Indian-American Priya Sundareshan elected Arizona Senate president as Democrats secure historic state control

Indian-American politician Priya Sundareshan has been elected president of the Arizona Senate, as Democrats prepare to take control of the state legislature and governor's office for the first time in 60 years, PTI reported.

Sundareshan, 42, has served three terms in the state Senate and was the minority leader in the outgoing chamber. Her election comes as Democrats secure control of both legislative chambers and the governor's mansion, marking a significant shift in Arizona's political landscape.

Addressing the development, Sundareshan said the party's victory brought a responsibility to deliver changes that voters could see in their everyday lives. “Wherever you live and whoever you voted for, we're here to work for you,” she said. She added that voters had created an opportunity for a historic change in the state and called on Democrats to focus on their responsibilities. “Voters have opened the door to historic change. Our responsibility is to make sure they feel that change in their daily lives. Let's get to work,” Sundareshan said. She also described the election outcome as a rejection of what she called “MAGA extremism” promoted by Republicans in Arizona.

Born in Tucson, Arizona, Sundareshan comes from an Indian-American family. Before entering politics, she taught natural resources law at the University of Arizona and worked with the Environmental Defence Fund, advocating sustainable management of natural resources, according to the news agency. She has also been involved in voting rights initiatives, leading voter protection efforts and working on redistricting within the Arizona Democratic Party. Sundareshan graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering. She later earned a Juris Doctor and a master's degree in natural resource economics from the University of Arizona in 2011.