-American entrepreneur, Tandon is the Republican challenger to Ro Khanna in California's 17th Congressional District.

Mahesh Ganorkar: Ganorkar is contesting as a Republican from North Carolina's 4th Congressional District. Sandeep Dixit: Dixit is running as an independent candidate from Ohio's 13th Congressional District. Anil Kumar: Kumar is another independent candidate, contesting Michigan's 11th Congressional District, PTI reported. Nirav Sheth: A Gujarat-born former US Marine, Sheth is the Republican candidate challenging Pramila Jayapal in Washington's 7th Congressional District. At the state and local levels, Indian-origin candidates are also seeking key positions. Priya Sundareshan: The Arizona State Senate minority leader is seeking re-election.

PTI reported that she could become the chamber's president if Democrats secure a majority. Ranjeev Puri: The Michigan House minority leader is seeking another term and could become the first Indian-American Speaker of the Michigan House if Democrats win control of the chamber. Lisa Kaul: Educated in Delhi, Kaul is contesting a seat in the New York State Senate. Josh Kaul: The Wisconsin attorney general is seeking re-election. Shuchita Patel: A Democratic candidate for Forsyth County Commissioner in Georgia, Patel is the first Indian-American to contest for public office in the county, according to PTI.

An accountant by profession, she has spoken about rising living costs and her desire to build a better community for future generations. Aparna Raj: Raj is contesting for a seat on the Washington, DC, City Council. Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller is also among the Indian-origin politicians seeking another term in office. What is at stake in the US midterm elections? The November 3 midterm elections will determine the composition of both chambers of the US Congress: the House of Representatives and the Senate. All 435 seats in the House are up for election. In the Senate, 35 regular seats are being contested, along with two special elections in Ohio and Florida.

The elections are particularly significant for Trump and the Republican Party, as they will serve as a referendum of sorts on the administration's performance halfway through the President's four-year term. Opinion polls have indicated the possibility of Republicans losing control of the House, while the Senate could also see a closely fought contest, PTI reported. For Indian Americans, the elections offer an opportunity to strengthen their representation across different levels of government, from Congress and state legislatures to governorships and local administrations. *With agency inputs