Indian-Origin Representation Grows in New Democrat Coalition as Membership Reaches 142

Newly elected Indian-American lawmakers Amish Shah and Pia Dandiya have joined the New Democrat Coalition, taking the group’s membership to 142 and making it the largest ideological caucus within the Democratic Party.
 

The centrist group, led by Brad Schneider, inducted 40 newly elected members on Tuesday. This marks the largest intake in the coalition’s 30-year history.
 

In a statement, Schneider recalled that the coalition had 43 members when he first entered Congress in 2012. Fourteen years later, he said, the group was welcoming its largest-ever batch of 40 new members, bringing its total strength to 142.
 

The other major ideological group within the Democratic Party is the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which has more than 100 members. It is led by Texas Congressman Greg Casar and includes lawmakers such as Ilhan Omar, Pramila Jayapal and Ro Khanna.
 

Apart from Shah and Dandiya, Indian-American members of the New Democrat Coalition include Ami Bera, Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar and Raja Krishnamoorthi.
 

However, Thanedar and Krishnamoorthi will not be part of the new House of Representatives, which is scheduled to take office on January 3. Thanedar lost the Democratic primary for the House, while Krishnamoorthi lost the Democratic primary for the Senate.
 

Shah, an emergency medicine physician and a three-time member of the Arizona House, has family roots in Gujarat. Born in Chicago, he is the son of parents who moved to the United States during the 1960s.
 

He completed his undergraduate studies at Northwestern University and earned his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School as part of its honours programme.
 

Shah also received a full merit scholarship to pursue a master's degree in public health at the University of California, Berkeley. He subsequently completed his residency training in emergency medicine at one of New York City's busiest Level-1 trauma centres. His father is Jain, while his mother is Hindu.
 

Dandiya was born and raised in Palm Beach County, Florida. She began her professional career as a teacher and later served as a high school principal in Harlem.
 

Established in 1997, the New Democrat Coalition works across caucuses and the US Capitol to promote innovative, inclusive and forward-looking policies.