20 Indian Americans running for US Congress raise over $15.5 mn

Collectively they have raised more than USD 15.5 million, as per latest official figures, with seven of them raising over a million each.

With six months still to go for the November Congressional election, except for Hiral Tipirneni who is running for April 24 special elections in Arizona, the figure of more than USD 15.5 million raised by Indian Americans so far that could be a record in itself for any ethnic community in the US.

Traditionally, a significant amount of money is raised by candidates in the last two quarters.

As per the latest fund-raising figures released by the Federal Election Commission, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois has raised maximum over USD 3.5 million. Krishnamoorthi is seeking his re-election from the eighth Congressional district in Illinois. Pitted against him is Indian American Jitender Digankar from the Republican party.

Indian-American scientist and entrepreneur Shiv Ayyadurai, who is running as an independent candidate for the US Senate seat from Massachusetts.

Three other Indian American Congressmen Ro Khanna, Dr Ami Bera and Pramila Jayapal each have raise more than a million each. Krishnamoorthi, Khanna, Bera and Jayapal are the four Indian Americans in the current House of Representative. They are collectively called Samosa Caucus.

According to Federal Election Commission Khanna, seeking re-election from California's 17th Congressional district had raised nearly USD2 million (USD1.92 million to be precise) till March 31.

He is followed by Dr Ami Bera (USD 1.7 million), who is seeking his fourth consecutive term in the US House of Representative from the seventh Congressional District in California.

Pramila Jayapal, the first ever Indian-American to be elected to the House of Representative has raised USD1.3 million. She is seeking her re-election from the seventh Congressional District of Washington State.

In addition to Jayapal, four other Indian American women are running for the US House of Representatives Hiral Tipirneni from eights Congressional District of Arizona; Aruna Miller from sixth Congressional District of Maryland, Anita Malik from sixth Congressional District of Arizona and Saira Rao from the first Congressional District of Colorado.

All four are from the Democratic party. This week all eyes are on Tipirneni as latest polls suggests that in the April 24 Special election she might create an upset by winning this Republican stronghold. She had raised USD 670,521 till March 31, according to FEC records.