Rini Sampath, an Indian-origin professional, has made history by becoming the first South Asian candidate to secure a place on the mayoral ballot in Washington, DC.
Sampath was born in Theni in Tamil Nadu. She moved to the United States at the age of seven with her family. She has lived in Washington, DC, for over a decade and currently works as a government contractor. Her entry into the 2026 mayoral race comes at a time when the city is preparing for a competitive election scheduled for November 3, with party primaries set for June 16.
