On Tuesday, Indian American Aruna Miller scripted history as she became the first immigrant to become the Maryland's lieutenant governor. A former state delegate, 58-year-old Miller immigrated to the US from India as a child and is now the first woman of colour to be elected to the post.
Miller was elected alongside Democrat Wes Moore, who will now become the first Black governor of Maryland, on the same ticket in the Old Line State.
Born in Andhra Pradesh, Miller recalls arriving in the US, along with her parents, her family full of hope and opportunity. "I have never, ever stopped being excited about the great promise of America. And I will never stop fighting to make sure that promise is available to everybody," Miller told voters during her campaigning.
Though a Democrat, her popularity among the Indian Americans in Maryland was mostly bipartisan as she was seen holding a high-dollar fundraiser at the home of Jasdip 'Jesse' Singh, the founder of Sikhs for Trump.
The fundraiser also put her in the dock after allegations surfaced about her connections with Adapa Prasad, the national president of BJP's overseas outreach wing 'Overseas Friends of the Bharatiya Janata Party.' According to the prominent left-wing media The Intercept, the fundraiser was "the latest instance of Hindutva, or a Hindu nationalist political ideology creeping into American politics."
However, she managed to overcome the stiff opposition from her detractors by registering an emphatic win. Both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had campaigned in favour of Moore and Miller.
In her winning speech, Miller said: "Maryland, tonight you showed the nation what a small but mighty state can do when democracy is on the ballot. You chose unity over division, expanding rights over restricting rights, and hope over fear. You chose Wes Moore and me to be your next Governor and Lieutenant Governor."
The Lieutenant Governor is the state's highest official following the Governor and assumes the role when the Governor is out of state or incapacitated. The Lieutenant Governor also becomes the Governor should the Governor die, resign or be removed from office.
(With inputs from PTI)
