Indian-American Kamala Harris creates history, wins US Senate seat

California's Attorney General Kamala Harris on Wednesday scripted history as she won the US Senate seat from the state, becoming the first Indian-American to reach the feat.

Harris, 51, who defeated fellow Democrat Loretta Sanchez, is also the sixth black individual to be elected to the US Senate. US President Barack Obama was the fifth black elected Senator.

She is the first black woman elected to the upper chamber in more than two decades.

Her mother Shyamala Gopalan came to the US from Chennai to study science, specifically endocrinology and complex mechanisms of cancer.

Her father Donald grew up in Jamaica, where he became a national scholar and earned the opportunity to study economics. Kamala was born in Oakland, California.

 

A two-term Attorney General of California, Harris defeated L Sancez from her own party.

She would replace Barbara Boxer who announced her retirement in 2014 after serving more than two decades in the Senate.

"Kamala will take the oath of office as California's next Senator on January 3, 2017," said the office of the Senate elect.

Described by Obama as "fearless", Harris may push for strong India-US ties.

Considered to be protege of Obama, she is expected to be a fierce advocate of India, US relationship.