Harry Bhandari and Sarahana Shrestha Win in Maryland and New York State Legislature

Both candidates of Nepali origin in the US elections have won. 

Harry Bhandari  won a seat in the Maryland state Legislature. He won in District 8 of the Maryland House of Delegates.

Bhandari is the first Nepali American state legislator in the USA. He is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing the 8th district since 2019.

Likewise, Sarahana Shrestha won a seat in the New York State Legislature by defeating a Republican realtor. She won Assembly District 103.

She has made history by becoming the first Nepali American to win the New York State Assembly.

Shresta came to New York in 2001 to study as an excellent graphic designer and also advocated for democracy in Nepal. Due to the political articles published in the online literature journal run by her, the then monarchy even banned her online in Nepal. She became a U.S. citizen in 2019. She is currently a resident of Esopus.

Lately, the participation of Nepali Americans in mainstream American politics has been increasing.

Nearly 60,000 Nepalis across the United States have obtained US citizenship, according to the US Department of Homeland Security. About 15 percent of them are living in New York.

Nepali Americans, despite being a minority community, have been actively participating in US elections. The interest and participation of Nepali Americans in mainstream American politics have been growing in recent years.

Nepali Americans have not only started running in the election but have also started making history by winning the election.