The electoral fate of Indian American physician Dr Ami Bera, who has a slender lead of 184 votes over his Republican rival in the Congressional election from California, now depends on the counting of tens and thousands of provisional and absentee ballots, which might take days or even weeks.
Dr Ami Bera was on the cusp of creating history by becoming only the third Indian-American ever to be elected to the United States House of Representatives, as five others from the community bit the dust in the polls.
Dr Ami Bera, 45, the Elk Grove, California Democrat has created history by becoming the first Indian American physician to be elected to the United States Congress and only the third Indian American in the community's immigrant experience to have the distinction of being voted in to the US House of Representatives.
Soon-to-be Indian American United States Congressman Dr Amerish 'Ami' Bera has appointed long-time Democratic and community activist and erstwhile Congressional staffer Mini Timmaraju as his chief of staff.Hyderabad-born and Texas-raised Timmaraju, 39, is currently the director of the Office of the President at Planned Parenthood Federation of America and a former district director for US Congressman Nick Lampson of Texas.
United States Congressman's father is convicted of making illegal donations to his son's campaign coffers.
Hours before the crucial United States mid-term polls, Congressman Ami Bera's re-election campaign got a shot in the arm with First Lady Michelle Obama appealing to voters in California seat, where the Indian-American is locked in a tight contest, to vote for him.
Babulal 'Bob' Bera, US Congressman Ami Bera's 83-year-old father, faces five years in prison.
A record five Indian-American lawmakers from the ruling Democrat Party, including Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Ami Bera have been elected to the US House of Representatives, while several others were elected in state legislatures, in one of the most polarised midterm elections in the country.
The Indian-American Democrat edged out his competition Republic Doug Ose by a narrow margin of 1,432 votes to represent California's 7th Congressional District, reports Rediff.com's Aziz Haniffa.
The only Indian-American in Congress won the election in 2012 and re-election in 2014 by wafer-thin margins. His race this year is officially a 'close contest'.
The only Indian American lawmaker in the United States Congress, Dr Amerish 'Ami' Bera, on Tuesday made his debut as a member of a Congressional Committee that has jurisdiction over matters pertaining to South Asia.
Six Indian American leaders were sworn in as members of the US House of Representatives, marking the largest number of Indian American representatives in the US Congress. The group includes Congressman Dr Ami Bera, who has served seven consecutive terms, and newcomers Suhash Subramanian and Shri Thanedar. The six lawmakers, all Democrats, represent a significant milestone for the Indian American community in the US.
Nine Indian Americans are running for the US House of Representatives, which includes a re-election bid by six of them while three are making their maiden foray into Congressional politics.
Indian American Congressman Amerish 'Ami' Bera has no plans to throw in the towel just yet in his re-election election bid from California's 7th Congressional District where he narrowly trails his Republican opponent Doug Ose.
At an elegant reception hosted at her residence on February 14, to felicitate the newly minted United States lawmakers -- Dr Ami Bera and Tulsi Gabbard Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao predicted that 'the presence of Ami Bera and Tulsi Gabbard in the US Congress, brings great meaning to our mission and our task of taking US-India relations further forward to greater and greater heights'.
Six Indian Americans have won the elections to the House of Representatives, increasing their number from five in the current Congress.
The Indian-American community has emerged as a force to reckon with for the first time in the history of the US presidential election.
Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna, 47, is headed towards running for presidency of the United States, his Indian American colleagues in the US House of Representatives believe.
Dr Ami Bera, California physician, who according to conventional wisdom is the only Indian American congressional candidate this time around among all of the community's aspirants who has a good chance of winning, received a major boost when former President Bill Clinton publicly endorsed him in a public rally at the University of California.
Dr Ami Bera, the Indian American Democratic Party candidate from a Congressional seat in California, received a big boost to his electoral ambition as he was endorsed by former United States President Bill Clinton.
Indian-American Congressional candidate Dr Ami Bera on Tuesday became the sole Democratic to represent California's 3rd Congressional Distict, following the withdrawal of candidature by Bill Slaton from the Democratic primary.
So far only two Indian-Americans have been elected to the US Congress. Dalip Singh Saund was the first Indian-American elected to the House of Representatives in 1950s, while Bobby Jindal, now the Louisiana governor, was the second one.
Indian-American Congressman Dr Amerish Bera feels that an apology will help India and the United States work through any misunderstandings. Aziz Haniffa reports from Washington, DC
India taking up Russia's offer of discounted crude oil would not be a violation of American sanctions, the White House has said. "Our message to any country continues to be that abide by the sanctions that we have put in place and recommended," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference on Tuesday. Asked about a report on the possibility that India could take up the Russian offer of discounted crude oil, Psaki said, "I don't believe this would be violating that (sanctions)."
"These latest so-called 'Liberation Day' tariffs are reckless and self-destructive, inflicting financial pain on Illinois at a time when people are already struggling to keep their small businesses afloat and put food on the table."
As India expressed 'displeasure and disappointment" over the United States's decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, California Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez said that the she will patch things up with India soon on the issue.
Not only does the new US Congress have the first Indian-American US Senator, for the first time in history it also has four Indian Americans in the House of Representatives! Glimpses of the change of guard.
As part of its effort to change the face of the party, diversify its base and gain the support of this cash rich community, the Republican Party is working to field 10 Indian-Americans in the 2014 Congressional elections.
'This is such a dynamic time for our entire community.' Ami Bera tells Aziz Haniffa/Rediff.com what his selection means for desis in America.
'This is a dark day for our country'
"This is something to be proud of," said Raj Panjabi, who is currently serving as Senior Director for Global Health Security and Biodefence on the White House National Security Council.
Ami Bera is on cloud nine after being part of Obama's visit to India.
Iraq war veteran and Democrat Manan Trivedi tried his luck for the third time, but was trounced by Republican Ryan Costello, the Chester county commissioner for Pennsylvania's open seat in District 6
Krishnamoorthi, 43, won the Chicago-area US House of Representatives seat, the 8th Congressional District, vacated by Tammy Duckworth who won Illinois's US Senate seat.
The "Samosa caucus" comprises of five Indian-American lawmakers, including four members of the House of Representatives and Senator and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
'What has cemented the renewed bilateral commitment is the maturity of the relationship. This has been reflected at the highest levels, with you and President Obama driving the relationship, and at the citizen-to-citizen level.'
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, US Senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker from New Jersey and US Congressmen Steny Hoyer (Maryland), Ami Bera and Ed Royce (California) Elliott Engel, Joe Crowley, Nita Lowey, Carolyn Maloney, Jerald Nadler (New York), Frank Pallone (New Jersey), Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii) Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas) Joe Wilson (South Carolina) and Jim McDermott (Washington) are among those confirmed their attendance.
Chanting slogans of "Modi Modi" and India-US friendship, Indian Americans walked in a procession for over an hour towards the historic Lincoln Memorial where the participants busted into an impromptu dance.
Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected as the new speaker of the United States House of Representatives in a dramatic post-midnight ballot on Saturday, after days of intense negotiations and a series of humiliating defeats to finally capture the gavel on a historic 15th attempt.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances