Left: Sukh Kaur - Credit: sa.gov
Right: Sanjay Singhal - Credit: LinkedIn
San Antonio/Sugar Land, Texas— Two Indian-Americans have secured influential city council seats in Texas: Dr. Sukh Kaur retained her District 1 seat in San Antonio, while Sanjay Singhal triumphed in Sugar Land’s District 2 runoff on June 7.
Their victories mark a milestone in enhancing South Asian representation in local governance and resonate strongly with the Desi diaspora celebrating civic impact.
Key Facts:
- In San Antonio's District 1 runoff, Dr. Sukh Kaur won with 65% of the vote over Patty Gibbons on June 7, becoming the first South Asian to hold that seat.
- In Sugar Land’s District 2, retired energy executive and IIT Delhi graduate Sanjay Singhal secured 2,346 votes to Nasir Hussain’s 777—a commanding margin.
- Their wins align with Texas’s broader trend of increasing Indian-American electoral influence, alongside gains in Houston-area leadership roles .
Dr. Sukh Kaur, a Rice University graduate and former educator, emphasized infrastructure upgrades, affordable housing, public transit, and neighborhood safety as core goals.
Reflecting on her immigrant journey and post‑9/11 experiences, she said, “District 1 is the corazon (heart) of San Antonio, and I will keep working to make it a world‑class city for all”.
Sanjay Singhal—an IIT alumnus who has lived in Sugar Land for over 30 years—and a retired energy executive, campaigned on sustainable growth, transparency, public safety, and opposed a local gas power plant project.
He expressed gratitude: “I am deeply honored and grateful to have earned the trust of District 2 residents”.
Their successes spotlight the growing Indian-American civic footprint in Texas, especially in cities like Houston, San Antonio, and Sugar Land—areas with rising South Asian populations and expanding political influence.
Beyond representing their communities, Kaur and Singhal aim to enhance urban development, safety, and civic engagement—setting a foundation for future South Asian leaders in U.S. politics. Their swearing‑in ceremonies are expected in the coming weeks.
Do You Know?
Sugar Land’s population is nearly 50% Asian, making it one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Texas—a key factor in Singhal’s community support.
Key Terms:
Runoff election: A follow-up vote held when no candidate meets the required majority threshold in the general election.
District council seat: A position on the city council representing a specific geographic area and its residents.
Diaspora: The global community of people originating from a common country—in this case, Indian-Americans living in the U.S.