Ami Bera was on Thursday night declared winner of the 7th district of California, becoming the second Indian American elected to the US House of Representatives.

Bera, a Democrat, defeated sitting Republican congressman Dan Lungren, in a count of ballots lasting over 10 days from Election Day, November 6.

"Now is the time to find common ground and move forward to rebuild an economy that works for the middle class," Bera said in a statement issued by his campaign.

Dalip Singh Saund, an immigrant from pre-partition Punjab, was the first Indian American to be elected to the US House of Representatives in the 1960s.