Democrat Jyot Singh has won Georgia’s House District 97, becoming the first Sikh American and first Indian American elected to the Georgia General Assembly, according to The Indian Express.

Singh defeated Republican Yassin Moghazy in the November 3 US midterm election. His constituency includes parts of Duluth, Peachtree Corners and Norcross, along with Berkeley Lake in Gwinnett County.

A historic victory in Georgia

The milestone concerns Georgia’s state legislature. Singh’s victory brings Sikh representation to the General Assembly and marks a first for the state’s Indian American community.

Announcing his victory on X, Singh thanked Georgia voters and described himself as the representative-elect for District 97, The Indian Express reported. Community members celebrated at the Guru Nanak Mission Society in Norcross with the Sikh call of “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal”.

From Gwinnett to the state legislature

Singh grew up in Gwinnett County and is the son of Punjabi immigrants. A Yale graduate, he entered the general election after winning the Democratic primary in May with about 59 per cent of the vote, carrying every precinct, according to the Georgia Asian Times.

His local work included leading the campaign to renew Gwinnett’s E-SPLOST education sales tax, which provides $1.4 billion for county schools. His endorsements included US Representatives Hank Johnson and Ro Khanna, alongside state lawmakers Sam Park and Long Tran.

The District 97 seat was open after Democratic representative Ruwa Romman sought election to the state Senate.

Affordability and public services

Singh campaigned on housing, healthcare, affordability and public education, with attention to immigrant and working-class families, The Indian Express reported.

His election adds a Sikh American voice to debates over those issues in Georgia’s state legislature.

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