After Topping Ballot in Cary, North Carolina, Municipal Elections, Indian American Sarika Bansal Faces Runoff

With 48.67 percent of the vote, the only person of color running for a town council seat, fell just short of the 50 percent threshold.

Despite topping the ballot in the Oct. 10 Cary municipal election in North Carolina, Sarika Bansal fell just short of the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff. The Indian American newcomer has now been challenged to a runoff by second-place finisher Rachel Jordan. Bansal, the only person of color running for a town council seat in Cary received 48.67 percent of the vote, while Jordan got 28 percent of the vote, News & Observer reported. The runoff will take place on Election Day, Nov. 7.

District D consists of west Cary and parts of Chatham County. The district was represented by Ya Liu before she resigned from the post to serve in the state House of Representatives.

Cary is home to over 180,000 residents, and Asian Americans make up 20% of the population.

In August, Bansal found one of her campaign signs was found vandalized. The sign was found on Aug. 24 in the Highcroft Village neighborhood in west Cary, News & Observer reported. Last year, Bansal sought the District D seat after Ya Liu was elected to the state House in November.

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An advocate for women’s rights and better mental health resources throughout the community. Bansal knows “the importance of community service,” her website says. She’s also committed to making investments in our town for future generations. “I want to set an example for my daughter that anything is possible with dedication and hard work,” she says. “We should teach our kids to dream big because it is the first step towards achieving your goals.” She also believes Cary’s future hinges on big ideas and leadership. “We must embrace our town’s potential. We must include more voices and citizen engagement so we can make strategic investments in our town that will benefit generations to come.”

She moved to Cary in 2015 to pursue a career in cyber security. Five years ago, she and her husband Naresh Lunani started a small business called Raj Jewels.