US midterm elections 2026: From Ro Khanna to Jyot Singh, Punjabi-origin leaders score major wins in key races across US

PTC News Desk: Punjabi-origin politicians of Indian descent won major victories in federal, state and local races in the US midterm elections on November 3. Several well-known lawmakers kept their seats, while first-time candidates made history.

Among the winners were US Congressman Ro Khanna, Washington State Senator Manka Dhingra, Michigan House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri and California Assemblyman Ash Kalra. Jyot Singh became the first Sikh American and Indian American elected to the Georgia General Assembly. Pooja Sethi also made history in Texas. In New York, Tina Sodhi became the first woman of South Asian Punjabi heritage elected to Albany County Court.

These wins show that Punjabi and Indian American communities are gaining a stronger voice in US politics.

Khanna, who represents California’s 17th Congressional District in Silicon Valley, won another term with about 71 per cent of the vote. He defeated Republican Ritesh Tandon.

Khanna was born in Philadelphia to Punjabi immigrant parents. He is a lawyer and economist and is known for his progressive views in the US House of Representatives. During the Obama administration, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Commerce. He also co-chaired Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign.

Manka Dhingra won re-election to the Washington State Senate from the 45th District. She is a lawyer and former senior deputy prosecutor for King County. She first entered the Senate after a special election in 2017. She now serves as Deputy Majority Leader and has worked on criminal justice reform, preventing domestic violence and mental health policy.

Jyot Singh, a Yale graduate, community organiser and civil rights advocate, won Georgia House District 97 with 68 per cent of the vote. He defeated Republican Yassin Moghazy. Singh’s win made him the first Sikh American and the first Indian American elected to the Georgia General Assembly.

Singh is the son of working-class Punjabi immigrants. His campaign focused on funding public schools, helping working families and protecting voting rights. His victory was welcomed by members of the Sikh community in Georgia.

In Michigan, Ranjeev Puri won re-election to the State House from District 24 with more than 65 per cent of the vote. Puri is the House Minority Leader and one of the highest-ranking Sikh Americans in state politics. He has supported stronger gun violence prevention laws and green energy projects.

Pooja Sethi won Texas House District 47 with about 66 per cent of the vote, defeating Republican Jennifer Mushtaler. She is an immigration lawyer and former chief of staff in the Texas Legislature. Sethi became the first Indian American woman elected to the Texas Legislature.

Her campaign focused on funding public schools, gun safety and opposing racial prejudice.

Ash Kalra was re-elected to the California State Assembly from District 25 with nearly 72 per cent of the vote. He defeated Republican Himat Singh Bainiwal. Kalra was first elected in 2016 and was the first Indian American elected to the California State Legislature.

In New York, Tina Sodhi made history by becoming the first woman of South Asian Punjabi heritage elected as an Albany County Court judge.