Suhas Subramanyam wins Congressional race from Virginia

Indian American technocrat Suhas Subramanyam scored a historic win in Virginia as he Tuesday became the first Indian American to be elected to the US House from the state and the entire East Coast.

Defeating Republican Mike Clancy  in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, the Democrat enlarged the Samosa caucus as the five incumbent Indian Americans —  Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Shri Thanedar — style themselves.

“I am honoured and humbled that the people of Virginia’s 10th District put their trust in me to take on the toughest fights and deliver results in Congress,” Subramanyam told Desimax at his victory party held at the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott on November 5, 2024. “This district is my home. I got married here, my wife Miranda and I are raising our daughters here, and the issues our community faces are personal to our family. It is an honour to continue serving this district in Washington.”

RELATED: Suhas Subramanyam wins Democratic primary for US House in Virginia (June 19, 2024)

“I’m just happy for all the people who came out and made this happen,” he said thanking “all my volunteers,  all my staff on my team and also (incumbent) Jennifer Wexton,” who endorsed him after deciding not to seek reelection for health reasons.

She wanted him to continue her good work as she could not for health reasons,”  Subramanyam told DesiMax. “She trusted me because she’s leaving and proud of the work she has done. I will continue her work.”

He agreed that becoming the sixth Indian American member of the house is also a big win for the community. “Yeah, it’s a big responsibility. When I started running, the hardest to win over was the South Asian community because they wanted to make sure that I could do a fraction of the work done by Wexton.”

“So I take this responsibility very seriously and continue to work and make sure they have a voice, even non-Asians have a voice in the Congress,” he added.

Subramanyam, who served as a technology policy advisor to President  Barack Obama, began his political career as a state lawmaker in 2020 and was elected to the Virginia Senate last November.

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

He says his family’s story in America began in Virginia’s 10th District when his mother immigrated to the United States through Dulles Airport in 1979. His mother, a native of Bengaluru, India, immigrated to the United States to unite with his father, live her American dream, and pursue a career in medicine.

Subramanyam’s parents raised him to value service to the community above all else. Whether as a Capitol Hill aide, advisor to the Obama White House, an elected official in Richmond, or as a volunteer EMT, he has taken that lesson to heart throughout his life, Subramanyam says.

After leaving the White House, Subramanyam started his own small business in Loudoun County and also served the community as a volunteer medic, EMT, and firefighter.

Subramanyam resides in Ashburn, Virginia, with his wife, Miranda, and their two daughters.