Kerala roots cross borders as US midterm races draw attention

Washington: The political fortunes of Indian-origin candidates with roots in Kerala have drawn attention in the 2026 US midterm elections, with Republican Vivek Ramaswamy losing the Ohio Governor's race and Democrat Pramila Jayapal facing a Republican challenger in Washington's 7th Congressional District.

Ramaswamy, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Kerala, lost to Democratic candidate Amy Acton by more than 2,00,000 votes. His campaign had received the backing of US President Donald Trump, and he had secured the Republican nomination in the May primary.

Acton, a physician, has secured a historic victory, becoming the first Democrat to win the Ohio governorship since 2006.

Meanwhile, in Washington's 7th Congressional District, Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal, whose family has roots in Kerala, is facing Republican challenger Nirav Sheth, a Gujarat-born former US Marine.

The contests have brought the political journeys of candidates with Indian connections into focus as the United States votes in elections that could reshape the balance of power in Congress.

Trump's leadership faces midterm test

The midterm elections are being closely watched as a test of Trump's leadership midway through his second term. Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, but their majorities are narrow, giving Democrats an opportunity to challenge that hold.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate are being contested. Of the Senate seats up for election, 22 are currently held by Republicans.

Democrats are particularly focused on seven states — Michigan, Maine, Ohio, Kansas, Texas, Iowa and Alaska — where victories could put them in a position to take control of the Senate.

Recent pre-election polls published by The New York Times and Siena University showed Democrats leading Republicans in nearly all seven battleground states. However, the final outcome will depend on voter turnout and the results of individual contests.