While most of us were transfixed by the stunning conclusion of the U.S. presidential election, which saw Donald Trump becoming leader of the free world, history of a whole other kind was being made at two low-key Congressional races in California and Washington.

Fifty-two year Kamala Harris, currently California's Attorney General, became the first ever Indian American elected to the U.S. Senate, and Pramila Jayapal, currently a Democratic state senator, has become the first Indian-American woman elected to U.S. House of Representatives.

Jayapal, who moved from India to the U.S. at the age of sixteen, will represent Washington's 7th District which encompasses most of Seattle and its surrounding communities. She was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders.

For over a decade, Jayapal has worked against the discrimination and hate crimes against Arab, Muslim and South Asian Americans, which were unleashed by 9/11. "Thank you for standing up for the values that welcomed me as a 16-year-old immigrant...," she tweeted after winning.

A handful of Indian-Americans from the three million strong community have served in high offices of government including former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. Only three Indians have previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives including Jindal before he became governor.

If Democrat Amit Bera from the 7th district on California, the only Indian-American representative currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, wins his third term then he would be the longest serving Indian-American in the federal body...read more.