Who is Rini Sampath? Indian-American becomes first South Asian candidate to enter Washington DC Mayor race | Hindustan Times

Rini Sampath, an Indian-American, has announced her candidacy for mayor of Washington, D.C., becoming the first South Asian candidate to enter the race. Sampath, a former Obama administration official, is running as a Democrat in the 2026 mayoral election.

Sampath previously served as a senior policy advisor in the Obama White House and later worked as a chief of staff for a member of the D.C. Council. Her campaign focuses on affordable housing, public safety, and education reform.

The current mayor, Muriel Bowser, is serving her third term and has not yet announced whether she will seek reelection. Sampath's entry adds diversity to a field that has historically been led by African American candidates.

Sampath holds a law degree from Georgetown University and has been active in local community organizations. Her campaign launch event drew support from several local Indian-American groups.