Abhiram Garapati Brings Rancher Image To Texas Congressional Race

India-West Staff Reporter

DALLAS, TX – Surrounded by bales of hay and dressed in the look of a Central Texas rancher, Abhiram Garapati often presents himself less like a conventional politician and more like a cowboy rooted in the land. On his ranches in Central Texas and Florence, where he raises hay and livestock, Garapati has leaned into an image that reflects rural life and the values that are associated in the public imagination with his state.

That image now frames his latest political bid. Garapati is running for the U.S. House of Representatives yet again, from Texas’s 31st Congressional District, entering a crowded Republican primary field ahead of the March 3 contest. He is one of ten Republican candidates seeking the party’s nomination, positioning himself as an outsider businessman and rancher with deep ties to grassroots conservatism.

Garapati openly anchors his campaign in faith and values he says align closely with Texas conservatism. Raised Hindu, he later converted to Christianity and says his acceptance of Jesus Christ has shaped both his personal life and political outlook. He frequently speaks about limited government, personal responsibility, and religious freedom, themes that resonate strongly with conservative voters across the district. He has also drawn attention for pledging to refuse all campaign contributions, decline a congressional salary and pension, and provide easy public access to his financial and campaign disclosures. Garapati says he owns no individual stocks and will not trade while serving in Congress.

Federal Election Commission data for the period from July 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 reflects that pledge. The filings show total campaign receipts of $55,000, with zero contributions from individuals or political committees.

Garapati immigrated to the United States in 1997 at the age of 22 with $500. Through business ventures in commercial real estate, he became a self-made millionaire by age 30. In 2004, he founded Ant Savings, a commercial real estate investment firm headquartered in Central Texas. The company has since grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise with a portfolio spanning multiple states, including office buildings, hospitals, restaurants, and shopping centers. In 2010, Garapati became a U.S. citizen.

Politically, Garapati has been active in Republican circles for nearly a decade. He has run in the Republican primary for Congress in 2020, 2022, and 2024, and represented Texas’ 31st District as a delegate to the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwauke