Here’s How The ‘Samosa Brigade’ Plays Its Role In US Elections For Indian-Americans

A spicy sidebar that has Indian-Americans involved or interested in one of the most virulent election in US history pertains to the “Samosa Caucus” – and whether it will grow in strength from its current four members.

Samosa Caucus is the term used to describe the group of Indian-American lawmakers in Congress- Ami Bera, Pramila Jayapal, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Ro Khanna in the House of Representatives and Kamala Harris in the Senate. All four Representatives are up for re-election in Tuesday’s midterm election after serving a two-year term, and with another dozen Indian-Americans on the ballot on November 6, there are hopes that the samosa brigade will be strengthened.

Easier said than done though. The US House of Representatives has a very high rate of incumbency re-election, an inertia that has led to the term “Congressional stagnation,” although the retirement of some 42 Congressmen this election cycle has led to openings for many aspirants. Even so, the rate of incumbency re-election in recent years has been over 90 per cent, with rarely more than ten sitting members losing their House seats every election cycle.