Indian-American wins New Jersey general assembly seat

Indian-American Upendra J Chivukula (Democrat) won the fourth successive two-year term to the New Jersey general assembly on Wednesday.

The Democrats retained control of the state legislature in the elections held on Tuesday.

Chivukula, who is deputy speaker, is the first and the only Indian to be elected to the assembly from the state.

A popular candidate, he was elected from 17th District which has only 7 per cent South Asian voters. As many as 51 per cent voters are Caucasian, 19 per cent African-American, 16 per cent Hispanic and 14 per cent other communities, including 7 per cent South Asian.

But the Indian-American candidate for Senate Seema Singh, lost heavily at the hands of current assembly man Bill Baroni.

Singh, a consumer advocate for New Jersey, could get only 37 per cent votes against 63 per cent polled Baroni.

Baroni will complete his term in the assembly on December 31 and then join the Senate.