Meet Suhas Subramanyam, the Indian-American who may become newest member of 'Samosa Caucus'

Suhas Subramanyam (Image: www.suhasforvirginia.com)

As America votes to choose its 47th president, nine Indian Americans are contesting seats in the House of Representatives, including 38-year-old Suhas Subramanyam. He is facing off against Republican Mike Clancy.

Subramanyam, who would make history as the first Indian-origin leader to be elected from Virginia and the East Coast if he wins, was former United States president Barack Obama’s technology advisor a decade ago. He is currently a State Senator in Virginia and is expected to win a seat in the US House of Representatives from Virginia's 10th Congressional District, which is a Democratic stronghold.

A practicing Hindu, who is popular among Indian Americans, Suhas Subramanyam has pressed for reforms to immigration law, more just green card quotas, better access to healthcare facilities, and strengthened ties between India and America. During a debate held in September, he had said, “We need to support legal immigration…. Congress, that’s exactly what I am going to do. I am going to make sure that we work in a bipartisan way to solve these issues.”

According to his website, his other focus areas would be job creation, responsible gun ownership, and environmental protection. He has reportedly also vowed to strongly oppose “MAGA extremists” and defend abortion rights.

According to a report by DC News Now, Subramanyam’s mother immigrated to the United States in 1979. The father of two attended college at Tulane University in New Orleans and he got an honours in law from Northwestern University.

The Indian American State Senator has been endorsed by former Congresswoman Barbara Comstock and Democrat Jennifer Wexton.

Suhas Subramanyam, if victorious, would become the newest member of the ‘Samosa Caucus’ -- a group of Indian-American lawmakers in the US Congress. The term is used for the growing number of Indian-American legislators who are of South Asian descent, particularly those of Indian origin. The term was coined around 2018 by Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois with an ode to the popular Indian snack samosa.