US: Ranjiv Puri nominated for Michigan speaker, Amish Shah wins House seat
Indian-origin leaders have achieved major political success in the US. Sikh lawmaker Ranjiv Puri is on track to become Michigan House Speaker, and Dr Amish Shah has been elected as a Member of Parliament from Arizona.
Two leaders of Indian origin have created history in American politics. In Michigan, the Democratic Party has chosen Sikh lawmaker Ranjiv Puri as its candidate for the position of Speaker of the state House of Representatives. Along with this, Indian-origin Dr Amish Shah has made a major comeback from Arizona by winning a US Congress seat.
Democrats have regained majority in the Michigan legislature in the recent elections. Party lawmakers chose 42-year-old Ranjiv Puri for the speaker position on Thursday. If he is formally elected during the new legislative session in January, he will be the first Indian-American and the first Sikh to reach this position.
Born in Wisconsin, Ranjiv Puri was elected as the first Sikh member of the Michigan House from the Canton constituency in 2020. He has also served as the Democratic whip and later as the minority leader in the legislature. He has played a key role in passing several laws to curb hate crimes and tighten gun regulations. According to Puri, his main priorities will be increasing family income and resolving economic hardships.
On the other hand, in Arizona's 1st congressional district, emergency medicine specialist Dr Amish Shah has won the congressional seat by defeating Republican candidate Abe Hamadeh. Forty-eight-year-old Shah has become the first South Asian American lawmaker to represent Arizona.
Amish Shah served as a member of the Arizona legislature from 2018 to 2024. He had also contested the congressional election in 2024, but faced defeat at that time. He had campaigned on the issues of healthcare facilities and reducing economic burden.
Following his victory, Dr Shah said that he is committed to working by taking both parties along in Parliament. The session of the new US Congress will begin on January 3.
Key developments
- Ranjiv Puri nominated by Democratic Party for Michigan House Speaker position
- Puri will become the first Sikh and Indian-American to reach this position if elected in January
- Dr Amish Shah wins congressional seat from Arizona's first congressional district
- Amish Shah becomes the first South Asian leader to reach the US Congress from Arizona
