Indian Origin Leader Elected Speaker of Michigan House

Indian-origin politician Ranjeev Puri has achieved a historic milestone in American politics by being elected Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. The 42-year-old Democratic leader was chosen by his party colleagues in an internal vote held on Thursday, November 5, after Democrats regained control of the Michigan House in the 2026 US midterm elections. Puri will serve as Speaker for the 2027–2028 legislative term, beginning in January 2027. He is the first Indian-American to hold the position. Democrats secured a 63–47 majority in the Michigan House, paving the way for Puri to lead the chamber.

Meanwhile, Indian-origin official Harmeet Kaur Dhillon has resigned as head of the US Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced her resignation on Thursday, making her the first senior Justice Department official to step down following the midterm elections. Dhillon stated that her decision to return to private practice had been made weeks earlier, but she agreed to remain in the role until after the elections. Her resignation comes amid changes in the Trump administration following the Democrats’ midterm gains.