Ramani looks to make history

Republicans have had little luck over the last decade in the 43rd Assembly District, but favorable election timing and anti-government sentiment could offer valuable boosts to Sunder Ramani, who could become the first Indian American elected to the state Legislature.

Ramani moved with his family from Bangalore, India, to the United States when he was 7 and initially struggled to become a fluent English speaker before eventually going on to own a small business. He has so far avoided focusing on his heritage and has instead emphasized his experience as an immigrant to relate to other communities, he said.

But because no Californian of South Asian origin has been elected as a state representative, a victory for Ramani could be a milestone.

“It would be significant because South Asians have been politically invisible when it comes to much of California politics in the Southland,” said Gautam Dutta, executive director of the Asian American Action Fund. “If you look in Northern California, you’ve had a few people elected, but again you’ve never had anyone of South Asian origin elected to the statehouse.”

Dalip Singh Saund, who became the first Asian American member of Congress when he was elected in 1956, was the only Californian of South Asian origin elected to office higher than city or county levels.

But while Ramani could make history if elected, his chances are slim considering the makeup of the district, which includes much of Glendale, Burbank and parts of Los Angeles, experts say.

About 47% of district voters are registered Democrats, with 25% Republicans and 23% who declined to state a party affiliation.

The district also voted heavily democratic in 2008 elections, with 70% supporting Barack Obama and 68% backing Paul Krekorian, who previously occupied the Assembly seat before vacating it to take a position on the Los Angeles City Council.

“It’s impossible,” Mona Field, professor emeritus of political science at Glendale Community College, said of a Republican’s chances of winning in the district.

Even if every registered Republican in the district voted, along with half of the registered Democrats, the Republican candidate would lose, Field said.

But contentious Republican primaries for governor and Senate could push more of the party’s voters to the polls if the election moves forward from the April 13 primary to a June 8 runoff, as is expected, experts say.