On Tuesday night, Mikie Sherrill made history, becoming only the second woman ever elected governor of New Jersey. But behind this headline-grabbing win lies another story — one that signals a turning point for the state’s Indian American community.

For too long, Indian Americans in New Jersey — despite being one of the largest and fastest-growing immigrant populations — have remained underrepresented in civic and political life. In a state where one in five residents is foreign-born, and where India is the leading country of origin, our voices have not reflected our numbers. This election changed that.

In Parsippany, where Indian Americans make up more than a quarter of the population, Sherrill won by a remarkable 27-point margin — a decisive factor in her carrying Morris County. That same night, Diya Patel, a first-time Gen Z candidate, was elected to the town council — a local win that symbolized the community’s growing political power. For the first time, Indian American voters didn’t just participate — they defined the outcome.

The story was the same across the state. Middlesex County, home to the highest concentration of Indian Americans in the U.S., saw the greatest increase in voter turnout, rising 13% compared to the 2021 governor's race. And Sherrill’s margin soared from +9 for Harris in 2020 to +25 — giving Union and Camden Counties a run for their money on plurality. And nowhere was this transformation clearer than in Edison’s District 78, the heart of the Indian shopping district along Oak Tree Road. That precinct swung from +30 for Trump to +76 for Sherrill — an astounding 107-point shift.

But these gains didn’t happen by chance. They were the product of genuine engagement and community trust. Under the leadership of Jash Gill, Sherrill’s AAPI/MENA Base Vote Director, her campaign didn’t just seek out photo-ops — it built real relationships. Sherrill and her running mate, Dale Caldwell, visited Indian-owned businesses, met community leaders at the BAPS temples in Edison and Robbinsville, attended Navaratri and Diwali celebrations, and listened to concerns about affordability, education, and discrimination. They made a point to address the issues that mattered most — including arbitrary tariffs on Indian goods that have hurt small businesses and families across the state.

Walking down Oak Tree Road this festive season, one could see the effects firsthand — quieter shops, higher prices, business owners struggling to stay afloat. By centering these economic realities in her campaign, Sherrill spoke directly to a community that has too often been overlooked by both parties.

Her message resonated because it was grounded in understanding. She saw what many candidates have missed: that New Jersey’s future runs through its immigrant communities, and that inclusion isn’t just good politics — it’s the key to progress.

This week’s results are a lesson for every party and every candidate in the years ahead. When leaders listen to and legislate for all communities — not just during campaign season but every day — democracy becomes stronger, fairer, and more reflective of who we are.

Congratulations to Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill — and to every Indian American voter who showed that participation is power. We have proven that when we stand together, we don’t just make history — we shape it.

Anjali Mehrotra is a fierce advocate for gender and immigrant equity and a leader in New Jersey’s AAPI community. She serves on the New Jersey-India Commission as well as the New Jersey Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission.