Ohio, Columbus, USA: First elected in 2014 after prevailing over four contenders in the Republican primary, Niraj Antani was re-elected unopposed in 2016 and subsequently won future races with decisive margins.
Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg) has completed his term in the Senate, bringing to a close a remarkable ten-year tenure in the Ohio General Assembly.
Antani’s political career began in 2014 when he became a State Representative at just 23 years old. After serving six years in the Ohio House of Representatives, he transitioned to the Senate in 2020.
Making history as Ohio’s first Indian and Hindu American State Senator, Antani remains the youngest Hindu and Indian American to hold elected office at the state or federal level in U.S. history.
Reflecting on his decade of service, Antani remarked, “Serving the community where I was born and raised in the Ohio General Assembly has been the honor of a lifetime. Over the past ten years, I’ve worked tirelessly to help every Ohioan pursue their version of the American Dream.”
During his time in office, Antani championed key initiatives, such as increasing funding for Ohio’s community colleges, promoting workforce development in the Dayton area, and securing tax exemptions to preserve the Miamisburg Mound business park. He also facilitated significant state capital investments in regional institutions like the Dayton Art Institute and the Boonshoft Museum.
Antani was instrumental in crafting impactful legislation. He authored Ohio’s law granting name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights to college athletes, setting a national standard that influenced NCAA policy. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in passing legislation to ensure public access to police body camera footage, fostering greater transparency and accountability.
Beyond legislative accomplishments, Antani served as vice-chair of the Senate Health Committee and held key leadership roles in the House, including vice-chair positions for the Rules and Insurance Committees. In 2020, he managed the campaign to elect Speaker Bob Cupp during a turbulent period marked by Ohio’s largest corruption scandal.
At 33 years old, Antani has hinted at future plans, promising to reveal his next steps soon.
