Indian American to hold elected office in South Carolina

Nikki Randhawa Haley, a Republican from District 87, will become the first Indian American to hold elected office in South Carolina.

There's more than one Indian American making history in the US polls. But when it comes to North Carolina's Nikki Randhawa Haley, you don't have to wait for the elections.

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Haley, 32, a Republican from District 87, will become the first Indian American to hold elected office in South Carolina, the first Indian American woman to do so, and the second Indian American woman to make it to a state assembly, the other being Swati Dandekar in Iowa who is up for re-election this time.

Haley's opponent, an independent, was unable to get his name on the ballot.

Haley, whose parents are from Amritsar, was born and brought up in North Carolina. She says she feels a great sense of responsibility not just to her constituents but also to the Indian American community.

"It's exciting but it's been a long and very challenging year, a very rewarding year. But I feel a sense of responsibility to accomplish things in my district," Haley said.

"My big concern is to try to find relief in property taxes, get some solutions for education - South Carolina is next to the last in education performance. Of course, I want us to work within our budget."

Though South Carolina State House is majority Republican as is the governor, Haley says it's what you do with the advantage that matters.

She feels a sense of responsibility to Indian Americans in the country as a whole. "Whenever you are part of a small group that does not have a lot of representation, the goal is to do a good job. So there's a weight on my shoulders that I represent my constituency well and then everybody benefits," Haley said.