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Ritesh Tandon campaigns against career politicians after claiming runoff spot
Tandon finished second with 11,337 votes, positioning himself to advance under California's top-two primary system.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Mon, 08, Jun 2026
- 04:53 EDT
- 30
Ritesh Tandon / Ritesh Tandon via LinekdIn
Indian American congressional hopeful Ritesh Tandon called for a move past career politicians after he confirmed his berth in the upcoming CA-17 congressional district election.
Placed behind Democrat Ro Khanna, GOP candidate Ritesh Tandon polled 15.5 percent of the vote, falling significantly behind Khanna's 61.2 percent.
Tandon finished second with 11,337 votes, positioning himself to advance under California's top-two primary system. Meanwhile, the third Indian American in the race, Democrat Ethan Agarwal, received 4,053 votes, polling 6.2 percent and placing fourth.
Tandon, who is preparing for an uphill battle against incumbent Khanna in a Democratic stronghold, appealed for change. He said, "This November, let's vote for change."
He continued, "It's time to move past career politicians and put people who will actually work for you back at the center of this district. That is what this campaign has always been about, and that is what we will deliver."
Also Read: Silicon Valley Showdown: Agarwal eyes Ro Khanna’s seat
A Bay Area resident for 26 years, Tandon has been actively involved in community service as a volunteer since he began living in the region.
On his campaign website, he notes that his commitment to public service was shaped by his grandfather, Kanhaiyalal Tandon, who fought for India's independence.
Talking about his win, Tandon said, "I am thrilled to share that we are moving forward to the general election."
He continued, "This moment belongs to all of you. Every door knocked, every call made, every conversation in our communities, and every late night of work helped carry us here. I could not be prouder to make this announcement alongside the team that made it possible."
His campaign is centered on the principles of defending the Constitution, protecting individual freedoms and representing Bay Area residents with integrity in the U.S. Congress.
Tandon holds a master's degree in computer engineering and a Master of Business Administration from Santa Clara University.
Thanking his supporters, Tandon concluded, "From the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in this campaign and for walking this journey with me. We have a long road ahead, and I am honored to be on it with you."
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