Indian American Democrats Ride Blue Wave To State Houses

Photo (Left to Right): J J Singh, Ravi Bhalla, Balvir Singh

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – Two Indian American state legislators coasted to re-election on November 4, while another secured a seat in the New Jersey Assembly — all Democrats riding the party’s strong wave to victory in statehouse races.

New Jersey – District 7
Democratic Assemblyman Balvir Singh was re-elected to the New Jersey State House from District 7, representing Burlington Township. Running on a platform centered on equity and education, Singh and fellow Democrat Carol Murphy won decisively, together capturing over 66% of the vote in a clean sweep for the Democrats. Singh, was born in a small village in Punjab and moved to the U.S. as a child.

Virginia – District 26
In Virginia, Delegate JJ Singh easily won re-election to the House of Delegates from the 26th District, defeating Republican challenger Ommair N. Butt. Singh received 19,776 votes (69.09%) to Butt’s 8,766 (30.62%). “Thank you for sending me back to Richmond to fight for you!” Singh wrote on X, adding, “As I like to tell my girls, in Loudoun County and in Virginia, anything is possible.” A son of Indian immigrants, Singh was born and raised in Northern Virginia, where he lives with his wife and two daughters.

New Jersey – District 32
Meanwhile, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla won a seat in the New Jersey State Assembly from District 32, alongside housing policy expert Katie Brennan. The progressive duo, unaligned with the Hudson County Democratic Organization, defeated Republicans Stephen Bishop and Kaushal Patel with 76% of the vote to their opponents’ 24%. Initially planning to run separately, Bhalla and Brennan teamed up after a new state law permitted bracketing, allowing them to campaign as running mates.