Priya Sundareshan gives opening prayer in Arizona Senate

Indian American Arizona state Sen. Priya Sundareshan gave the opening prayer in the state senate Wednesday and recited a Hindu shloka for Lord Vishnu, one of the principal Hindu deities, to “remove obstacles as we deliberate.”

I was happy to give the opening prayer today in the Arizona State Senate and to recite a Hindu shloka for Lord Vishnu to remove obstacles as we deliberate.@IA_Impact @Hindus4HR pic.twitter.com/9L5czuHjKI

— AZ Sen. Priya Sundareshan (@priya4az) March 6, 2024

Sundareshan, who was elected to the Arizona Senate in 2023 to represent Legislative District 18, is Ranking Member on the Senate Elections and Natural Resources/Energy/Water Committees and also sits on the Government Committee.

Election 2022: Priya Sundareshan elected from State Senate, District 18 (November 19, 2022)

“I was happy to give the opening prayer today in the Arizona State Senate and to recite a Hindu shloka for Lord Vishnu to remove obstacles as we deliberate,” she posted on X.

“Yes, AZ, vote Blue and remove obstacles! PS, congrats! Religious plurality is a good thing!” commented Arizona Augie.

However, SRM_AZ did not approve saying, “Ugh, prayer of any kind does not belong in our government. It’s the government, not your or any religion.

Indian Americans in race for 2022 mid-term: Priya Sundareshan, AZ State Senate (November 6, 2022)

Born and raised in LD18, Sundareshan has taught natural resources law at the University of Arizona and previously advocated for sustainable resource management with the Environmental Defense Fund. As a voting rights advocate, she has led voter protection efforts and engagement on redistricting within the Arizona Democratic Party.

Having studied engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and law and natural resource economics at the University of Arizona, she advocates “more science-based decision-making in politics, especially when it comes to preserving our beautiful state for future generations.”

As a mother of two small children, Sundareshan wants her children and all children to inherit a sustainable world and sustainable Arizona, according to her official profile.

Sundareshan says she is “running for re-election to the State Senate to make Arizona a leader in renewable energy, balance our water resources through conservation and efficiency, fully fund our public schools, safeguard our democracy by making voting easy and accessible to all, and protect reproductive and human rights.”

She received her JD and an MS in natural resource economics through the University of Arizona’s dual degree program in Economics, Law and the Environment, and a BS in chemical engineering from MIT.