VA’s Suhas Subramanyam: My Daughters Have A Multi-Cultural Identity Like Kamala Harris

Photo: Suhas Subramanyam has secured the Democratic primary for a Congressional seat in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District.

By REENA RATHORE

Suhas Subramanyam became the first Indian American, South Asian, and Hindu to be elected to the Virginia General Assembly in 2019 and the state senate in 2023. In June, he beat back 11 other candidates to win the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District.

The 37-year-old, who was endorsed by fellow Democratic incumbent Rep. Jennifer Wexton to succeed her in Congress, will face Republican Mike Clancy in the November election. In 2020, President Joe Biden won the district by 18 points, which is to say that Subramanyam stands a great chance of becoming a part of the “Samosa Caucus” in Congress.

Fresh off what is widely regarded as a nasty and hard-fought primary win, in an interview with India-West, Subramanyam attributed his success to his ability to connect with voters, effective communication and of course for delivering results: lowering costs for everyday necessities like groceries, prescription drugs, and utility bills.

 “I’d like to continue that work in Congress. In my primary, I ran as a moderate Democrat who reaches across the aisle to get things done. I don’t plan on changing my messaging from my primary to my general election,” he said, adding thatfocus on the economy, education, and cost of living will remain central themes in his campaign, as these issues are of paramount importance to voters across the board. He spoke to India-West on key issues:

Historic Candidacy And Representation

As the potential first Indian American and Hindu American elected to Congress from Virginia, he spoke passionately about the symbolic weight of his candidacy, also recognizing the significance it holds for Indian Americans.

“I’m proud to be someone with Indian roots as well as proud to be Hindu as well. I think it’s become evident to me that there’s a lot of Indian Americans and Hindu Americans around the country who believe in our campaign and want to see more representation in Congress,” he observed. “It’s special for me to be a part of that. I do hope to be a voice for all communities. But it’s certainly very special to make history and be someone who can increase the representation of Indian Americans and Hindu Americans in Congress.”

He has been endorsed by several high-ranking officials and key organizations, including the Indian American Impact Fund, AAPI Victory Fund and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

High Costs And Policy Failures

Subramanyam underscored the urgency of addressing the high cost of living, a concern at the forefront of his campaign. “It seems like the price of everything is so high right now, and I want to make sure we address from a policy perspective what we can control. I think one of my top priorities is making sure people feel good about the economy. I want to make sure everyone has access to good paying jobs and we have an economy that lets everyone thrive,” Subramanyam, explained, noting that some factors, like the war in Ukraine are beyond control, while others stem from policy failures such as the monopolistic practices of prescription drug companies.

Gun Violence: A Call For National Action

With gun violence making headlines all too often, Subramanyam, who has also served as a volunteer medic, EMT, and firefighter, stressed the need for stronger national policies to protect communities. “We have shootings all the time in Virginia. People want to feel safe. They want their kids to feel safe in school. And I think that we can do more as a country to address safety and gun violence,” he remarked.

Immigration And Border Security: A Balanced Approach

Subramanyam struck a balance between robust border security coupled with comprehensive reform. He criticized the political stalemate in Congress, particularly the inaction on a bipartisan Senate bill addressing border security.

“Unfortunately, congressional Republicans have decided not to act on this so that they could make this an election year issue. And that was at the advisement of Donald Trump. It’s really unfortunate. We need to solve immigration in a comprehensive way,” he asserted, advocating for policies that both protect the border and streamline the process for those who follow the legal path to citizenship.

He continued: “Or have a more streamlined process for renewing their visas or obtaining a Green Card. The number one thing I hear from constituents as a state senator who doesn’t touch immigration is immigration. People reach out to me all the time about issues they’re having with the State Department or USCIS. And in Congress, I can actually do something about it. And I do plan on being a very strong voice for immigrant families who come here the right way and want to contribute their talents as well as to other families who just want to visit and get a visa. And then I want to be a strong voice for making sure our border is protected. And that we prevent illegal immigration as well.”

Reproductive Rights: A Federal Mandate

As a staunch defender of reproductive rights, Subramanyam called for federal legislation to protect access to abortion, contraception, and other reproductive healthcare services, saying it was “real shame that the Supreme Court decided to legislate this from the bench,” rolling back decades of legal precedent. “I think a woman’s access to healthcare reproductive rights should not depend on her zip code. The conversation about a woman’s reproductive health should be between her and her doctor. And not between her, her doctor, and politicians who want to impose their values on us,” he stated, calling for unified national policies to safeguard these rights.

His stance also includes support for procedures like IVF and access to family planning resources, recognizing the importance of these services in women’s lives.

The Kamala Harris Effect: Multicultural Identity in Politics

The conversation shifted to the increasing political influence of the Indian American community over the past decade, with Subramanyam noting the growing engagement and representation within both major political parties. His run has galvanized support among Indian Americans across the country, who see this campaign as a milestone for greater representation in U.S. politics.

“I think just seeing an Indian American running for president in Kamala Harris as well as two Indian Americans being major serious candidates in the Republican primary was pretty evident to me that representation is definitely increasing in our community,” he told India-West. “We are adding to the ranks in Congress as well. I think even aside from all the people who are winning races and running for office, I’m starting to see more Indian Americans generally be engaged and donating their time and money and efforts to electing candidates that they like on both sides of the aisle. I hope that Indian Americans continue to stay engaged in the political spectrum. I hope that we can continue to have a voice in policymaking.”

Weighing in on Vice President Kamala Harris’s rise, Subramanyam said he sees her as a symbol of the evolving narrative of multicultural identity in American politics. Drawing parallels to his own family, his expressed hope that this trend of diverse representation will continue, inspiring future generations to embrace their multifaceted identities.

“My daughters are going to be multicultural, part Hispanic and part Indian. I want to make sure that they feel like they can fit in with both of their identities. We give them Mexican heritage as well as expose them to Indian American heritage,” Subramanyam told India-West. “It’s very special for me to be able to point to Kamala Harris and say that she’s someone like you who comes from South India but also has another part of her identity as well. You can become president, too, one day, just like Kamala Harris.”