CHICAGO, Ill. (Diya TV) — Indian American candidates seeking to succeed Raja Krishnamoorthi in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District faced a major setback after suffering decisive losses in the Democratic primary on March 17. The race drew attention due to the presence of multiple Indian American contenders. However, none of them came close to securing the nomination in a district widely seen as safely Democratic.
Former congresswoman Melissa Bean emerged as the clear winner. She defeated businessman Neil Khot by nearly 25 percentage points. According to the Associated Press, Khot secured only 6.7 percent of the vote. He finished behind Junaid Ahmed, who also outperformed the other Indian American candidates.
Meanwhile, Sanjyot P. Dunung received 2.5 percent of the vote. Ryan Vetticad trailed further with just 1.1 percent. Bean’s strong lead made her victory clear early in the counting process. Her win positions her as the likely next representative of the district in Congress.
Illinois’ 8th Congressional District includes suburbs west of Chicago, such as Schaumburg, Elgin, and Des Plaines. The district has long favored Democratic candidates. Political analysts consider it a safe seat for the party. As a result, the Democratic primary often determines the eventual winner of the general election. This reality raised the stakes for all candidates in the primary. Winning the nomination effectively meant securing a seat in Congress.
Khot entered the race with a focus on economic growth. He promoted a “practical, business-savvy mindset” and pledged to attract top companies to the district. He argued that innovation and investment would create more opportunities for residents. He also spoke about representation. Khot emphasized the importance of Indian American voices in national politics. He pointed out that the community makes a significant economic contribution but remains underrepresented.
“We are a minority community,” Khot said during his campaign. “One percent of the country pays six percent of the taxes.” He added that stronger representation in what he called the “Samosa Caucus” would help amplify the community’s voice.
Dunung built her campaign around everyday concerns. She focused on affordability, public safety, and expanding opportunities for families. She aimed to connect with voters facing rising costs and economic uncertainty. Her campaign gained support from several organizations. These included ASPIRE, the Asian Congressional Caucus, and Vote Common Good. Despite these endorsements, her message did not translate into enough votes to compete with Bean’s strong showing.
After her victory, Bean addressed supporters and outlined her vision.
“The voters have spoken,” she said. “Tonight, we begin the work necessary to take our democracy back into our own hands.”
Her message focused on unity and action. She called for renewed efforts to address key issues affecting the district and the country. Bean previously served in Congress and brings experience to the role. Her campaign emphasized both leadership and familiarity with the district’s needs.
The results marked a disappointment for Indian American candidates and their supporters. Many had hoped the race would lead to increased representation in Congress. The presence of multiple candidates from the same community also split the vote. This made it harder for any single candidate to gain strong momentum.
