America went to polls this year, and chose its former president and Republican Donald Trump 47th President. The election was preceded by an entire year of campaigning, and a neck-and-neck competition between the Democrats and the Republicans. As Democrat nominee and US Vice-President Kamala Harris and Trump vied for the White House, India became the talk of the election. With 2.6 million eligible Indian-American voters — according to data from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace — the Indian diaspora’s growing political significance was felt in key US swing states. These states, which were won by Trump, accounted for a significant number of Indian-American votes. Data suggested that there was a shift in the attitude of US voters of Indian origin this year. A large number of them shifted from Democratic Party to Republican Party in this election. Indian-Americans didn’t just leave a mark by casting their votes though. They were also seen making headlines across both popular political parties in the US. From Presidential contenders of Indian origin to several top leaders with India connection, India came in the spotlight.As this year comes to an end, ET Online recaps how politicians of Indian origin made waves in the US Presidential election.Kamala HarrisShe is no stranger to the world. Harris made global headlines in 2020 when she was chosen by Joe Biden as his running mate during his Presidential campaign. She became the first woman in America’s history to sit on the Vice President’s chair, and also the first person of Indian descent to occupy a top position in the US. Harris’s mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a revered Indian-American scientist who had migrated to the US from India at the age of 19. Her Jamaican-origin father, Donald Jasper Harris, is an economist and professor at Stanford University. During her Presidential campaign, Harris prominently shared her memories of her mother. Harris conceded defeat on November 4, 2024, but her Presidential bid gave prominence to India in the US. Tulsi GabbardBorn in Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbard is not of Indian origin but has a connection with India due to her Hindu religion. It was her name and identity as a Hindu that confused people the world over about her origin. Gabbard has been a Congresswoman for decades, since she won her first election in 2002. It was earlier this year that she made headlines for quitting the Democratic party to back Trump. In November, Trump chose her as Dircetor of National Intelligence. The rise of Tulsi in the American politics also brought to light her Hindu religion. Vivek RamaswamyBiotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy came to prominence when he challenged Trump as a Republican contender for President earlier this year. A 39-year-old politician with roots in Kerala, Ramaswamy holds a degree in Biology from Harvard University and a law degree from Yale Law School. A staunch follower of Hinduism, he is set to co-lead a new initiative aimed at reducing government bureaucracy. Alongside tech mogul Elon Musk, Ramaswamy will head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Usha VanceUsha Chilukuri Vance is set to make history as the first Indian-origin Second Lady of the United States. The wife of Vice President-elect JD Vance, Usha came to the global spotlight when she introduced her husband at the Republican National Convention in July this year. Born to Indian immigrant parents in San Diego, Usha married Vance in 2014 in a Hindu ceremony. She had built a career as a litigator before leaving her job to support her husband as he transitioned to politics from the world of practising law. When Trump chose JD Vance as his running mate, Usha's life, beliefs and Indian connection were widely covered in the media. Kash PatelKashyap "Kash" Patel, a former federal prosecutor and a trusted ally of Trump, has been named Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Patel, born in New York to Indian-origin immigrants from Uganda, rose to prominence for his work on intelligence reform and national security during Trump’s first term. Kash as the FBI head is a very polarising choice by Trump since Kash is seen as a bold man out to reform the FBI and purge it of deep state actors. His name drills fear amiong top Republican leaders and deep state actors just as he is hugely popular among Trump fanbase due to his vow to dismantle the deep state. Jay BhattacharyaKolkata-born Jayanta “Jay” Bhattacharya, a renowned health policy expert and Stanford University professor, has been appointed Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the US 's leading medical research agency. Bhattacharya, known for his controversial stance against covid restrictions, has advocated for policies focusing on individual liberty in public health. The eminent epidemiologist was censored by social media platforms, allegedly at the behest of the Biden adminsitration, for his contrarian stance on the pandemic restrictions. As the new NIH Director, Bhattacharya will oversee a budget of nearly $47.3 billion.Harmeet Kaur DhillonRepublican lawyer Harmeet Kaur Dhillon has been nominated by Trump as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. She became an influential figure in the Republican Party for filing lawsuits over election integrity issues and backing Trump’s legal efforts to overturn Presidential election results in 2020. She also filed lawsuits against covid restrictions. She was a legal adviser on the Trump 2020 campaign. Born in Chandigarh, Dhillon found her own law firm in San Francisco.