Will Indian Americans Record Their Best-Ever Showing in US Polls?

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The Indian diaspora is steadily increasing its political representation in the US political system and this time one of them might even make it to the prestigious US Senate.

Indian Americans, comprising about 1% of the US population, may see the two-term Attorney General of California, Kamala Harris, being elected to the US Senate from the state.

US President Barack Obama has personally endorsed Harris, California's first woman Attorney General, as "fearless."

In addition, several American Indians are eying seats in the House of Representatives. Raja Krishnamoorthi, 42, is contesting from the 8th District of Illinois. A favourite to make it to the House is the 51-year-old social activist Pramila Jayapal, running for the 7th District of Washington (Seattle area). This is a seat vacated by veteran Democrat and India Caucus Chair Jim McDermott. Jayahpal and McDermott have jointly campaigned against attacks on Sikhs, Arabs, and Muslims.In Silicon Valley's 17th Congressional, Ro Khanna, 40, is challenging veteran Democrat Mike Honda, an Asian American with established credentials in Congress. Khanna received more votes than Honda in the primaries and has been endorsement by former President Jimmy Carter. Ro first came into the limelight when Obama appointed him Deputy Assistant Secretary in his first term.

Yet another Indian, Ami Bera, 51, is facing tough fight from Republican Scott Jones from the seventh Congressional District of California. In the last elections in 2012, Bera had won against against Republican Dan Lungren.

Incidentally, all Indian Americans are running on DemocraticParty tickets, lending credence to a widely held perception that a majority of Indian Americans are on the Blue side.

Indian Americans are among the most highly educated ethnic communities with the median annual income above $85,000. They have leveraged their political and economic influence to help successive Indian governments enhance their engagement with US administrations.

With more Indian Americans getting into the Capitol Hill, their political empowerment will further go up.