Indian-Americans Shine in US Elections 2025: Beyond Zohran Mamdani’s Historic Win

Ghazala Hashmi Makes History in Virginia

Among the standout victories was Ghazala Hashmi, a Virginia state senator born in Hyderabad, who has now been elected Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Her win makes her the first Muslim-American woman to hold statewide office anywhere in the United States.

Hashmi, who built her campaign around education, healthcare access, and community unity, celebrated the victory by calling it “a win for inclusion and for every child who dares to dream big.”

Aftab Pureval Re-Elected in Cincinnati

In Ohio, Aftab Pureval secured another term as Mayor of Cincinnati, defeating Cory Bowman, the half-brother of US Vice President JD Vance. Pureval, who is of Indian and Tibetan descent, thanked voters for their continued faith.

“Cincinnati, it’s the honor of my life to serve as your mayor. I’m humbled and ready to keep working for you,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Strong Showing in New Jersey and Virginia

Several Indian-American Democrats performed strongly in New Jersey and Virginia, states with vibrant South Asian communities.

·         Balvir Singh, the first Sikh elected to New Jersey’s State House, was comfortably re-elected for another term.

·         Ravinder Bhalla, Mayor of Hoboken, won a seat in the New Jersey State Assembly, defeating multiple Republican challengers — including another Indian-origin candidate, Kaushal Patel.

“Grateful to the voters of the 32nd District for trusting me and Katie Brennan to represent you. Excited to continue serving Hoboken and Jersey City,” Bhalla shared on X.

·         In Virginia, JJ Singh, a former Obama administration official, retained his seat in the State House, while Senator Kannan Srinivasan also won re-election.

At the local level, Indian-American candidates also emerged victorious in states such as South Carolina, expanding the community’s presence in regional governance.

Mixed Results in Some Contests

Not all races went in favor of Indian-origin contenders. Dini Ajwani, a former US Treasury official, lost her bid for Hoboken mayor, while Karen Bhatia was unsuccessful in her run for county legislator in New York.

Despite these setbacks, political analysts noted that the overall results indicate a growing influence and visibility of Indian-Americans in US politics.

A Growing Political Force

With a population of nearly 4.9 million, Indian-Americans have become one of the most active immigrant communities in the United States’ political landscape. The 2025 election results follow a steady trend of rising representation over the past few years.

In 2024, Suhas Subramanyam became the first Indian-American Congressman from Virginia, raising the total number of Indian-origin representatives in the US House to six. Earlier, in 2022, Aruna Miller made history as Maryland’s first Indian-origin Lieutenant Governor — a role that will now be mirrored by Ghazala Hashmi in Virginia.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Indian-American Leaders

The coming year is set to feature more high-profile campaigns from Indian-origin politicians:

·         Vivek Ramaswamy, entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, is considered the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for Ohio governor.

·         Dr. Nirav Shah, a public health expert, has announced his Democratic bid for Maine’s governorship.

·         Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois is expected to run for the US Senate, aiming to become only the second Indian-American senator in history.

So far, only Bobby Jindal (Louisiana) and Nikki Haley (South Carolina) have served as governors among Indian-origin politicians.

A Night of Milestones

The 2025 election cycle underscored the growing impact of Indian-Americans in shaping America’s political and cultural future. From city mayors to state leaders, this generation of trailblazers continues to redefine representation — proving that the Indian diaspora’s influence extends far beyond Silicon Valley and academia, into the heart of American democracy.