On the Rise

For too long, the Indian American community has been underrepresented in elected office. That’s why we co-founded Impact — to build a nationwide infrastructure to recruit, train, and support Indian American candidates and build Indian American political power. 

Based on last Tuesday’s results in closely-watched elections from coast to coast — in which over 20 Indian Americans won at the ballot — we have even more evidence that Indian Americans are ready to run, win, and lead in communities across America. 

— In Washington State, voters elected Manka Dhingra, a Sikh American woman who distinguished herself as a county prosecutor and anti-domestic violence advocate, to the State Senate in one of the most expensive elections in the country. Four other Indian American women also won their races for school board, state house, and city council.

— In New Jersey, Ravi Singh Bhalla beat a crowded field and racist tactics to become the first Sikh mayor elected in New Jersey and the second Sikh mayor in American history. Voters also elected Vin Gopal to the State Senate, re-elected Raj Mukherji to the State House, and took a dozen other Indian American candidates across the finish line in important local elections.

— In North Carolina, voters overwhelmingly supported Vijay Kapoor for Asheville City Council and returned Dimple Ajmera to her seat on the Charlotte City Council. And across the border in Tennessee, Seema Singh Perez won her race for Knoxville City Council.

— And in Georgia, Sachin Varghese moves on to a December 5th run-off for the State House. Sachin is an immigrant, cancer survivor, and talented lawyer who has been endorsed by civil rights leader Congressman John Lewis and other state and local elected officials. If elected, Sachin will be the first Indian American elected to state office in Georgia.

We hope you are inspired by these results. And we know you will be excited to learn that we are already tracking over 50 Indian American candidates running for office in 2018. We can’t leave it to chance that they will win on their own. We owe them our support — and we have a plan to help them run, win, and lead. In the coming weeks, you’ll learn more about our plan and how you can get involved. Stay tuned.