Indian-American Democrats score early wins in 2026 US midterms

Indian-American Democrats Suhas Subramanyam, Aruna Miller and Pia Dandiya won their respective contests. The early victories came as control of Congress remained undecided.

In Short

• Vivek Ramaswamy trailed in the closely watched Ohio governor's race
• Nithya Raman faced Karen Bass in a tight Los Angeles mayoral contest
• Voters ranked the economy and democracy among their foremost concerns

Indian-American Democrats Suhas Subramanyam and Aruna Miller secured re-election, while Pia Dandiya won her contest in the 2026 US midterm elections as the first results emerged, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

Subramanyam, 40, was re-elected to the US House of Representatives from Virginia on Tuesday. Miller, 61, retained her position as Maryland's Lieutenant Governor, while Dandiya, 39, won Florida's 22nd Congressional District. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy was trailing in the Ohio governor's race.

Other Indian-American candidates were awaiting their results as vote counting continued. Democrat Nithya Raman, who was born in Kerala, was in a close contest with her former boss Karen Bass for the post of Los Angeles mayor.

Indian-American lawmakers Ro Khanna, Ami Bera and Pramila Jayapal were seeking re-election to the House. Fellow Democrat Amish Shah was contesting a competitive race in an attempt to enter Congress for the first time.

More than 210 million Americans were eligible to vote in elections for all 435 House seats, 37 Senate seats, 36 state governorships and several local public offices. Voting began at 6 am Eastern Time on Tuesday.

Early surveys had indicated that voters could deliver a rebuke to President Donald Trump and signal a desire for change. Preliminary findings from CNN's voter poll showed broad dissatisfaction with the state of the country, the economy and Trump's performance.

A Fox News voter survey found that the economy was the most important issue, followed closely by the state of democracy.

Republican Shelley Capito of West Virginia and Democrat Wesley Bell of Missouri's 1st Congressional District won re-election. Democrats also gained a Senate seat in North Carolina and won contests in Georgia and New Hampshire. Former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries told staff and volunteers at a phone bank in Washington that the party was on the "brink of dramatic change" and close to taking back the House.

"We're going to deliver a Congress that actually puts the American people first," Jeffries said.

Trump remained in his White House office with his advisers as voters cast their ballots across the country. On Tuesday afternoon, he endorsed Republican candidates through a series of posts on X.

Trump also watched pre-election coverage on Fox News but criticised commentator Jessica Tarlov. "Watching the Pre-Election Results on Fox News, but I can't stand Jessica Tarlov's voice - DUMB AS A ROCK, but it's the voice that gets me. Have to go somewhere else until that LOSER is off the air - I'll be back later," he wrote on Truth Social.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Interior Secretary Doug Burgham and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin spoke to reporters during the day about the Trump administration's achievements. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was seen entering the White House's West Wing and indicated that he did not want to speak.

Vice-President J D Vance used a post on X to highlight the administration's tax measures over the previous year and a half. "We ended taxes on overtime. We ended taxes on tips. We ended taxes on Social Security," he wrote.

On polling day, Trump announced that the US would stop providing Israel with USD 4 billion in aid from next year. Democrat Ro Khanna described the move as a desperate attempt to stave off a "Blue tsunami".

The US carried out limited strikes on Iran's Qesham island in the Strait of Hormuz on the eve of the elections. Officials said the strikes were in response to Iran firing at a US aircraft.

The elections will determine whether Trump's Republican Party retains control of the House and Senate or whether the Democrats gain control of at least the House, as opinion polls had predicted, during the final two years of Trump's second term.

Democratic control of Congress would allow greater scrutiny of Trump's actions and limit his ability to advance his agenda through the legislature. He would, however, retain the power to govern through executive orders.

Trump acknowledged that Republicans could lose control of both chambers but indicated that he would not allow Congress to slow him down. "I guess I'll become Mr Veto," he told the New York Post's Pod Force One podcast, referring to the president's power to veto measures passed by Congress.

Democrats were hoping to gain seven Senate seats in Michigan, Maine, Ohio, Kansas, Texas, Iowa and Alaska as they sought a majority in the 100-member Senate. Of the Senate seats on the ballot, 22 were held by Republicans.

Each of the 50 US states is represented by two senators, who serve six-year terms. Senate elections are staggered, with voting held every two years for one of three groups of seats. House members serve two-year terms.

Before the elections, Republicans held narrow majorities in both chambers. The House had 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats and one independent, California's Kevin Kiley, while two seats were vacant. The Senate was divided 53-47 in favour of Republicans, meaning Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to take control.

The early results therefore brought victories for Indian-American Democrats Subramanyam, Miller and Dandiya, while several other candidates from the community awaited results as the wider contest for control of Congress continued, according to PTI.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends