In a sign of the group's growing sway, more Indian Americans than ever are running for Congress.

In the last six years, nearly 80 candidates made it on the ballot, soaring far beyond numbers seen in past elections. Leading the wave are successful candidates from California, like Kamala Harris, who rose from a Senate seat to become vice president.

Thanks to a long-standing immigration pipeline to the U.S., Indian Americans have become one of the country's fastest growing ethnic groups. Their numbers have increased five times over since the 1990s and make up 1.3% of the U.S. population.

No state has more than California, which is home to more than 800,000 people of Indian descent. Voters in the state have elected four Indian Americans to the U.S. House and Senate, more than all other states combined.

Unlike other Asian groups that are mostly concentrated on the West Coast, Indian Americans have increasingly spread out across the country. As their numbers grow, their political power is strengthening and more Indians are appearing on the ballot in the Midwest and the South.

Top 10 U.S. metro areas by Indian American Population

Residents

0

50k

100k

150k

200k

250k+

Metro area​

Indian

Chinese

Filipino

Japanese

Korean

645,484

761,762

1

New York

195,552

42,233

197,930

2

Chicago

221,908

113,772

115,546

16,579

51,320

499,233

209,000

248,922

40,322

47,709

3

San Francisco

4

Dallas

187,782

59,819

34,165

7,100

30,769

5

San Jose

179,864

189,143

92,015

26,410

30,299

170,518

109,415

66,772

12,565

81,062

6

Washington, D.C.​

7

Los Angeles

158,649

550,502

424,428

132,094

303,012

8

Houston

94,187

51,615

6,210

16,242

145,288

9

Philadelphia

127,587

84,789

26,793

3,863

33,017

10

Atlanta

125,724

48,684

13,736

7,024

45,644

U.S. Census Bureau

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Top 10 U.S. metro areas by Indian American Population

Residents

0

50k

100k

150k

200k

250k+

Metro area​

Indian

Chinese

Filipino

Japanese

Korean

1

New York

195,552

645,484

761,762

42,233

197,930

221,908

113,772

2

Chicago

115,546

16,579

51,320

209,000

248,922

40,322

47,709

3

San Francisco

499,233

4

Dallas

187,782

59,819

34,165

7,100

30,769

5

San Jose

179,864

189,143

92,015

26,410

30,299

6

Washington, D.C.​

170,518

109,415

66,772

12,565

81,062

7

Los Angeles

550,502

424,428

158,649

132,094

303,012

8

Houston

145,288

94,187

51,615

6,210

16,242

9

Philadelphia

127,587

84,789

26,793

3,863

33,017

10

Atlanta

125,724

48,684

13,736

7,024

45,644

U.S. Census Bureau

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Top 10 U.S. metro areas

by Indian American Population

Residents

0

50k

100k

150k

200k

250k+

Japanese

Chinese

Filipino

Korean

Indian

Metro area​

645k

761k

195k

42k

197k

New York

221k

113k

115k

16k

51k

Chicago

San ​

209k

499k

248k

40k

47k

Francisco

187k

59k

34k

7k

30k

Dallas

179k

189k

92k

26k

30k

San Jose

Washington, ​

170k

109k

66k

12k

81k

D.C.

158k

550k

424k

132k

303k

Los Angeles

145k

94k

51k

6k

16k

Houston

127k

84k

26k

3k

33k

Philadelphia

125k

48k

13k

7k

45k

Atlanta

U.S. Census Bureau

LOS ANGELES TIMES

"We have roots in almost every part of this country," said Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat elected to represent parts of the Bay Area in 2016.

Khanna, a son of immigrants who grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, said Indians can be found all across the country in part due to professionals in medicine, education and technology moving to areas where their skills are in high demand.

The result is that many Indian Americans live in swing states where their vote may be vital in a closely contested election. Sara Sadhwani, an assistant professor of politics at Pomona College, points to races like last year's crucial elections in Georgia, where President Biden and two Democratic Senate candidates narrowly won. High turnout in the Atlanta area was key to the victory. The area is home to more than 125,000 Indian Americans who lean Democratic and Sadhwani says contributed to the party's victory.

There are many Indian Americans across the country, including in states that flipped from Trump to Biden in 2020.

Detroit, MI

85,663

Wis.

Philadelphia, PA

127,587

Population by

Metropolitan area

Phoenix, AZ

55,004

500k

250k

100k

Atlanta, GA

125,724

Detroit, MI

85,663

Wis.

Philadelphia, PA

127,587

Phoenix, AZ

55,004

Population by

Metropolitan area

Atlanta, GA

125,724

500k

250k

100k

Detroit, MI

85,663

Wis.

Philadelphia, PA

127,587

Population by

Metropolitan area

Phoenix, AZ

55,004

500k

Atlanta, GA

125,724

250k

100k

Philadelphia, PA

127,587

Detroit, MI

85,663

Wis.

Phoenix, AZ

55,004

Atlanta, GA

125,724

Population by

Metropolitan area

250k

100k

500k

Detroit, MI

85,663

Philadelphia, PA

127,587

Phoenix, AZ

55,004

Atlanta, GA

125,724

Population by

Metropolitan area

500k

250k

100k

A second generation inspired to step up

Former President Obama was key to advancing the careers of Khanna and fellow California Rep. Ami Bera, an Indian American who represents parts of Sacramento.

Both were inspired to change careers and run for Congress after Obama became the first person of color elected president.

Bera, a practicing physician, said a desire to join Obama in reforming the healthcare system led him to seek office. It wasn't until he was elected, he said, that he realized he would be the only Indian American in the House and committed to helping others with a similar background get elected.

That would require convincing other Indian American professionals to consider a career change to get involved in politics.

"This isn't about becoming an engineer or a doctor," said Bera. "It's also about how can you get to the table. And how can we bring the values of our communities into this broader conversation."

Bera and Khanna are both second-generation Indian Americans raised by parents who immigrated to the country. Many Indian American candidates come from a similar background. That includes Vice President Kamala Harris, who grew up in Oakland with a Jamaican father and mother who was born in Chennai, India.

Khanna said his parents' immigrant generation was mostly focused on settling in and making a life in the States, which led many of them to avoid rocking the boat and getting into politics.

Due to their parents' success, many second generation Indian Americans now find themselves with some advantages.

Asian American median annual income in U.S.

U.S. median income ($68,703)

Indian

$125,000

Filipino

$100,000

Other Asian

$94,000

Japanese

$85,000

Chinese

$85,000

Korean

$75,000

Vietnamese

$74,000

U.S. Census Bureau

Asian American median

annual income in U.S.

U.S. median income

($68,703)

Indian

$125,000

Filipino

$100,000

Other Asian

$94,000

Japanese

$85,000

Chinese

$85,000

Korean

$75,000

Vietnamese

$74,000

U.S. Census Bureau

Indian American wealth is a pool of money that can be tapped by political campaigns. Khanna credited the Indian and South Asian communities with generously offering to donate. After he lost his two bids for Congress, a strong South Asian base helped him on his third try.

Early in the 2020 presidential campaign, Indian American donors, many of them eager to support Kamala Harris' bid, gave more than $3 million to primary hopefuls. That haul surpassed the vaunted Hollywood donor class.

Expect this trend to continue

Organizers are now striving to build on recent successes. The Indian American Impact Fund in Philadelphia, is an example.

The group's annual budget has jumped from $300,000 to $15 million in just two years, said Executive Director Neil Makhija.

Makhija aims to use the money to mobilize voters and help candidates get elected at the state and local level, which could groom the next generation of national politicians.

Most Asian sub-groups have only a few members in the House of Representatives...

Amount if the House was reflective of the U.S. population

Number of representatives

Chinese

2 people

5.8

Indian

4

5.6

Filipino

1

4

Other Asian

2

3.9

Vietnamese

1

2.5

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

... some have more members in the House than their U.S. population would suggest.

Korean

1.9

4

Japanese

1

2

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Most Asian sub-groups have only a few members

in the House of Representatives...

Amount if the House was reflective of the U.S. population

Number of representatives

2 people

5.8

Chinese

4

5.6

Indian

1

4

Filipino

2

3.9

Other Asian

1

2.5

Vietnamese

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

... some have more members in the House than their

U.S. population would suggest.

1.9

4

Korean

1

2

Japanese

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Most Asian sub-groups have only a few members in the House of Representatives...

Amount if the House was reflective of the U.S. population

Number of representatives

2 people

5.8

Chinese

4

5.6

Indian

Filipino

1

4

Other Asian

2

3.9

1

Vietnamese

2.5

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

... some have more members in the House than their U.S. population would suggest.

Korean

1.9

4

1

2

Japanese

LOS ANGELES TIMES

In 2020, 35 South Asian candidates ran for state office nationwide, more than double four years prior. Forty-six first-time South Asian candidates are already expected to run for similar offices in 2022, according to data compiled by the group.

One example is Janani Ramachandran, who is seeking a California State Assembly seat representing parts of Oakland and other nearby cities.

If Ramachandran wins a run-off election in August, she would become the first South Asian woman elected to the state assembly, as well as the first LGBTQ woman from any Asian group.

Ramachandran said she was inspired by the way Harris incorporated her Tamil heritage into her campaign.

“There was that moment where Kamala Harris talked about her ‘Chitti,’ and I started tearing [up],” said Ramachandran. “She's from Oakland too, and to have a Tamil woman from the Bay Area be on this national platform speaking our language was just a real moment.”