Ami Bera became 3rd Indian-American to win US Congressional Election

Ami Bera, 47, California-based, Indian-American has become the only 3rd of the community to win Congressional election, making it to US House of Representatives on 6 November, 2012 by defeating Republican Dan Lungren.

On 6 November 2012, Bera had neck to neck competition with the opponent Lungren with just 184 votes lead. The lead increased to 3800 votes on 13 November 2012. Later, on 15 November 2012, it was announced by The Sacramento County Registrar of Voters that the lead of Bera had increased by 5696 votes or 2.2 percent. Gradually the lead widened and Bera won the seat to the House of Representatives.  

Bera at present is in Washington for the orientation course that is organized for the new lawmakers. This is incidentally led by the opponent Lungren.

There were five more Indian-Americans in the competition for this seat but all these people lost to Bera. These people were Syed Taj from Michigan, Manan Trivedi from Pennsylvania, Upendra Chivukula from New Jersey and Jack Uppal and Ricky Gill from California. All of these were Democrats except Ricky Gill who represented the Republican Party.

Previously, Dalip Singh Saund created history when he became the 1st Indian-American elected to the House in 1950s. Saund was the mathematician with interests in farming. The 2nd Indian-American to be elected was Bobby Jindal in 2005 and 2008, the health-policy expert. He is now the Governor of Louisiana.

Democrat Bera now has become the third Indian-American to repeat the deed by defeating Republican Dan Lungren in the Seventh Congressional District of California. Ami Bera is a renowned physician.