Ranjeev Puri makes history as first Indian-American elected Michigan House Speaker

Indian-origin Michigan lawmaker Ranjeev Puri.

Indian-American lawmaker Ranjeev Puri is set to take charge of the Michigan House of Representatives for the 2027-28 legislative term, becoming the first person of Indian origin to hold the position.Puri, a Democrat representing Canton, was elected Speaker by his party colleagues on Thursday as Democrats prepared to take control of the 110-member chamber with a 63-47 majority. The party’s victory also gives Democrats control of the state’s governorship and Senate, creating a Democratic trifecta.Taking to Facebook after the leadership election, the 42-year-old said he was looking forward to working with the incoming state leadership to fulfil campaign promises. “Today, I’m humbled to be elected by my colleagues as Speaker of the Michigan House,” he wrote. “Thank you to my colleagues for your trust. Excited to get to work.”Puri also spoke about the significance of his achievement for his family, whose roots lie in Punjab. “When my parents immigrated to this country, they couldn’t have imagined their son would one day make history, break barriers and lead the Michigan House. That is the promise of America,” he said.In 2020, Puri became the first Sikh American elected to the state House. He was subsequently chosen to lead the Democratic caucus in 2025 in the state, when Republicans held the majority. He is now preparing to enter his fourth term as a state representative.Before his election to the legislature, Puri worked on former US president Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012. He later earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and worked in Michigan’s automotive industry.Congratulating him on the elevation, Chintan Patel, executive director of Indian American Impact, said Puri had made reducing household costs, including healthcare and housing expenses, a central part of his work.Patel also said Puri would be expected to stand up for South Asian communities amid rising hate and oppose the Trump administration’s policies. “With Ranjeev leading the caucus, we have no doubt they will lower costs and make life more affordable for Michigan families,” he said.Puri’s elevation adds to the growing political representation of Indian-Americans following the November 3 midterm elections. Democrats Suhas Subramanyam and Pia Dandiya won seats in the US House, while Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal secured re-election. Aruna Miller retained her position as Maryland’s lieutenant governor, while Josh Kaul won re-election as Wisconsin attorney general. Indian-American candidates Aparna Raj and Jyot Singh also won races for the Washington DC Council and Georgia state legislature, respectively.