Suhas Subramanyam

Suhas Subramanyam (born 1986)[1] is an American lawyer and member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 87th district. A Democrat, he was elected in 2019 and became the first Indian-American, South Asian, and Hindu to ever be elected to the Virginia General Assembly.[2][3] He previously served as a White House advisor to President Barack Obama.

Suhas Subramanyam
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 87th district
Assumed office
January 8, 2020
Preceded byJohn Bell
Personal details
Born1986 (age 36–37)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
EducationTulane University (BA)
Northwestern University (JD)
WebsiteCampaign website

Early life and education

Subramanyam was born in Houston, Texas to Indian parents from Bengaluru, India who later came to the United States through Dulles Airport in Virginia[4] and eventually settled in Houston, Texas.[5] He attended Clear Lake High School and earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy from Tulane University.

Career

Subramanyam served as a legislative aide for health care and veterans policy in the House of Representatives after college[4] and also clerked for the U.S Senate Judiciary Committee for Senator Dick Durbin, helping him reintroduce the DREAM Act.[6] He attended Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where as a second year law student he helped overturn the wrongful conviction of a man sentenced to life in prison.[7]

In 2015, Subramanyam was appointed to serve as a White House technology policy advisor in the administration of President Barack Obama.[8] He led a task force on technology policy that addressed job creation, IT modernization, and regulating emerging technology.[9]

Virginia House of Delegates

Elections

2019

In the 2019 Virginia House of Delegates election, Subramanyam ran to succeed Democrat John Bell, who left the seat to run for the 13th district of the Virginia Senate. He faced a crowded primary, running against three other first-generation Americans.[10] He won the primary with 47.0% of the vote.[11][12]

In the general election, Subramanyam ran on a platform to improve education, healthcare and traffic in the region and across Virginia.[13] Subramanyam went on to win the general election with 62.0% of the vote.[14]

2021

Subramanyam won a second term in the 2021 Virginia House of Delegates election, defeating Republican Gregory Moulthrop by more than double digits.[15]

Policy positions

In 2021, Subramanyam co-founded the General Assembly's first Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus.[16] He is also the co-founder and co-chair of Virginia Commonwealth Caucus, a group of lawmakers seeking to bridge partisan divides.[17]

Electoral history
Virginia House of Delegates primary election: 87th District, 2019[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Suhas Subramanyam 3,052 47.23%
Democratic Johanna L. Gusman 1,207 18.68%
Democratic Hassan M. Ahmad 1,502 23.24%
Democratic Akshay Bhamidipati 701 10.85%
Virginia House of Delegates election: 87th District, 2019[19][20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Suhas Subramanyam 17,693 62.00%
Republican William M. "Bill" Drennan, Jr. 10,818 37.91%
Virginia House of Delegates election: 87th District, 2021[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Suhas Subramanyam 24,348 58.42%
Republican Gregory J. Moulthrop 17,273 41.44%

Personal life

Suhas lives in Loudoun County, Virginia with his wife Miranda and daughters. An attorney, he serves on the Loudoun Health Council and volunteers as an EMT/firefighter.[22]

See also

References
  1. "Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings". virginiageneralassembly.gov. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  2. RAGHUNATHAN/India-West, NIMMI. "'Run for the Right Reasons': Suhas Subramanyam, Virginia's First Hindu, Indian American Delegate". India West. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  3. "Meet Suhas Subramanyam, Indian American Democrat running for Virginia House of Delegates". The American Bazaar. May 29, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  4. Reporter, SUNITA SOHRABJI, India-West Staff. "Indian American Entrepreneur, Volunteer Firefighter Runs for Seat in Virginia House of Delegates". India West. Retrieved June 18, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. Tavernise, Sabrina (August 15, 2020). "Kamala Harris, Daughter of Immigrants, Is the Face of America's Demographic Shift". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  6. "Meet Suhas Subramanyam, another Indian American who won in the Virginia elections". The American Bazaar. November 6, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  7. Caruba, Lauren (October 4, 2011). "Center on Wrongful Convictions expresses joy after Jacques Rivera's release". The Daily Northwestern. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  8. "Former technology policy adviser to Obama administration wins Va. House of Delegates primary". wusa9.com. June 12, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  9. PTI (November 7, 2019). "First Muslim woman, Ghazala Hashmi elected to Virginia's state senate". National Herald. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  10. Olivo, Antonio. "In this suburban Democratic primary, all 4 candidates are first-generation Americans". Retrieved December 16, 2020 – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  11. "Virginia Elections Database » Search Elections". Virginia Elections Database. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  12. "Former technology policy adviser to Obama administration wins Va. House of Delegates primary". wusa9.com. June 12, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  13. Staff Reports. "Democrat Suhas Subramanyam wins 87th House District". Prince William Times. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  14. "2019 November General". Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  15. Report, Times-Mirror Staff. "Subramanyam wins 87th House District race over Moulthrop". LoudounTimes.com. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  16. "Virginia State Legislators Create AAPI Caucus". DCist. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  17. Nathaniel Cline. "Del. Subramanyam to co-chair Commonwealth Caucus in hopes of increasing bipartisanship during 2020 session". LoudounTimes.com. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  18. "2019 June Democratic Primary". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  19. "vpap.org". The Virginia Public Access Project.
  20. "2019 November General".
  21. "2021 November General". Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  22. Nathaniel Cline. "The very busy life of Suhas: Del. Subramanyam reflects on first session, public health efforts and family life". LoudounTimes.com. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
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