Praneeth Menon, who moved from India to the US at 16, just won a seat in the Vermont House of Representatives for the Orleans-Lamoille district.
Backed by both Republicans and Democrats, he finished second but still secured his spot alongside incumbent Mark Higley.
Menon campaigned on living costs, healthcare
Menon's campaign was all about tackling everyday problems: rising living costs, school gaps, healthcare access, and slow internet.
He pushed for more jobs and small business support, earning cross-party trust despite starting out as a Republican.
Menon has engineering and governance experience
Having studied aeronautical and mechanical engineering, Menon has worked in aviation, defense, and teaching people to fly planes, and he even worked as a software entrepreneur.
He has also served on his town's planning commission and finance committee, so he knows a thing or two about helping communities grow.