The House ‘Samosa Caucus’ gained a new member Nov. 8 evening, as Shri Thanedar, a Democrat, won a seat in Detroit, Michigan.
The Associated Press called Thanedar’s race late evening, as he amassed 72 percent of the votes. With 37 percent of the vote counted, Republican Martell Bivings received 23 percent.
The millionaire entrepreneur, who grew up in poverty in Belgaum, poured $10 million into his race. The Detroit Free Press noted that it would be the first time since 1955 that the majority Black city would not have a Black representative in the House.
Three of the four incumbent Indian American members of the House of Representatives handily won their re-election bids Nov. 8 evening, as Democrats struggled to retain control of the House and the Senate.
Ami Bera
Rep. Ami Bera, a Democrat who represents portions of Sacramento in California’s District 6, is predicted to win. But his battle to fend off Republican challenger Tamika Hamilton has not yet been called decisively. Early Nov. 9 morning, with 26 percent of votes counted, Bera had amassed 56 percent of the vote, while Hamilton garnered 44 percent.
Bera has served in Congress since 2013. His races have often been nailbiters, with a decisive victory coming in several days after election night. The former physician serves as chair of the powerful House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Asia.
Ro Khanna
Elsewhere in California, Rep. Ro Khanna, who serves Fremont and portions of the Silicon Valley, handily beat off Republican challenger Ritesh Tandon. The race was called for Khanna on election night. With 42 percent of the vote counted, the Democrat who has served in Congress since 2017, held 70 percent of votes counted. Tandon had amassed 28, 212 votes at that point.
Khanna and Tandon also faced off in 2020.
Rishi Kumar
In Santa Clara County, Democrat Anna Eshoo, who has served in the House since 1993, held a respectable lead on election night against her challenger Rishi Kumar, a fellow Democrat. The race had not been called on Nov. 9 morning. With 49 percent of votes counted, Eshoo was leading by 58 percent.
This is also Eshoo and Kumar’s second face-off.
Asif Mahmood
Another closely-watched House race, in Southern California, has Dr. Asif Mahmood, a Democrat, challenging Republican incumbent Young Kim. That race has also not been called as of early Nov. 9 morning. Kim has amassed more than 100,000 votes, and leads by 59 percent. However, more than 50 percent of votes in the district still need to be counted.
Mahmood, a pulmonologist, earned the endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. “I am proud to endorse Dr. Asif Mahmood, who is part of an accomplished slate of Californians up and down the ballot who are committed to, along with our Administration, deliver results on behalf of working families, confronting the climate crisis, lowering health care costs, and other critical priorities,” wrote Harris. “The stakes are high this year and I am confident Dr. Asif Mahmood will stand up for the values we hold dear.”
Pramila Jayapal
In Washington state, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat, thrashed her Republican challenger Cliff Moon, garnering 85 percent of all votes counted on election night. Jayapal is the first Indian American woman in the House, and chair of the House Progressive Caucus. She has served in Congress since 2017.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to voters in #WA07 for re-electing me with such a huge margin to serve another term in the House! I am humbled, honored & I promise I will keep fighting for our freedoms, for our families & for opportunity for everyone to thrive,” tweeted Jayapal on election night.
Raja Krishnamoorthi
In Illinois, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat, fended off Republican challenger Chris Dargis. With 93 percent of votes counted, Krishnamoorthi gained 112, 884 votes, 56 percent. Krishnamoorthi has held his seat since 2017.
The incumbent was born in New Delhi, and immigrated to the US with his parents when he was just three months old.