Representative image / AI generated

As 2025 comes to a close, political conversations within Indian-American communities across the United States feel less hurried and more reflective. The November 2026 midterm elections are still some distance away, but a sense of anticipation is already taking shape. For decades, Indian-Americans have steadily built representation in public life — first through local offices, then in state legislatures, and eventually in the U.S. Congress. Now, a new phase appears to be unfolding: ambitions that extend beyond Capitol Hill to governors’ mansions and statewide executive leadership.

Indian-Americans have already crossed important thresholds in Washington. Multiple members have served in the U.S. House of Representatives, and a rare few have reached the U.S. Senate. Those achievements once marked the summit of political aspiration. Increasingly, however, they now feel like a foundation rather than a ceiling. The growing number of Indian-American leaders considering or launching gubernatorial bids signals a diaspora that sees itself as deeply rooted in American civic life — confident, invested, and ready to shape change at scale.

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Among the most visible figures is Vivek Ramaswamy, the Cincinnati-born biotech entrepreneur who emerged nationally during the 2024 Republican presidential primaries and has since launched a campaign for Governor of Ohio. At the start of his gubernatorial run, Ramaswamy emphasized continuity between his personal story and the state he hopes to lead. “I’m honored to announce that I’m running to be the next governor of the state where I was born and raised, and where my wife and I are raising our family,” he said in his campaign announcement, framing his bid around place, family, and opportunity rather than ideology (campaign launch statement, reported by The Times of India).

On the Democratic side of national politics, Raja Krishnamoorthi represents a more familiar but no less significant trajectory. A long-serving congressman from Illinois, Krishnamoorthi is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator Dick Durbin. Explaining his motivation, he told Chicago PBS station WTTW that he wants to be “a champion for underdogs who are seeking the American dream at a time when it’s under threat” (WTTW News, May 2025). If elected, Krishnamoorthi would become only the second Indian-origin U.S. Senator, extending a congressional legacy into the Senate chamber.

Elsewhere, several Indian-American leaders are testing the waters for executive office through exploratory campaigns. In Maine, physician and former public health director Dr. Nirav Shah has launched an exploratory bid for governor. Announcing his decision, Shah said he was motivated by a belief that “public service should be about listening first and leading with empathy,” a theme he highlighted during his tenure in public health (statement reported by Maine Public).

In California, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Ethan Agarwal has also entered an exploratory phase for the governorship. Agarwal, who has described himself as a Democrat shaped by the startup world, told The Times of India that he believes “innovation and good governance don’t have to be opposites,” pointing to his desire to bring practical problem-solving into public service.

Another exploratory campaign drawing attention is that of Saikat Chakrabarti, a political organizer and former congressional aide, who is considering a run for Congress in California’s 11th District, a seat long associated with Nancy Pelosi and expected to open in the coming cycle. In a statement reported by The New York Times, Chakrabarti said his goal is to “build a politics that actually delivers for working families,” emphasizing policy focus rather than personality.

Taken together, these campaigns — declared and exploratory — point to something larger than individual ambition. They reflect a collective shift in confidence within the Indian-American community, one shaped by decades of civic participation and growing political maturity. From school boards and city councils to Congress and now governorships, Indian-Americans increasingly view leadership as a natural extension of belonging.

That momentum is reflected in data tracked by advocacy groups such as Indian-American Impact, which notes the expanding footprint of South Asian elected officials nationwide.

Indian-American Impact data:

• 50 South Asian state legislators nationwide
• 350 total South Asian elected officials

As the country looks ahead to 2026, the story unfolding within the Indian-American diaspora is not one of sudden arrival, but of steady ascent — from representation to responsibility, and from participation to leadership.