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As Americans head to the polls on Tuesday, several Indian-American and South Asian candidates are making their presence felt in key local elections, marking a notable moment in the first set of votes since Donald Trump began his second term as US President. “It takes immense courage to run for office, and these leaders have stepped up to represent their communities and build a better future for this country,” said Indian American Impact, an organisation supporting civic engagement among South Asian and Indian-American communities. The group has endorsed 50 South Asian candidates this year, a record for an odd-numbered election year, and 36 of them appear on ballots across the country on Tuesday. Zohran Mamdani, New York City All eyes are on New York City, where Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, 34, is emerging as a strong contender for mayor. Born in Uganda to Indian parents and raised in New York City, Mamdani serves as a State Assemblymember and identifies as a democratic socialist. He upset former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary and will face Cuomo, running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the mayoral election. Current Mayor Eric Adams withdrew from the race in September amid scandals, giving Mamdani a clear path as the front-runner. The son of renowned Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan author Mahmood Mamdani, Zohran has attracted a strong following, particularly among young and immigrant voters, with a platform focused on affordable housing, public services, and community development. Ghazala Hashmi, Virginia In Virginia, Ghazala Hashmi is seeking the post of Lieutenant Governor. Hashmi, the first Muslim and first South Asian American to serve in the Virginia Senate, moved to the US from India at the age of four. She won her first Senate seat in 2019, defeating a Republican incumbent and helping Democrats secure the majority. In 2024, Hashmi became Chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, overseeing key Democratic priorities such as reproductive rights and public education. Aftab Pureval, Cincinnati, Ohio Aftab Pureval is vying for mayor of Cincinnati. His mother, a Tibetan, fled Communist Chinese rule and spent time in a Southern Indian refugee camp, while his father is Punjabi. Pureval entered politics in 2015 and has been active in local governance since. Other Indian-Origin Candidates Satish Garimella is contesting for mayor of Morrisville, North Carolina, while Dini Ajmani is running to be mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey. In Hoboken, former Mayor Ravi Bhalla is now running for the New Jersey State Assembly. Across the US, Indian-American and South Asian candidates are also running for city council positions in states including New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Washington, Georgia, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Indian American Impact urged communities to vote on Tuesday. “Election Day is Tuesday, and across the country, our communities have the chance to shape the future. Whether you’re in California, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, or Georgia, your vote matters — and your voice can make the difference between progress and setback,” the group said. (With inputs from PTI)
