Indian-American Aruna Miller has won re-election as Maryland's lieutenant governor after NBC News projected Democratic Governor Wes Moore's victory in the 2026 US midterm elections. Miller, who contested alongside Moore, defeated Republican candidate Rob Krop, running mate of former state delegate Dan Cox. Miller's victory ensures another term in the state's executive office and continued Indian-American representation in US state leadership. Ahead of the election, Miller had urged Americans, particularly immigrant communities, to vote and hold the Trump-Vance administration accountable. Speaking to ANI on Election Day, she said voters were anxious about federal policies, rising fuel prices, job losses and immigration restrictions. "People are feeling really anxious about the many things that are happening at the national level, but here's what I'm hopeful for. I am out here at the polls and early voting, we've had the biggest turnout of any gubernatorial election in the state of Maryland. And here at the polls, there's lots of lines here, so that tells me people are very hopeful," Miller said. She said Maryland had lost 31,000 federal jobs, affecting families and the local economy. She also criticised Trump's tariff policy, saying American consumers would ultimately bear the additional costs. "A tariff is not a tax or something that another country pays. It's a tax that the consumers here pay, because ultimately, all those tariffs are going to be passed down to the consumer. So that means all the products we buy are much more expensive," she said. Miller also flagged rising fuel prices, linking them to the ongoing conflict. "We're in a war of choice, that is going to raise the price every time you go to the gas station. Gas was less than USD 3 a gallon before, now it's close to USD 5 a gallon. So all this adds up to the prices and the affordability and why people are feeling anxious," she said.
Miller raises concerns over immigration policies
The lieutenant governor said federal immigration policies were creating fear among immigrant communities, international students and skilled foreign workers, including H-1B visa holders. "I think they're also concerned because you see what the immigration policies that the federal administration is doing right now, when it comes to H-1B visas or even our international students, all of them are being impacted by this. And furthermore, just the attacks on immigrant communities alone with ICE agents. So there's a lot of fear here," she said. She urged voters to elect representatives who could act as a check on the administration. "This is our opportunity to come out and vote, vote for a Congress and vote for a Senate that'll be the firewall against Donald Trump, and it's also our opportunity to hold the Trump-Vance administration accountable for the things that are happening," Miller said. Miller also highlighted Maryland's efforts to protect immigrant communities, including its ban on agreements under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The provision allows local law enforcement agencies to assist federal authorities with certain immigration enforcement functions. She said the state had also established an office of immigrant affairs to help immigrants access government services and resources. On the administration's record, Miller cited efforts to address child poverty, opioid overdoses and crime. She also highlighted diversity in the state cabinet, saying 50 per cent of cabinet secretaries were women and 50 per cent were people of colour. The 2026 US midterm elections are being held halfway through President Donald Trump's four-year term. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats are being contested nationally.
