US midterms 2026: Indian-American Democrat Aruna Miller seeks re-election as Maryland Lt Governor alongside Wes Moore

Indian-origin politician Aruna Miller is seeking another term as Maryland’s lieutenant governor, running alongside Democratic Governor Wes Moore in the November 3 US midterm elections. Born in Hyderabad, Miller made history in 2023 as Maryland’s first Asian American lieutenant governor and the first woman of colour to hold the office.Miller and Moore are seeking re-election after taking office in January 2023. The Democratic ticket advanced through the party’s primary on June 23, setting up a general election contest against Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox and his running mate.Miller has made education, childhood poverty and affordability key themes of her campaign. In a statement announcing the re-election bid, she said she wanted to continue improving public schools and help more families afford to live in Maryland.“I am thrilled to stand alongside Governor Wes Moore as we launch our campaign to continue the work to make our public schools the best in America, to end childhood poverty once and for all, and to make sure more Marylanders can afford to live here, buy a home, create wealth for their families, and live a secure middle-class life,” Miller said.From Hyderabad to Maryland politicsMiller’s journey into public service began long before she entered elected office. She studied civil engineering at the University of Missouri and earned a bachelor’s degree in Technology in 1989, before entering public service in Maryland.She has been elected to public office twice: first to the Maryland House of Delegates, where she represented District 15 from 2011 to 2019, and later as lieutenant governor in 2022. Her election to the state’s second-highest office marked a milestone in Maryland politics.Miller joined Moore, who became the state’s first Black governor, on a ticket that won the 2022 general election with 64.5% of the vote, defeating Republican Dan Cox, who received 32.1%.The pair assumed office in January 2023, becoming Maryland’s executive leadership team. Miller’s role has placed her among Indian-origin politicians serving in senior elected positions in the United States.Miller pushes back against Trump over ballot errorEarlier this year, Miller defended Maryland’s election officials after President Donald Trump called for a Justice Department investigation into incorrect mail-in ballots sent to some voters ahead of the state’s primary elections. Trump accused Governor Moore of allowing the error to benefit Democrats, but Miller told Fox News Digital that the state election board operated independently of the governor’s administration.“I think it was just an error by the vendor,” Miller said, rejecting claims of deliberate wrongdoing. Maryland election officials attributed the mistake to their mail-ballot printing vendor and said safeguards were in place to prevent duplicate voting. Trump said he had asked the Justice Department to investigate, but the department had not publicly announced an investigation.A joint campaign focused on families and affordabilityMoore has highlighted reducing costs, lowering crime and addressing unemployment as priorities in his re-election campaign. He has also criticised President Donald Trump’s administration over federal job cuts, Medicaid and rising prices for household essentials.Miller’s campaign statement points to public education, childhood poverty and the cost of living as key areas for the next term. She has called for policies that help families remain in Maryland, purchase homes and build financial security.​You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.