New York: In a landmark evening for the South Asian diaspora, several Indian-origin candidates claimed resounding victories in high-stakes US elections, underscoring the community's growing political clout.
Leading the charge was ZOHRAN MAMDANI, the 34-year-old Ugandan-born son of acclaimed Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani. He won decisively in the New York City mayoral race, defeating Independent challenger and former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
A Democratic socialist and Queens assemblyman, Mamdani captured over 50 per cent of the vote, translating to over one million ballots in a turnout that shattered records with more than two million total voters, the highest in over five decades.
His victory marks him as the city's first Muslim mayor and first of South Asian descent, a milestone hailed by supporters as a beacon for immigrant communities.
(Photo courtesy: Senator Ghazala Hashmi/Facebook)
In Virginia, state senator GHAZALA HASHMI scored a historic victory in the lieutenant governor’s race, becoming the first Muslim woman elected to a statewide office in the US. Hashmi, who made history in 2019 as the first Muslim and South Asian woman in the Virginia legislature, will now hold one of the top executive positions in the state.
In Ohio, Cincinnati Mayor AFTAB PUREVAL won re-election, securing over 79 per cent of the counted votes, according to early results with 90 per cent of precincts reporting. Pureval, who is of Indian and Tibetan heritage, defeated Republican challenger Cory Bowman, the half-brother of US Vice President JD Vance.
Mayor Robin Elackatt with his family. (Photo courtesy: Robin Elackatt/Facebook)
Mayor ROBIN ELACKATT won re-election in Missouri City, defeating challenger Jeffrey L Boney to secure another term leading the city. Elackatt received 54% of the vote with 7,745 votes compared to Boney's 46% and 6,722 votes.
BALVIR SINGH was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly from the 7th legislative district, and fellow Democrat JJ SINGH won re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates from the 26th District.
