An Indian American just flipped a town that was GOP for 42 years
A Marine Corps veteran and cybersecurity professional took the oath of office last Saturday to become the first Indian American mayor of Parsippany, New Jersey.
The Rebel Yellow - Issue #165
An Indian American Marine Corps veteran made history in New Jersey this week, ending a 42-year Republican hold on the mayor’s office as Asian American representation continues to grow in local government. Overseas, the Trump administration’s seizure of Venezuela’s leader drew sharp reactions across Asia, where governments warned the move could weaken international law and raise risks of future conflicts. Back in the U.S., new research found the Supreme Court now rules in favor of wealthy parties far more often than in past decades, fueling public doubts about fairness on the court. In Los Angeles, the Japanese American National Museum lost more than $1 million in federal funding after refusing to roll back its DEI programs, prompting strong community support. This issue also includes a Filipino American airman hailed for a holiday highway rescue and a K-pop–inspired animated film that swept major awards, highlighting the breadth of Asian American impact across politics, culture and everyday life.
New Jersey township’s first Indian American mayor ends 42-year GOP streak
A Marine Corps veteran and cybersecurity professional took the oath of office last Saturday to become the first Indian American mayor of Parsippany, New Jersey.
Road to victory: Pulkit Desai, 60, defeated Republican incumbent James Barberio in November by just 80 votes. The narrow margin triggered three legal challenges from Barberio, who had served three non-consecutive terms as mayor. Judge Noah Franzblau of Superior Court dismissed the final challenge two weeks ago, ordering Barberio’s campaign to cover Desai’s attorney costs while noting that the petitioner’s claims were “not based on any information.”
Desai, a first-time candidate, had built his campaign around taxpayer concerns, including warehouse and housing construction, developer incentives and property taxes in the township of 56,000 residents.
About Desai: A six-year Marine Corps veteran who deployed during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Desai spent close to 30 years in cybersecurity for a New Jersey-based Fortune 500 company after leaving the military. His turn to politics began at a lake association he led, where members paid extra fees for voting privileges, a practice Desai called a poll tax that drove his civic engagement.
On Saturday’s swearing-in, he stood with his wife Sangeeta and told the crowd he would bring Marine principles to the mayor’s office. These include “adapt, improvise and overcome” and “No excuses, no whining, no blaming the last guy.”
Why this matters: Desai’s victory alongside Democrats Matt Kavanagh and Diya Patel ended 42 years of Republican control in Parsippany, as the last Democratic council majority came in 1984. The Democratic wins reflect demographic shifts in Parsippany, where Asian Americans now form the largest ethnic group and where voters turned out heavily on issues of development, taxation and accountability. For Asian American communities, the results show local representation is achievable even in difficult political climates. Incoming Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who will be inaugurated Jan. 20, and Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way both attended the ceremony.
Desai closed his inaugural remarks with optimism, saying “Parsippany’s best days are still ahead.”
Asia warns of precedent after Trump’s seizure of Venezuela’s Maduro
The Trump administration’s Jan. 3 operation to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro triggered swift reactions across Asia, where governments warned the move could weaken international law and alter how power is exercised beyond the Western Hemisphere. Leaders including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim publicly criticized the operation, while analysts are assessing whether the raid shifts deterrence calculations or lowers the threshold for similar leadership-targeting tactics in the China-Taiwan context.
