(topL-R) Shekar Krishnan, Ghazala Hashmi (Bottom L-R) JJsingh and Sam Joshi. / File Photo

As several Indian Americans celebrated the victory of Democrat Zohran Mamdani as the next Mayor of New York City; several other members of the community, too, were elected to different offices across the US in the off-year election.

New York City Council member Shekar Krishnan was re-elected to District 25. “Tonight, New Yorkers across the city and in Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, and Woodside voted for fighters. I’m grateful that my community voted overwhelmingly to re-elect me to the city council for my final term. I’ve spent my past two terms in the city council fighting for workers – from drivers to street vendors - for increased green and public spaces as the chair of the parks committee, and to make our city more affordable, working for families over billionaires’ interests,” Krishnan said after his re-election. He added that he would continue to “call out President Donald Trump and national Republicans who spread hate and keep fighting for a city that is more affordable and greener for everyone”.

Democrat Ghazala Hashmi’s win in the race for lieutenant governor of Virginia, defeating Republican John Reid, is being seen as another significant achievement by an Indian American. Currently a Virginia state senator, Hashmi was earlier a college professor and made a strong entry in politics in 2019 by flipping a Republican-held state Senate seat and recently won a crowded Democratic primary for lieutenant governor in June. She is the first Indian American and first Muslim candidate to win statewide office in Virginia. The Indian American Impact Fund, an organisation that endorses Indian American candidates across the US, had supported her campaign to mobilize voters, and congratulated Hashmi on her historic victory.  

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“Hashmi’s victory is a landmark moment for our community, our Commonwealth, and our democracy. An immigrant, educator, and tireless advocate, she has dedicated her life to expanding opportunity and delivering results for working families across Virginia. From reproductive freedom and affordable healthcare to public education and housing equity, she has led on the issues that matter most to Virginians,”

Chintan Patel, executive director of the Indian American Impact Fund, said. In Ohio, Cincinnati, Tibetan Indian Mayor Aftab Pureval, who had made history as the city’s first Asian American mayor, was re-elected. Pureval, who holds degrees from Ohio State University and University of Cincinnati. has prioritized equitable economic growth, public safety, affordable housing, and investment in the green economy during his tenure.  Before becoming mayor, he served as the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts.

Democrat J.J. Singh, an incumbent delegate in the Virginia House, was re-elected defeating Republican Ommair Butt. In a message on social media, he thanked his supporters and volunteers for sending him back to Richmond, the capital of the state, to represent them.

Democrat Mayor of Edison, New Jersey, Samip (Sam) Joshi has been re-elected along with three new members to the township council. Indian American Vishal Patel was re-elected to the Edison Board of Education. Joshi won re-election to a four-year term with a big margin, while Democratic candidate Biral Patel won a first term on the Edison Township council. Samiksha Sharma, a Republican, who ran for the Edison Township Council and Democrat Anita Chadha, who ran for the South River Borough Council were defeated, while Democrat Kiran Desai was elected to the Old Bridge Township Council Ward 3. 

In Woodbridge Township Council Ward 4, Democrat Virbhadra N Patel defeated Republican Gnanarani Devaraj and in Woodbridge Township Council Ward 5 Republican Sam Raval, too, faced defeat. In the non-partisan Jamesburg Board of Education, Indian American Neerav Modi was one of the three elected candidates; Sonali Sinha was elected to the North Brunswick Board of Education and Deven M Patel was elected to South Brunswick Board of Education. Sam Salia who ran for Jersey City Board of Education was not one of the top three elected candidates. Anjan Karnati, the Republican candidate for Middlesex County Commissioner, was also not successful.

In West Windsor, New Jersey, Mayor Hemant Marathe was re-elected defeating fellow Indian American Sujit Singh. The first Indian-American to hold this position, Marathe has been a resident of West Windsor for three decades and is a graduate from IIT Bombay. He also studied at Virginia Tech and has a Ph.D. from the University of Washington. Ajay Tomar contesting for West Windsor Township Council failed to get the number of votes needed to be elected.

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla has won the election to the New Jersey State Assembly from the legislative District 32. Along with Katie Brennan, he defeated Republicans Stephen Bishop and Indian American Kaushal Patel. Mamta Singh, a prominent Indian American community leader, won an at-large position in the Jersey City Council election. 

Democrat Assemblyman Balvir Singh, was re-elected to the New Jersey State House from District 7, Burlington Township.

In Parsippany Town Council in New Jersey, Democrat Diya Patel, who was vying for one of the two open seats on the council, received 27.02% votes and is in the second position. Indian American Jigar Shah (Republican) was at fourth position with 21.95% votes. Democrat Karen Bhatia, who ran for New York, Nassau County Legislator District 18, lost to incumbent Republican Samantha Goetz. 

Parsippany’s incumbent Republican Mayor James Barberio, who is seeking another four-year term, received 50.39% votes against Democrat challenger, Pulkit Desai, an ex-Marine, and a cybersecurity professional, who got 49.92% votes.

Sangeeta Doshi (Democrat) who ran as one of three incumbents for the Cherry Hill Township Council, has been re-elected. Doshi, who has served for eight years, made history in 2017 as the first Indian American elected to office in Southern New Jersey. She was born in Jabalpur, India, and raised in the US.

With the race for Mayor of Hoboken too close to call, a run-off election will be held in December 2025 to establish a clear winner among the two candidates with the most votes. Indian American Dini Ajmani who ran for mayor is, however, not among the top two.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, four Democrat city council members for at-large city council seats, including Indian American Dimple Ajmera, were re-elected on Tuesday. Ajmera led  with 21.04% of the vote. Murali Swamy, a business executive, and Dr Kim Singh, a civic leader, are among the top four candidates elected to Mason City Council in Ohio.

Mira Tanna, who ran for Orlando City Council District 3 in Florida, is one of the top two candidates who will progress to the run-off election December. Rishi Kumar, candidate for Santa Clara County Assessor in California, too will be on the ballot for the run-off election in December.

In the elections to City Council of Bellevue, Washington, of the two candidates for Position 1, Indian American Vishal Bhargava had a narrow lead over his rival Paul Clark after initial returns. Bhargava, appointed to the council earlier this year, has received the bulk of endorsements from elected officials serving Bellevue, including every member of the Bellevue City Council. He identifies as a Democrat and has the party’s support for his campaign. For Council Position 4, incumbent Jared Nieuwenhuis, a Republican, is facing Democrat and Indian American challenger Pradnya Desh. The former was ahead in the race.