Suhas Subramaniam sworn into the 119th Congress, a historic moment as an Indian-American and South Asian

Earlier on Friday, Suhas Subramanyam became the first South Asian and Indian-American to serve as the representative for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District as he was inducted into the 119th Congress.

Following in the footsteps of departing Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton, Subramanyam now serves a district that includes portions of Prince William and Fairfax Counties as well as Loudoun, Rappahannock, and Fauquier. As the first person of South Asian heritage to hold a seat in the US Congress, Subramanyam’s accomplishment not only establishes a precedent for Virginia but also for the East Coast.

The ascent to Congress of Subramanyam is a very personal one. His mother, who arrived in District 10 via Dulles Airport, was there to see her son sworn in. Subramanyam thought back on his family’s journey as he took the oath of office and laid his hand on the Bhagavad Gita.

He said, “My parents were able to witness my inauguration as Virginia’s first South Asian and Indian American congressman. My experience demonstrates the sort of potential that America has, even if my mother may not have believed you if you had told her when she arrived at Dulles Airport from India that her son would eventually represent Virginia in the US Congress. Being the first—but not the last—to represent Virginia’s 10th in Congress is an honor for me.

Congressman Ami Bera noted that they welcomed more Indian Americans to Congress in recognition of Subramanyam’s election.

“I was just the third Indian American member of Congress in American history when I was sworn in twelve years ago. Our alliance now has six members! In the years to come, I can’t wait to see even more Indian Americans in the corridors of Congress,” Bera wrote on X.

Subramanyam was President Barack Obama’s Policy Advisor prior to entering Congress. He established the nonpartisan “Commonwealth Caucus” to promote cooperation across party lines after winning a seat in the Virginia General Assembly in 2019. During his tenure in Richmond, Subramanyam enacted significant laws to reduce gun violence, refund overcharged customers, minimize commuter toll prices, and guarantee that all kids have access to high-quality education. He is dedicated to maintaining this bipartisan strategy in Congress and giving his people’ actual, observable outcomes first priority.

Subramanyam has also shown a strong commitment to service by volunteering as an EMT and fireman in Loudoun County. He and his wife, Miranda, and their two young kids, Maya (4) and Nina (3), live in Ashburn, Virginia.