Washington, Nov. 9: Indian American Aruna Miller is the next Lieutenant Governor of Maryland by defeating her Republican challenger Gordana Schifanelli, according to The Associated Press. The 57-year-old Indian American is the running mate of the celebrity author, Army veteran, and former nonprofit executive, Wes Moore, who won the election for governor, by defeating Republican challenger Dan Cox.

Both Moore and Mille’s wins are historic. Moore becomes the state’s first Black governor, and just the third elected Black governor ever. Miller is the first Asian American elected to statewide office. Even more historic is the fact that this is the first time both the top two positions in a state were ever held by racial minorities.

With this win, Moore now reclaims the governor’s office for Democrats, after eight years of term-limited Republican Gov. Larry Hogan. “Even though Hogan governed as a moderate and enjoyed high approval ratings, he clashed with local Democrats over highway and transit projects and his early pandemic response,” as reported by Axios. 

The newly elected governor has been a bright spot for the Democrats from the very beginning. This might be one of the few races that would flip from the GOP to the Democrats in the midterms. 

When he chose the Hyderabad-born Miller, a former Maryland House delegate, Moore said he was “absolutely ecstatic and humbled to go on this journey with Aruna Miller.” 

While Moore has never held or run for public office, Miller, on the other hand, is an experienced campaigner who has both political and policy experience. She served two terms in the House of Delegates during the terms of both Govs. Martin O’Malley (D) and Larry Hogan (R). She spent four years on the House Ways and Means Committee and four years on the Appropriations Committee, working on issues like paid family leave, transportation policy, domestic violence, and STEM education, among many others. She served in the General Assembly.

The Washington Post has previously reported that “Miller brings legislative and campaign experience to the ticket,” as well as a “geographical balance to Moore’s ticket,” as “a longtime resident of voter-rich Montgomery County.”

Miller, an engineer by training, immigrated to the United States when she was 7 years old. She learned English while in the public school system, graduated high school, and attended college at what is now called Missouri University of Science and Technology. 

She began her career as a civil engineer in Maryland and worked for Montgomery County for over 25 years. In 2010, she was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates where she represents the 15th District and serves on the Appropriations Committee. Miller, who became a U.S. citizen in 2000, spent four years on the House Ways and Means Committee and four years on the Appropriations Committee, working on issues like paid family leave, transportation policy, domestic violence, and STEM education, among many others.

In 2017, Miller launched a bid for the 6th Congressional District to replace Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.), but she lost to multimillionaire businessman David Trone in the Democratic primary, finishing second. 

Expectedly, there is all-around elation among Indian Americans at Miller’s historic win.-AP