The Indian American Impact Fund, a leading political action committee focused on Indian American candidates, announced January 15, 2026, it is endorsing Nirav Shah for Governor of Maine. If elected, Shah would be the first Indian American and person of color elected to Maine’s governorship and would serve as the first Indian American Democratic governor in the United States. To date, two Indian American Republicans in the history of this country, have been Governors- Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, and Nikki Haley of South Carolina.
Shah has a law degree and medical degree from the University of Chicago, and in 2019, Shah was appointed as the head of the Maine Centers for Disease Control, leading the state through the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.
His work provided early PPE for healthcare workers, expansion of testing, and a vaccine rollout that was modeled across the country, achieving some of the highest vaccination rates in the country in the fastest times and maintaining one of the lowest death rates in the country, Shah’s biography as well as Impact Fund recounted.
In recognition of this work, President Biden named Shah the Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. CDC, the agency’s second-in-command.
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“Now he brings his leadership and knowledge back to Maine to help his state tackle the growing affordability crisis facing Mainers,” the Impact Fund said. The Executive Director of Impact Fund, in a statement, praised Shah’s record saying, “We are proud to endorse Nirav Shah’s candidacy to become the first South Asian Governor of Maine because he is the exact type of leader needed in this moment. He is battle tested and his work guiding Maine through one of the most devastating crises in American history will serve him in fighting the affordability crisis facing Mainers by tackling energy costs, increasing affordable housing, lowering healthcare costs, and fueling economic growth.”
Shah in his statement, said, I’m honored and humbled by the endorsement of the Indian American Impact Fund. My story and my family’s story, like so many other Mainers’, is rooted in the promise that hard work and service can make a real difference. Maine trusted me to lead in a moment of crisis, and now I’m committed to bringing that same steady, results-driven leadership to tackling affordability, strengthening our communities, and building opportunity for every Mainer. I’m proud to have the support of IMPACT as we take on this work together.”
Since its inception in 2016, Indian American Impact Fund has endorsed and supported more than 200 candidates across the country, which, it says, has contributed to “the historic rise of Indian and South Asian American representation in politics.”
The organization says it has marshaled upwards of $20 million in funds to support candidates, mobilize voters and affect policies.