Indian-American Bera’s lead grows in California race

Washington, Nov 14 (IANS) California physician Ami Bera has inched closer to creating history as the third Indian-American to be elected to the US Congress with his lead in a Congressional race growing to 3,824 votes.

Democrat Bera is now ahead by more than 1.5 percent and has more than doubled his previous lead over his sitting Republican opponent Dan Lungren in the race for the Seventh Congressional District in California.

The Sacramento, California, seat is one of five close Congressional contests whose results have not been declared pending counting of thousands of outstanding absentee and provisional ballots.

“There are still ballots remaining, but we are confident that Sacramento County voted for new leadership that will put the people first. The dedicated citizens at the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters are working hard to deliver a timely and accurate result,” Bera said in a statement Tuesday.

If he wins, the son of Indian immigrants, Bera would be just the third Indian-American elected to Congress, after Dalip Singh Saund in 1952 and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who won a House seat in 2004.

IANS 2012-11-14 10:44:21