His bid depends on Democrats regaining control of the Michigan House of Representatives in the November 3 elections. Indian-origin Michigan lawmaker Ranjeev Puri is aiming to make history by becoming the first Indian-American to serve as Speaker of a state House in the United States.
Michigan currently has a Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer, but Republicans control the state House, with Matt Hall serving as Speaker. “Michigan Dems are on the move. Puri was born to Punjabi immigrants and grew up with values centred around service, opportunity and community involvement. He later earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and returned to Michigan, where he worked in the automotive industry. As a lawmaker, Puri has focused on issues like gun safety, infrastructure and economic development.
Democrats are hoping to win enough seats in the upcoming election to take control of the 110-member chamber and potentially elevate Puri to the top leadership position. His political journey began before holding elected office when he worked on former President Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012. Following the 2023 Michigan State University shooting, he had also helped lead efforts on firearm safety legislation. Michigan has more than 127,000 residents of Indian origin, representing about 1.27% of the state’s population, according to the Indian American Voter Atlas.
We are about to flip the state house and make Ranjeev Puri THE FIRST Indian American State House Speaker in the country,” Representative Haley Stevens said while campaigning for Democrats in the state. Puri said his campaign work with Obama inspired him to create change in his own community, according to his profile with Future Caucus . Puri has received national recognition for his leadership and has been named the of State Governments’ “20 Under 40” Leadership Award Class of 2023 and receiving the MIRS Legislator of the Year Award in 2024, according to Future Caucus.
