South Asian American candidates make waves in California, Texas

South Asian American candidates endorsed by Indian American Impact, a leading community organization, made waves in Texas and California in the March 5 primaries with several wins and historic firsts.

In California assembly primaries, two Indian American candidates, Tara Sreekrishnan in AD-26 and Darshana Patel in AD-76, will both advance to the general election.

Seeking to represent a district with nearly 19,000 South Asian residents, Patel was first elected to the Poway School Board in 2016 and serves as the president of the San Diego County School Boards Association.

READ: Indian American Impact endorses 15 candidates (February 9, 2024)

Home to more than 73,000 South Asians, Sreekrishnan’s AD-26 boasts the second-highest concentration of South Asians in the state. If elected in November, Sreekrishnan would be the only Asian American woman to represent the Bay Area and the first woman to represent this district in fifteen years.

Sreekrishnan is an elected member of the Santa Clara County Board of Education and a legislative director in the California State Senate.

The current top vote-getter in her race, Indian American urban planner Nithya Raman in LA City Council District 4 will likely either win her election outright or advance to a general election in November. In 2020, Nithya Raman made history as the first South Asian elected to the LA City Council.

In addition to co-founding a group called SELAH that supports unhoused individuals on a neighborhood and encampment level, Raman has spearheaded initiatives to transform the district’s approach to homelessness. In her first year on the city council, her district saw the first reduction in the Homeless Count since 2016.

READ: Indian American Impact endorses 7 more ‘trailblazing’ candidates (August 25, 2023)

With more than 900,000 South Asians residing in California, these victories reflect the growing influence of South Asian Americans in American politics, according to Indian American Impact.

Since its inception in 2016, Indian American Impact has endorsed and supported 166 candidates across the country, contributing to the historic rise of Indian and South Asian American representation in politics, it says.

Through strategic investments and grassroots organizing, Impact has marshaled upwards of $20 million to candidates and robust voter mobilization and policy advocacy efforts, amplifying the voices of South Asian Americans and driving positive change in communities nationwide, it added.

“South Asian Americans are ascending to positions of leadership in public service at an extraordinary rate, and California stands as a prime example,” Taher Hasanali, Indian American Impact’s National Political Director, stated.

“With more than 900,000 South Asians calling California home – the highest in the nation – we’re thrilled to see increased representation at all levels of government.”

READ: Darshana Patel to run for California Assembly (February 27, 2023)

“Indian American Impact extends its deepest congratulations to Darshana Patel and Tara Sreekrishnan on their victories, and looks forward to supporting their continued campaigns in the months ahead,” he said.

“Each of these trailblazers is committed to championing our community’s priorities such as public education and increasing access to healthcare. Their unwavering commitment promises to enhance the lives of all Californians.

In Texas five Indian American Impact endorsed candidates emerged victorious — Sandeep Srivastava for Congress in TX-03, Salman Bhojani in HD-92, Suleman Lalani in HD-76, Sherine Thomas for Travis County 353rd District Judge and Taral Patel in the Fort Bend County Commissioner Precinct 3 race.

Srivastava, a successful entrepreneur with decades of experience in IT, real estate, and child care, is renowned for his philanthropic efforts, including co-founding a nonprofit to assist fellow immigrants in finding stability in their communities. If elected in November, Srivastava would be the first Indian American to represent Texas in the US Congress

Running unopposed in the primary, Salman Bhojani was first elected to the Texas State House in 2022 as one of the first two Muslim and South Asian members to the Texas state legislature.

Fending off a primary challenger, Suleman Lalani is one of the few physicians in the legislature. He joined Salman Bhojani in 2022 as the first two South Asian state legislators in Texas.

A board member for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas and founding member of the India Coalition of Texas, Sherine Thomas is the first woman and first person of color to serve as an executive county attorney.

“With more than 500,000 South Asians residing in Texas, these victories reflect the growing influence of South Asian Americans in American politics,” Indian American impact stated.

In 2022, seven of eight Indian Impact-endorsed candidates won their respective elections. Five were the first-ever South Asians elected to their seats, including two to the Texas state legislature.

Rish Oberoi, Indian American Impact’s Texas State Director, stated, “South Asian Americans are ascending to positions of leadership in public service at an extraordinary rate and Texas stands as a prime example.”

“With more than 500,000 South Asians calling Texas home, the second highest concentration in the nation, we’re thrilled to see increased representation at all levels of government,” he stated.

“From winning the Democratic nomination in a Congressional district to prevailing in fiercely competitive judicial primaries, Indian and South Asian Americans are setting new benchmarks of excellence and representation in the Lone Star State.

“Each of these trailblazers is committed to championing our community’s priorities such as public education and increasing access to healthcare. Their unwavering commitment promises to enhance the lives of all Texans,” Oberoi added.