Minita Sanghvi, an Indian American, has obtained the Democratic nomination on Monday for the 44th State Senate district of New York. According to a news statement from her campaign headquarters, the 46-year-old marketing professor at Skidmore College has already garnered endorsements from the Saratoga County Democratic Committee and the Schenectady County Democratic Committee.
Sanghvi, the finance commissioner for Saratoga Springs, started her campaign for the New York State Senate in January 2024 because she believed that “we deserve better.” She is presently serving her second term in that capacity.
“In Albany, we need a leader who will prioritise the needs of the people over party politics. I’m not a public servant. In addition to being a respectable public servant, I am a mom and a business educator. When she declared her intention to challenge Republican Jim Tedisco for the state senate seat in November, she said, “And I’ve built a record of listening to people and working with others to deliver results.”
In announcing the party’s backing for Sanghvi, Martha Devaney, the chairwoman of the Saratoga County Democratic Committee, stated: “We are proud to endorse Minita, a committed advocate and proven problem solver.” Her exemplary work as a successful public servant, a devoted father, and a well-respected educator demonstrate her dedication to producing outcomes that transcend party politics. The 44th State Senate district of New York has Minita as its ideal leader.
Frank Salamone, leader of the Schenectady County Democratic Committee, said, “Minita has made prudent financial investments in important city upgrades while serving as Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Finance. She has a proven track record of supporting the third fire station, a round-the-clock homeless shelter, and additional community parks, playgrounds, and sidewalks. As a state senator, I have no doubt that she would improve infrastructure and boost the local economy.
Sanghvi claims on her campaign website that “she was taught by her parents to work hard, stand up for others, and serve her community.” She was raised in a conservative Indian family of innovators and business owners. Sanghvi immigrated to the US in 2001 because she felt that America offered her the chance to be herself and pursue her dream of getting married and starting a family. If elected, she will be the first openly gay woman in the New York Senate and the first woman of colour to represent New York’s 44th State Senate district.
Ten years ago, she began teaching business at Skidmore College after working in corporate marketing at WalMart and launching her own company in the US. She had worked in advertising while living and working in India, where she also held an MBA. In 2021, Sanghvi—who resides in Saratoga Springs with her spouse and small son—was chosen to hold the position of Finance Commissioner.
Sanghvi has received official support from Indian American Impact, an organisation that works to strengthen the voices of Indian Americans in US politics and public life.
