Indian-origin Suhas Subramanyam wins re-election to US House from Virginia

Subramanyam secured 63.16% of the vote

Indian-origin Democrat Suhas Subramanyam has won re-election to the US House of Representatives from Virginia's 10th Congressional District in the 2026 midterm elections, defeating Republican challenger Dave T Beckwith.Subramanyam secured 63.16% of the vote, polling 1,73,106 votes, while Beckwith received 34.66%, or 94,990 votes. Independent candidate Ahsen Mujeeb Malik finished third with 1.99% (5,444 votes), while write-in candidates accounted for the remaining 0.19%.The victory comes after Subramanyam urged Indian-Americans to participate actively in the midterm elections, saying their votes and voices mattered more than ever amid rising hate and discrimination in the US.

Speaking to ANI after voting at a polling station in Manassas, Virginia, on Tuesday, he said the state was witnessing record turnout and expressed confidence about the Democrats' prospects."Well, come out and vote. Make your voice heard. Your vote matters more than ever, especially at a time when we're seeing record hate in our community, in our country," he said.Encouraging Indian-Americans to consider entering politics, Subramanyam drew from his own experience of contesting and winning elections.

"I ran for office and I won. You can too. If you want to get involved in the political process, now is the time. It's more important than ever," he added.The Congressman also criticised the functioning of the US Congress, saying people were dissatisfied with representatives who prioritised the President over ordinary citizens. He said Democrats would focus on restoring healthcare and food assistance and ensuring public resources benefited Americans.Born in Virginia in 1979 to Indian immigrant parents, Subramanyam is the first Indian-American to represent the state's 10th Congressional District. His mother is from Bengaluru, while his father grew up in Chennai and Secunderabad.A lawyer by profession, he holds degrees from Tulane University and Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law. He previously served as a technology policy adviser in the White House under former President Barack Obama before entering politics.Subramanyam was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2019 and subsequently served in the state Senate from 2023 to 2024. He entered the US House in 2024, succeeding retiring Democratic representative Jennifer Wexton.During his campaign, he criticised President Donald Trump's administration over rising costs, healthcare concerns and its treatment of the federal workforce. He has also raised issues affecting Indian professionals, including green card backlogs and challenges with the H-1B visa programme.