Four Americans of Nepali origin are running for seats in state legislatures in three US states in the November 3 midterm elections.

Harry Bhandari and Satish Chapagain are contesting seats in Maryland’s House of Delegates, while Bishwa Bahadur Shah is running for the New Hampshire House of Representatives. In New York, incumbent Sarahana Shrestha is seeking another term in the State Assembly from District 103.

All of them are running as Democrats. 

Bhandari and Chapagain secured their party’s nominations in the Democratic primaries. Bhandari is contesting from Maryland’s District 8, while Chapagain is running in District 7A.

Harry Bhandari

Harry Bhandari is seeking a third term in Maryland’s House of Delegates. He was first elected from District 8 in 2018 and won re-election in 2022, becoming the first person of Nepali origin to serve in a US state legislature.

Bhandari says he has consistently prioritised issues affecting the Nepali community, both during his time in office and outside it.

He said he had worked to introduce policies that would make life easier for people facing financial difficulties, those struggling to access healthcare and students trying to pursue higher education. “I also played a role in securing legislative recognition for an annual Dashain Day celebration during the third week of October,” he said. “That initiative became a reality and remains one of the important achievements of my tenure.”

Satish Chapagain

Satish Chapagain, who is seeking his first term in the Maryland House of Delegates, began his career in journalism. He is a former central vice-president of the Nepal Press Union and continues to work with media outlets in the United States.

He is also an adviser to the International Coordination Council of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA). He has served as an elected member of the Baltimore County Democratic Central Committee for the past four years.

After winning the Democratic primary, Chapagain entered the race for District 7A, saying he was confident of securing a seat.

Speaking to Kantipur, Chapagain said he had entered politics to represent Nepali Americans and give their concerns a stronger voice in public life. He said he had received support from Nepalis across the United States.

“I am committed to clean and fair politics,” he said. “I believe voters will endorse my agenda and elect me to the House of Delegates this time.”

He has also appealed to Nepali community organisations to support his campaign. Chapagain has pledged to make issues affecting Nepali Americans a priority if elected.

Bishwa Bahadur Shah

In New Hampshire, Bishwa Bahadur Shah is contesting a seat in the state’s House of Representatives from Hillsborough County District 41. He is running for elected office at the state level for the first time.

His campaign has focused on reducing the cost of living, economic justice, public education, healthcare, childcare and support for older people.

“I am running because I believe hardworking families deserve fairness and a genuine opportunity to thrive,” Shah said in a statement shared on social media during his campaign.

He has also pledged to make healthcare and childcare more affordable, ensure adequate funding for public schools and provide tax relief to working families. He says older residents should receive the support they need to enjoy a dignified retirement.

Suraj Budathoki, a Bhutanese American who has previously served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, is not running in this election.

Sarahana Shrestha

In New York, incumbent Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha is seeking a third term as a Democratic candidate from the 103rd Assembly District. She was first elected in 2022 and won re-election in 2024.

Shrestha moved to the United States in 2001 as a student. She became the first woman of Nepali origin to be elected to a state legislature in the United States.

Her legislative work has focused on affordable housing, climate policy, healthcare, public education, workers’ rights and childcare.

She has also sought to raise issues affecting women and promote the development of the Nepali community.

“I have consistently raised issues including climate change, concerns affecting Nepali Americans and increasingly unpredictable changes in global weather patterns in the State Assembly,” she said during her campaign. “I will continue to build on our work while bringing greater attention to issues affecting the Nepali community.”

The United States has a population of about 343 million. More than 211 million citizens were actively registered to vote in 2024, according to the US Election Assistance Commission. Community estimates put the number of Nepali Americans eligible to vote at around 100,000 in 2024.

Eight people of Nepali origin currently hold elected positions in local governments across the United States.