Rini Sampath Becomes First South Asian Mayoral Candidate For Washington — DC  

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Rini Sampath officially became the first South Asian person on the ballot for Mayor in Washington, DC’s history, announcing her candidacy in a statement released April 3, 2026.

She was born in Theni, India, and moved to the United States when she was seven. 

“It’s so meaningful to me to be the first South Asian person to make the ballot for DC Mayor. I moved to the United States when I was seven years old in pursuit of the American dream, and I’m in this race to make sure that dream actually works for DC residents,” said Sampath.

“I’m thrilled to have had over 4,500 people sign my petition to get me on the ballot for DC Mayor. South Asians contribute so much to our economy but see very little representation in government. I hope my candidacy inspires others to run and do good for their neighbors, and I hope you’ll join our campaign,” she added.

Rini Sampath Priorities

Sampath said she was running for Mayor of Washington, DC, to fix the basics: safer streets, reliable services, accountable government, and a lower cost of living.

According to her campaign, DC Deserves Better. Let’s Fix the Basics, “Right now, too many residents feel like the city isn’t working for them. When emergency response times lag, when housing sits vacant for months, when small businesses struggle just to open their doors, that’s not a values problem, it’s an execution problem. And we can fix it.”

She states that the race presents a real choice — continue with longtime insiders asking for a promotion, or elect new leadership focused on delivering results. “I’m running to fix what isn’t working and restore trust in city government,”

Sampath added that her campaign is powered by ordinary people who believe DC can work better. “I’m not a career politician, and I don’t owe special interests. This campaign is powered by people like you, neighbors who believe DC can work better.”

We are now participating in the Traditional Financing program, which allows contributions of up to $2,000 per individual. If you’re able, I’d be grateful for your support at any level.