California, USA: Indian Americans Sunjay A. Muralitharan and Sohali Vaddula have taken prominent roles in the College Democrats of America (CDA), the collegiate wing of the Democratic Party that represents more than 100,000 members across the country.

Sunjay A. Muralitharan, a political science major at the University of California, San Diego, has been chosen as the national president, while Sohali Vaddula, a 20-year-old from Texas and a sophomore at Brown University, will serve as the national vice president.

Muralitharan, who received the most votes in the CDA’s recent elections, has been an outspoken advocate for youth involvement in politics. “My goal is to build a stronger Democratic Party that will secure major victories in 2026 and beyond. I’m dedicated to standing up for all young Americans and ensuring their voices are heard,” he shared on X (formerly Twitter).

An ambitious future leader, Muralitharan has previously held positions such as vice president of the College Democrats at UC San Diego and national vice president of CDA. Outside of campus, he made history as California’s youngest superdelegate at the 2024 Democratic National Convention and played a key role in the California Democratic Party’s digital strategy to engage younger voters.

Featured in notable publications like The New York Times, Muralitharan advocates for a political system free from external and corporate influences. He is focused on modernizing the economy to meet the challenges of artificial intelligence and plans to pursue a legal education and eventually run for public office.

Vaddula, meanwhile, is a sophomore at Brown University studying international and public affairs. She has built a reputation as a prominent advocate for youth rights. As a member of the Texas Democratic Party’s State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC), she brings extensive experience to her new position.

Her previous roles include serving as the national director of communications for High School Democrats of America and as the national communications director for CDA prior to becoming vice president. Additionally, she has been involved in grassroots initiatives with MOVE Texas and has volunteered with Brown VOTES to encourage civic participation.

A strong proponent of reproductive rights, Vaddula has vowed to fight against the rollback of Roe v. Wade and laws like Texas’s SB8. “This is our moment,” she said, pledging to advocate for the values and priorities of young Americans.