In the recent municipal elections held in Texas, two Indian American candidates have made it to the runoff elections. This is a sign of growing political involvement from the Indian American community in local politics.
Sukh Kaur Aims for Re-election in San Antonio
Sukh Kaur, who made history as the first South Asian to serve on the San Antonio City Council, is now trying to keep her spot in District 1. She led the field but didn’t get enough votes to win outright, so she’s headed to a runoff. Kaur, who has a doctorate and degrees from Vanderbilt University and Rice University, has focused on making public safety better, improving the city’s infrastructure, and creating more affordable housing. In 2019, Kaur won by a significant margin, showing her strong support base in the city (tpr.org).
Sanjay Singhal Pushes for City Council in Sugar Land
In Sugar Land, Sanjay Singhal, an engineer and president of the Telfair Homeowners Association, is fighting for the District 2 City Council seat. He earned 39% of the vote, putting him in a good position for the runoff against his opponent, Nasir Hussain, who got 22% of the vote. Singhal’s focus is on improving the community and local development. He has been involved in local issues for years and has a strong track record of working with the community (timesofindia.indiatimes.com).
Other Indian American Candidates in the Race
Several other Indian American candidates ran for office but didn’t make it to the runoff. These include Gurvinder Singh in Sachse, George Kakkanatt in Houston, and Sapana Patel in Plano. Their participation shows how more and more Indian Americans are becoming active in local politics across Texas. In fact, Indian Americans have been steadily growing their presence in U.S. politics in recent years. For example, Kamala Harris, with Indian heritage, became the first woman of South Asian descent to be elected vice president in 2020. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com).
What’s Next?
The runoff elections will happen on June 7, 2025, and will be important in deciding who will lead these communities. Indian American candidates in Texas are growing in influence, and these elections show the increasing importance of their voices in local governance. With cities like Houston and Dallas already seeing a large number of Indian American residents, these elections could have a big impact on future political dynamics in Texas.
