India-born US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has won a sixth consecutive term representing Washington’s 7th Congressional District. The Democratic lawmaker defeated Republican Nirav Sheth, strengthening her position as a prominent voice on immigration reform and progressive policies.
India-born Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has secured a sixth consecutive term in the United States House of Representatives, defeating Republican challenger Nirav Sheth in Washington state’s 7th Congressional District in the November 3, 2026, elections.
Jayapal, who made history as the first South Asian American woman elected to the US House of Representatives, secured approximately 88 per cent of the votes against Sheth’s nearly 12 per cent, according to early election results. The Associated Press called the race in her favour after a majority of the votes had been counted.
Her victory ensures her continued presence in Congress, where she has emerged as a prominent Democratic voice on immigration reform, healthcare access, workers’ rights and progressive economic policies. She is also recognised as the only current member of Congress to have previously held both a student visa and an H-1B employment visa, giving her personal experience of the US immigration system.
Born in India, Jayapal spent her childhood in India, Indonesia and Singapore before moving to the United States alone at the age of 16 to pursue higher education. She attended Georgetown University and subsequently earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Northwestern University.
Her personal immigration journey has played an important role in shaping her political positions. In a 2023 statement, she described India as her birthplace, where her parents continue to live, and recalled having been an Indian citizen for three decades.
Jayapal has frequently highlighted her experience as an immigrant while challenging restrictions on legal immigration introduced by the Trump administration. She has particularly criticised measures affecting H-1B visa holders, including the proposed $100,000 visa fee, arguing that such policies could restrict legal pathways for skilled workers seeking employment in the United States.
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During a congressional hearing in December 2025, she criticised the administration’s immigration policies, describing the restrictions as reminiscent of discriminatory immigration quotas. She also raised concerns about increasing anti-Indian sentiment in the United States.
She has additionally criticised tariffs imposed on Indian goods, arguing that the measures could damage India’s economy while negatively affecting American businesses and consumers. Following the April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Jayapal also condemned the violence and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families.
