Suhas Subramanyam wins Democratic primary for US House in Virginia

If elected in November, Indian American candidate would represent a district with more than 65,000 South Asian residents

By Arun Kumar

Virginia state Sen. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Brambleton) has won a tight 12-way Democratic primary for the state’s 10th Congressional District Subramanyam and will face Republican Mike Clancy in the November general election. Clancy bested three Republicans in his party’s primary Tuesday.

If elected in November, Subramanyam would represent a district with more than 65,000 South Asian residents, ranking among the nation’s top ten concentrations.

With all precincts reporting, Subramanyam had secured 30.3% of the vote, insidnova.com reported. State Del. Dan Helmer was the second-place finisher with 26.7% of the vote, and Atif Quarni came in third with 10.6%.

The Loudoun County-dominant 10th District seat is open because of incumbent Jennifer Wexton’s decision to step aside for health reasons.

Subramanyam, an attorney and native of India, has focused his campaign on supporting reproductive rights, fighting “Big Pharma” and “standing strong against MAGA extremists,” according to his campaign website.

READ: Jennifer Wexton endorses Suhas Subramanyam for Congress (May 13, 2024)

“This community means so much to me,” Subramanyam said at an election night event after the race was called. “My kids are here, my wife is here, and we got married and my kids were born here. We want the next — not just the next two years, the next 20 years and beyond — to be beautiful and wonderful for the people in this community. That’s what this movement was about. That’s what this election was about.”

“This district is my home,” he said. “The issues our community faces are personal to our family. I will continue to be a champion for families here and make sure everyone feels like they have a voice.”

The nominee thanked his “congresswoman, friend, and mentor, Jennifer Wexton, for her fearless leadership and support.”
“Our community is so much better off because of her efforts,” he added. “She will leave big shoes to fill, but I am ready for the challenge.”

As of primary election day, Subramanyam was the second-leading fundraiser among the Democratic field, bringing in $1.048 million to Helmer’s $1.55 million.

The 10th District includes all of Loudoun – making up more than half its voters – along with all of Fauquier and Rappahannock counties and cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. It also includes the western half of Prince William County and about 15,000 voters in the Clifton and Union Mill areas of southern Fairfax County.

Rep. Wexton won her 2022 contest against Hung Cao by 5.5 percentage points.

The Cook Political Report rates the race “solid Democrat,” though the Virginia Public Access Project rates it “competitive,” according to insidenova.com.

Subramanyam was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2019, winning two subsequent elections to that seat before his election to the Senate of Virginia in 2023. He received Wexton’s endorsement for the congressional seat in May, propelling him to the front of the crowded primary election.

“This is bittersweet because, honestly, I want Jennifer Wexton to continue to be our congress(woman),” Subramanyam said. “I know it’s because of her health that she’s not able to do it. But you know, she’s always been a mentor to me, a friend to me, and she’s always believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.”

“I am so thankful for our volunteers, activists, supporters, staff, and family for coming together to pull off this incredible victory,” he said. “I am indebted to my wife, Miranda, for her tireless support — and I am so grateful for our two kids and the family we’ve built together.”

“This district will remain blue and I will do everything in my power to make my constituents proud,” Subramanyam added.

He has earlier worked as a White House advisor under former President Barack Obama’s administration, a Capitol Hill staffer and volunteered in Loudoun as a firefighter and EMT.