California’s Attorney General Kamala Harris scripted history as she won the U.S. Senate seat from the state, becoming the first Indian-American to achieve the feat. In a historic day for Indian-Americans, Democratic candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi won the election to the US House of Representatives from Illinois.
- Ms. Harris, 51, who defeated fellow Democrat Loretta Sanchez, is also the sixth black individual to be elected to the U.S. Senate. U.S. President Barack Obama was the fifth black elected Senator.
- He defeated Republican Peter DiCianni in the traditionally Democratic constituency. At the Democratic Party Convention in July, the party leadership presented him as a “New Leader of Tomorrow”.
- She is the first black woman elected to the upper chamber in more than two decades.
- Her mother Shyamala Gopalan came to the U.S. from Chennai to study science, specifically
- She would replace Barbara Boxer who announced her retirement in 2014 after serving more than two decades in the Senate.
Pramila Jayapal
- Pramila Jayapal became the first Indian-American woman to be elected to the US House of Representatives, winning the Washington State Senate seat.
- The 51-year-old Jayapal got 57% of the votes from Washington State, leaving behind her rival Brady Walkinshaw who secured 43% votes.
- India-born Jayapal made a mark with her progressive agenda in the Washington State Senate.
- Endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, the former Democratic presidential aspirant, Jayapal is running from the seventh Congressional District of Washington State that encompasses Seattle and its neighbourhood.
