57 Indian Americans on US midterm ballot, from Ohio governor to LA mayor race
Synopsis
Fifty-seven confirmed Indian American candidates are contesting Tuesday's US midterms — a historic single-cycle field spanning a tied Los Angeles mayoral race, Vivek Ramaswamy's high-profile Ohio governor bid, two Indian American head-to-head House duels, and 36 state legislative seats across 22 states. The results could redefine the community's footprint in American elected office.
Key Takeaways
At least 57 Indian American candidates are on the ballot in Tuesday's US midterm elections — the largest confirmed field in a single cycle.
The highest-profile race is in Ohio , where Republican Vivek Ramaswamy trails Democrat Amy Acton by about three points in polling averages.
In Los Angeles , Nithya Raman and Mayor Karen Bass are tied at 40% each, with 19% undecided.
Two US House races are Indian American vs.
Indian American contests — California's 17th and Washington's 7th districts, both rated safe for Democrats.
Super PAC Floridians for Affordability has spent roughly $220,000 in support of Democrat Pia Dandiya in Florida's competitive 22nd District .
The 36 state legislative candidates are spread across 22 states , with California , Illinois , and New York each fielding four contenders.
At least 57 Indian American candidates are on the ballot in Tuesday's US midterm elections, contesting seats ranging from a Senate race in Massachusetts to the mayoralty of Los Angeles — the largest such field confirmed in a single US election cycle. The slate spans one Senate seat, 11 House of Representatives races, three statewide offices, 36 state legislative seats across 22 states, and six local posts.
The Most-Watched Races
The highest-profile contest is in Ohio, where Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is running for governor against Democrat Amy Acton. The FiftyPlusOne polling average as of Sunday placed Acton ahead by roughly three percentage points.
In Los Angeles, city council member Nithya Raman is challenging incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. A final poll by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, found the two candidates tied at 40 per cent each, with 19 per cent of respondents still undecided — making it one of the most unpredictable mayoral contests in the country this cycle.
In New York, Republican Saritha Komatireddy is challenging Attorney General Letitia James. A Siena College poll released on 28 October showed James ahead by 54 per cent to 39 per cent.
Senate, Statewide and Incumbent House Races
Shiva Ayyadurai is running as an independent for the US Senate in Massachusetts, challenging Democratic Senator Ed Markey. Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, a Democrat, is seeking re-election on a ticket facing Republican Dan Cox.
Of the 11 House candidates, four are incumbent Democrats: Ro Khanna and Ami Bera in California, Pramila Jayapal in Washington state, and Suhas Subramanyam in Virginia. Notably, two House races pit Indian Americans against each other. In California's 17th District, Khanna faces Republican Ritesh Tandon, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur. In Washington's 7th District, Jayapal faces Republican Nirav Sheth, a Gujarat-born former US Marine. Both seats are rated safe for Democrats by the Cook Political Report.
Competitive Open Seats and Campaign Finance
Democrat Amish Shah in Arizona's 1st District and Democrat Pia Dandiya in Florida's 22nd District are contesting open seats that forecasters rate as competitive. Federal Election Commission filings show active last-minute fundraising on both fronts.
A new super PAC, Floridians for Affordability, reported spending approximately $14,000 on text messages supporting Dandiya on 30 October, bringing its total outlay in her support to roughly $220,000, according to a 24-hour independent expenditure report filed on 31 October. Shah's campaign reported 15 contributions totalling $26,000 received on 30 October alone; FEC notices covering 25 October to 30 October total approximately $100,000. The FEC filings are self-reported and may be amended.
Other House candidates include Republican Mahesh 'Max' Ganorkar in North Carolina's 4th District and independents Sandeep Dixit in Ohio's 13th District and Anil Kumar in Michigan's 11th District.
State and Local Contests
At the state level, the 36 legislative candidates are distributed across 22 states, with California, Illinois, and New York each fielding four Indian American contenders. Local races include Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill in Utah, Oakland council member Janani Ramachandran, and Rohit Malhotra, who is seeking a seat on the Fulton County Commission in Georgia.
An additional 15 candidates who may be of Indian origin were not included in the confirmed count because their heritage could not be independently verified. Results from Tuesday's contests will offer the clearest picture yet of Indian American electoral influence across federal, state, and local tiers of American government.
Point of View
Not a novelty. Yet raw numbers can obscure the reality: most of these races are low-profile state legislative contests, and the marquee bids (Ramaswamy in Ohio, Raman in Los Angeles) face significant headwinds in their respective polls. The two Indian American House head-to-heads are largely symbolic, given both seats are safely Democratic. The more consequential story may be in competitive open seats like Arizona's 1st and Florida's 22nd, where Indian American candidates in close races could actually shift margins — and set a template for future cycles.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Indian American candidates are running in the US midterm elections?
At least 57 confirmed Indian American candidates are on the ballot in Tuesday's US midterm elections, contesting seats from a Massachusetts Senate race to the Los Angeles mayoral contest. An additional 15 candidates of possible Indian origin were excluded because their heritage could not be verified.
How is Vivek Ramaswamy performing in the Ohio governor's race?
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is running for governor of Ohio against Democrat Amy Acton. The FiftyPlusOne polling average as of Sunday showed Acton ahead by approximately three percentage points.
What is the status of the Los Angeles mayoral race involving Nithya Raman?
City council member Nithya Raman is challenging incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. A final UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, found both candidates tied at 40 per cent, with 19 per cent of voters undecided.
Which incumbent Indian American members of the House of Representatives are seeking re-election?
Four incumbent Democratic House members of Indian origin are on the ballot: Ro Khanna and Ami Bera in California, Pramila Jayapal in Washington state, and Suhas Subramanyam in Virginia. Both Khanna's and Jayapal's seats are rated safe for Democrats.
Which Indian American candidates are contesting competitive open House seats?
Democrat Amish Shah in Arizona's 1st District and Democrat Pia Dandiya in Florida's 22nd District are running for open seats that forecasters rate as competitive. A super PAC has spent approximately $220,000 in support of Dandiya, while Shah's campaign raised around $100,000 in the final week.
