San Carlos, California, USA: Pranita Venkatesh’s election as mayor of San Carlos marks the latest success in a growing series of electoral victories by leaders of Indian descent across the United States. With this win, Venkatesh becomes the second mayor in the country with Indian roots, following Zohran Mamdani’s historic mayoral victory in New York City last November.
Pranita Venkatesh, an American civic leader of Indian heritage who was born in Fiji, has been chosen as the mayor of San Carlos, California. Her victory reflects the increasing political influence of Indian-origin communities in the US and represents another milestone after Mamdani’s landmark win in New York.
San Carlos, a city in San Mateo County near Silicon Valley and popularly known as the “City of Good Living,” is home to roughly 28,000 residents. Venkatesh officially assumed office on December 8 after receiving unanimous support from the City Council. She is among the first city leaders of South Asian background and is also one of the youngest individuals to hold the mayoral position in San Carlos.
Born in Fiji to parents of Indian origin, Venkatesh moved to the United States with her family at the age of four and spent most of her upbringing in California, according to The American Bazaar. She entered local politics in 2022 when she was elected to the San Carlos City Council with backing from the San Mateo Democratic Party. Prior to that, she served for three years on the city’s Economic Development Advisory Commission, where her work focused on strengthening the local economy and supporting small businesses.
Venkatesh earned her undergraduate degree from Notre Dame de Namur University and later completed a master’s degree in early childhood and clinical psychology. Before beginning her public service career, she worked as a child psychologist in East Palo Alto and also gained experience in the private sector, including a role as a buyer at Macy's.
In addition to her public service work, she is a local entrepreneur in San Carlos and operates a Montessori preschool, according to the American South Asian Network.
Her mayoral campaign emphasised economic stability and community well-being. Speaking with local outlet Scoot Scoop, Venkatesh outlined her priorities, which include public safety, childcare, economic resilience, infrastructure development, and affordable housing.
After taking office, she stated that her goal is to connect community needs with effective city governance. She also highlighted San Carlos’s cultural diversity, strong community organisations, and commitment to inclusive policies, noting that it is important to value one’s own heritage while respecting others and recognising the positive global contributions of different cultures.
Venkatesh’s election has been widely celebrated within the Indian diaspora and Fijian communities in California and beyond. The Fiji Trade Commission in North America described her victory as an example of the meaningful role diaspora communities play in shaping civic leadership in the United States.
