From the 1950s to today, a growing roster of Indian‑origin Americans has broken barriers in U.S. politics, according to a Hindustan Times profile.
Key points
- Dalip Singh Saund was the first Indian‑American elected to the U.S. Congress in 1956.
- Nikki Haley and Bobby Jindal each became the first Indian‑American governors of their respective states.
- Recent years have seen Indian‑origin politicians win mayoral and state‑wide offices, indicating broader electoral success beyond the federal level.
The Hindustan Times notes that Dalip Singh Saund, a farmer‑turned‑activist who arrived in California in 1920, became the first Indian‑American elected to Congress in 1956, representing a southeastern California district until a stroke ended his career in 1962.
Decades later, the article highlights two governors who made history: Nikki Haley, born in South Carolina to a Punjabi family, served in the state House before winning the governorship in 2010 and later representing the United States at the United Nations; and Bobby Jindal, born in Baton Rouge to Punjabi parents, rose from state health department work to the Louisiana governorship in 2007, becoming the first Indian‑American governor.
Early Trailblazers
Among current federal office‑holders, Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Tamil‑origin Democrat from Illinois, entered the House in 2016 after earlier campaign defeats and is slated to leave the chamber after an unsuccessful Senate primary bid, while Ghazala Hashmi, originally from Hyderabad, became Virginia’s first Muslim state senator in 2019 and won the lieutenant‑governor race in 2025.
The profile also mentions newer entrants such as Aftab Pureval, Ohio’s first Asian‑origin mayor of Cincinnati, and Danny Avula, a pediatrician‑turned‑mayor of Richmond, Virginia, both elected in the early 2020s, as well as Shri Thanedar, a Michigan Democrat whose entrepreneurial background preceded a mixed record of electoral wins and losses.
Recent Governors and Senators
Collectively, these figures illustrate a pattern of increasing representation across party lines and levels of government, from local legislatures to the U.N., reflecting both the demographic growth of the Indian diaspora and its expanding political influence in the United States.
Reader questions
Who was the first Indian‑American elected to the U.S. Congress?
Dalip Singh Saund won a House seat in 1956, becoming the first Indian‑origin member of Congress.
Which Indian‑American politicians have served as governors?
Nikki Haley (South Carolina) and Bobby Jindal (Louisiana) both served as governors, each being the first Indian‑American to hold that office in their state.
Source: hindustantimes.com
