Several Indian-Americans won in the open primary in California and looking forward to win in the mid-term elections in November. Eight states held Congressional primaries on June 5, Alabama, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota.
In the open primaries in California where the top two vote-getters regardless of party-affiliation, face off in the Nov. 6 general elections, both Indian-American Democratic incumbents won.
Rep. Ro Khanna handily his primary in District 17, securing 59.1% of the votes, and will face off against Republican Ron Cohen, who had secured 24.7%. “The voter turnout in the United States is much lower than in most other industrialized nations. For a more vibrant democracy that truly represents the American people, we should automatically register every U.S. citizen to vote on their 18th birthday,” Khanna tweeted.
Dr. Ami Bera, Congressman from the 7th District of California, won the open primary securing 51.6% percent of the votes. His campaign issuing a statement about his victory, said, “Dr. Ami Bera is humbled by the overwhelming support in his primary victory last night, and it is a testament to the real results he’s achieved for California’s 7th Congressional District,” the statement said. “Headed into November, Dr. Bera is fully committed to the principles that define his time in Congress: access to quality, affordable healthcare for all, good paying jobs and economic development that grows our economy for everyone, and an efficient and effective VA to treat our veterans.” Bera will be pitted against Republican Andrew Grant who got 32.9% of the votes.
California state Assembly member Ash Kalra, an Indian American Democrat who represents the Silicon Valley, was uncontested in his re-election bid. California mandates that the top two contenders in any race will advance to the Nov. 6 general election. Four candidates for Los Angeles County Superior Court advanced unopposed: Neetu Badhan-Smith, Abraham Khan, Upinder Kalra and Sanjay Kumar.
In New Jersey primaries, the state with a sizable Indian American population, none of the Indian Americans made it to the November elections. In the U.S. House race from District 2, hopeful Republican Hirsh Singh made a good showing with 30.5 percent of the vote, losing however to Seth Grossman who secured 39 percent. In New Jersey’s District 7, two Indian-Americans made a futile attempt to dislodge the candidate endorsed by the Democratic Party establishment, Tom Malinowsky, who secured more than 66 percent of the vote from party loyalists to Peter Jacob’s 19.1 percent and Gautam Jois’ 14.1 percent.
In South Dakota, Naveen Malik was seeking a spot in the general election for the state House 31st District seat. Republican incumbents Timothy Johns and Charles Turbiville both advanced by means of no opposition. The same was said of Malik and fellow Democrat Wyatt Osthus, who were the lone blue candidates seeking the seats.
