US polls: Indian-American candidates script key wins; Khanna, Bera await verdict

US Midterms see key wins for Indian-origin candidates Pia Dandiya, Suhas Subramanyam, Aruna Miller

The 2026 US midterm elections are witnessing a growing presence of Indian-American candidates in American politics, with several securing victories in key congressional and state-level contests.Democrat Pia Dandiya won election to the US House of Representatives from Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, defeating Republican Casey Askar.Indian-American Democrat Suhas Subramanyam also secured re-election from Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, while Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller won another term alongside Democratic Governor Wes Moore.The victories mark early successes for Indian-origin candidates as several other closely watched races remain undecided.

The midterm results could reshape the balance of power in Congress and influence the political direction of both parties ahead of the 2028 presidential election.Pia Dandiya wins Florida’s 22nd Congressional DistrictDemocrat Pia Dandiya won election to the US House of Representatives from Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, defeating Republican candidate Casey Askar.Her victory marks a Democratic win in a newly redrawn district following Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ congressional redistricting effort ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The district stretches from Palm Beach County through parts of Broward and Hendry counties, across the Everglades and west to Marco Island in Collier County.Dandiya, a former teacher and high school principal in Harlem, previously served as a White House Fellow and worked at Apple. Born and raised in Palm Beach County to Indian immigrant parents, she made education, affordability and economic opportunity central to her campaign.Her Republican opponent, Askar, is a Naples-based businessman and Marine Corps veteran who built his career in restaurant franchising. He campaigned as a supporter of President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies.The contest attracted attention after Florida lawmakers approved a new congressional map in May 2026, significantly reshaping District 22 and creating an open-seat race. Dandiya secured the Democratic nomination in August, defeating attorney Kaysia Earley, while Askar emerged from a crowded Republican primary.Suhas Subramanyam secures re-election in VirginiaIndian-American Democrat Suhas Subramanyam won re-election to the US House of Representatives from Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger Dave T Beckwith.Subramanyam secured 63.16 per cent of the vote, polling 1,73,106 votes, while Beckwith received 34.66 per cent, or 94,990 votes. Independent candidate Ahsen Mujeeb Malik finished third with 1.99 per cent (5,444 votes), while write-in candidates accounted for the remaining 0.19 per cent.The victory comes after Subramanyam urged Indian-Americans to participate actively in the midterm elections, saying their votes and voices mattered more than ever amid rising hate and discrimination in the US.Speaking to news agency ANI after casting his vote at a polling station in Manassas, Virginia, on Tuesday, he said the state was witnessing record turnout and expressed confidence about the Democrats’ prospects.“Well, come out and vote. Make your voice heard. Your vote matters more than ever, especially at a time when we’re seeing record hate in our community, in our country,” he said.Encouraging Indian-Americans to enter politics, Subramanyam referred to his own electoral journey, saying, “I ran for office and I won. You can too. If you want to get involved in the political process, now is the time. It’s more important than ever.”He also criticised the functioning of the US Congress, saying voters were dissatisfied with representatives who prioritised the President over ordinary citizens. He said Democrats would focus on restoring healthcare and food assistance and ensuring public resources benefited Americans.Born in Virginia in 1979 to Indian immigrant parents, Subramanyam is the first Indian-American to represent the state’s 10th Congressional District. His mother is from Bengaluru, while his father grew up in Chennai and Secunderabad.Aruna Miller wins another term as Maryland Lieutenant GovernorIn Maryland, Indian-American Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller secured another term after NBC News projected the re-election of Democratic Governor Wes Moore.Miller, who contested alongside Moore on the Democratic ticket, defeated Republican lieutenant governor candidate Rob Krop, the running mate of former state delegate Dan Cox.Her re-election ensures continued Indian-American representation in one of the country’s highest state executive offices.Meanwhile, the electoral fate of other Indian-American candidates, including Republican Mahesh Ganorkar in North Carolina, Democrat Ro Khanna in California, Democrat Ami Bera Democrat Pooja Sethi in Texas, remained undecided as counting and results continued.The early victories have added to the visibility of Indian-American candidates in the midterm elections, with the results also expected to offer an indication of how voters view Trump’s policies and the direction of the Republican Party.The outcomes could further shape the debate within the Democratic Party over its political strategy ahead of 2028, with divisions persisting between those advocating a more populist economic message and those favouring a centrist approach to regain swing voters. Strong performances by candidates from either camp could strengthen their respective positions in the contest over the party’s future leadership.