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Krishnamoorthi’s defeat a setback, not a barrier to Indian American political ascent
Community leaders argue the outcome does not diminish the broader rise of Indian Americans across national and local political offices.
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Ishani Duttagupta - Thu, 19, Mar 2026
- 14:38 EDT
- 28
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi / REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Raja Krishnamoorthi won every general election that he contested for the US House of Representatives for the Illinois 8th Congressional District seat. But luck ran out for him this week when he lost the Democratic primary for the US Senate seat from Illinois, being vacated by retiring Senator Dick Durbin, to the state’s Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton.
Despite a high-profile campaign and significant fundraising, Krishnamoorthi who is said to have coined the phrase Samosa Caucus to describe the group of Indian American representatives in the US House, failed in the race to become a senator. And not surprisingly, there is widespread disappointment among Indian Americans since he has been a prominent voice on many important issues on Capitol Hill since 2016 and a champion for the community.
Also Read:Community groups laud Krishnamoorthi’s senate campaign despite setback
However, political observers are seeing it as a momentary pause rather than a reversal of the community’s growing influence in U.S. politics, with them pointing to a steady pipeline of candidates and increasing voter engagement.
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