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IA Impact endorses Indian American candidates for local races
The endorsements span races in Texas, California and North Carolina and mark the group’s first local and state picks for the 2026 cycle.
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Malvika Choudhary - Fri, 19, Dec 2025
- 16:13 EST
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(Top L-R) Pooja Sethi, Sion Roy (Bottom L to R) Mona SIngh, Juli Mathew and Jag Nagendra / Facebook
IA Impact announced its first round of local and state endorsements for the 2026 election cycle, backing a slate of Indian American and South Asian candidates running for office across Texas, California and North Carolina.
In a series of posts on X, the group said the endorsements reflect its focus on supporting candidates “stepping up to lead and legislate where it matters most: our cities and neighborhoods.”
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Among those endorsed is Pooja Sethi, a Democratic candidate for the Texas House of Representatives from District 47, which covers parts of North and West Austin.
Sethi, an attorney and former chair of the Travis County Democratic Party, is running “to protect children, stand up for families, and deliver real results for Texans,” the organization said. She is contesting the Democratic primary scheduled for March 3, 2026, and is expected to face Joseph Kopser for the nomination.
ENDORSEMENT ALERT! We’re thrilled to announce our first round of local and state candidate endorsements for the 2026 election cycle.
— Indian American Impact (@IA_Impact) December 18, 2025
Meet the inspiring South Asian leaders stepping up to lead and legislate where it matters most: our cities and neighborhoods
In California, IA Impact endorsed Sion Roy for State Senate District 24. Announcing the endorsement, the organization noted that Roy, like many residents in the district, lost his home in the Palisades Fire, bringing “lived experience, medical expertise, and public service leadership to help rebuild and strengthen his community.”
Roy, a physician, professor and education advocate, is running on issues including lowering the cost of living, protecting Medi-Cal and the social safety net, ensuring quality education, and leading recovery efforts following the January fires.
He currently serves as vice chair of the Santa Monica College Board, where he has supported workforce training programs and the opening of a new Malibu campus. Roy is also an associate professor of medicine at Harbor-UCLA Hospital and has been active in K–12 education through his leadership in the Malibu PTA.
In North Carolina, the group announced its endorsement of Mona Singh for Wake County Commissioner. IA Impact described Singh as “a community organizer for more than 30 years” who brings “people-centered leadership, data-driven solutions, and a vision for a county that works for everyone.”
Singh, who has lived in Wake County since 1995, is a technology expert holding more than 130 U.S. patents and has been involved in hunger relief, refugee support and local volunteer initiatives. She has also been active in Democratic Party organizing and voter outreach efforts in the county.
At the municipal level in California, IA Impact endorsed Jag Nagendra for Folsom City Council, District 3. The organization said Nagendra would bring “35 years of experience guiding teams, driving results, and building community” to the council.
Nagendra is running on a platform focused on transparency, inclusion and public safety, positioning himself as a community-rooted leader committed to collaborative and compassionate governance.
The group also endorsed Judge Juli Mathew for re-election to Fort Bend County Court at Law No. 3 in Texas. Announcing the endorsement, IA Impact said Judge Mathew “has established herself as a visionary in the legal field” and would continue leading innovative programs in the county.
Judge Mathew made history as the first Indian American woman elected to the bench in the United States and the first Asian American judge in Fort Bend County.
IA Impact said additional endorsements for the 2026 election cycle are expected in the coming months.
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