Two Indian American Democrats Win From Loudon County in Virginia Special Election

Former Virginia Delegate Kannan Srinivasan has defeated Republican Tumay Harding in the special election to fill the seat in the state Senate, representing the 32nd District. The win ensures that Democrats will maintain their majority in the state Senate. The seat was previously held by Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), who was sworn-in on Jan. 3. The sixth Indian American member of the “Samosa Caucus,” he represents Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. 

Kannan defeated Tumay Harding, a schoolteacher, with 61.25% to 38.62% out of 29,621 votes cast.  61.25% to 38.62% out of 29,621 votes cast, according to Virginia Mercury. 

JJ Singh, a former Capitol Hill aide, won Srinivasan’s old State House seat representing District 26, topping Indian American Republican Ram Venkatachalam, an information technology consultant, with 61.49% to 38.33% out of 9,940 votes cast, Virginia Mercury reported.https://x.com/vademocrats/status/1876790042640675039

The Hill notes that Srinivasan’s win was widely expected given the blue lean of the district, which is located in Loudoun County outside of Washington, D.C.  However, there were some potential warning signs for Democrats coming out of the 2024 presidential election. While Vice President Harris handily won Loudoun.

In statement issued on Jan. 7, Srinivasan said he is “deeply honored by all of the support and enthusiasm in this race.” But “our work is unfinished,” he added. “Tomorrow, the 2025 Legislative Session begins and I look forward to carrying forward the promises of this campaign to Richmond and am committed to finding common-sense, bipartisan solutions. I look forward to doing the work and representing our community with pride, humility, and dignity. Thank you for entrusting me with this responsibility.”

Singh will be the first Sikh American elected to the Virginia legislature. In an interview with WAMU, Singh said he was the proud son of two Indian immigrants, a backstory he shares with many of his new constituents. “I’m a reflection of this community and I’m proud to represent it,” he said. “And I’m proud to follow in the footsteps of Suhas and Kannan. They’ve done an amazing job.” “I am honored to represent the community that my family calls home,” Singh said in a statement. “This community embodies the best of our country: we come from different backgrounds and faiths and coalesce around our shared values and a belief that, in America, anything is possible.”

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He ran on a platform focused on economic growth, infrastructure improvements, and environmental protection.WAMU notes that like Srinivasan, Singh will “provide a critical vote in support of the Democratic agenda, including the constitutional amendments.” Singh, who runs a hotel management and development business and previously served as an economic advisor to U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware).

(Top photo: J J Singh, center, who won the Virginia State House seat representing District 26, in Loudoun County, with newly-minted Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), second from left, and Kannan Srinivasan, third from right, who won a state Senate seat, representing the 32nd District, previously held by Subramanyam.)