Aruna Miller

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Aruna Miller
Official portrait, 2023
Aruna Miller
BornAruna Katragadda
11/6/1964
BirthplaceHyderabad, India
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician, civil engineer
Known forFirst South Asian American woman elected lieutenant governor in the United States
EducationMissouri University of Science and Technology (BS)
Children3

Aruna Miller (née Katragadda; born November 6, 1964) is an American politician and civil engineer. She's been serving as Maryland's tenth lieutenant governor since January 2023. Born in Hyderabad, India, Miller came to the United States as a child and spent more than two decades working in transportation engineering before turning to politics. As a Democratic Party member, she served in the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 15 from 2010 to 2019, starting after Governor Martin O'Malley appointed her to fill a vacancy.[1] Her 2018 bid for Congress in Maryland's 6th district fell short when she lost the Democratic primary to David Trone.[2] In 2022, Wes Moore selected her as his running mate for the gubernatorial race. They won the Democratic primary on July 19, 2022, then defeated Republicans Dan Cox and Gordana Schifanelli on November 8, 2022.[3]

Miller holds three major distinctions. She's the first Asian American lieutenant governor in Maryland. She's the first immigrant to hold statewide office there. And she's the first South Asian American woman elected lieutenant governor anywhere in the United States. Only Kathleen Kennedy Townsend preceded her as a woman serving as Maryland's lieutenant governor.

Early Life

Aruna Katragadda was born November 6, 1964, in Hyderabad, India. She immigrated to the United States while still young, growing up in an immigrant family. The timing and circumstances reflected the broader wave of Indian immigration to America during the mid-to-late twentieth century.

In 2000, she became a naturalized U.S. citizen, having held Indian citizenship from birth until then.[1] Her immigrant background shaped her public identity significantly. It's central to how she talks about immigration policy and the role immigrant communities play in American civic life. As Maryland's first immigrant in statewide office, she's referenced this experience repeatedly.

Her family stressed education and professional accomplishment. Engineering drew her attention early, launching a career that would span more than twenty years before politics intervened.

Education

Miller earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, formerly known as the University of Missouri–Rolla.[1] This background gave her the foundation for her later work on transportation infrastructure projects across Maryland.

Career

Engineering Career

For more than two decades, Miller worked as a civil engineer. Transportation engineering was her specialty, and she focused on infrastructure projects throughout Maryland. This professional background set her apart from many colleagues she'd later work with in the General Assembly, and it shaped her legislative priorities around transportation, infrastructure, and STEM issues.

Maryland House of Delegates (2010–2019)

An appointment, not an election, brought Miller into elected office. Governor Martin O'Malley appointed her to District 15 in December 2010, when Craig L. Rice left for the Montgomery County Council.[1][4] She took office on December 1, 2010, and subsequently won election to keep the seat. She served until January 9, 2019, when Lily Qi succeeded her.[1]

District 15 sits in Montgomery County. It's a suburban area within the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region. During her time in the House, Miller served on various committees and introduced bills on diverse topics. Assembly records document her legislative sponsorships across multiple sessions, including 2018.[5]

Beyond her state legislative work, Miller got involved in international trade and diplomacy. Maryland's sister state relationship with India gave her a role to play. She participated in a trade mission to India during the O'Malley administration that resulted in business deals totaling roughly $60 million.[6][7][8]

In Maryland's Democratic Party, Miller was active. She participated in party activities and appeared on the state party delegate lists.[9]

2018 Congressional Campaign

When John Delaney announced his 2020 presidential run, his House seat from Maryland's 6th district opened up. Miller jumped into the Democratic primary that summer. The race drew numerous candidates to a district spanning Western Maryland and parts of Montgomery County.

Strong endorsements lined up behind her. The National Education Association, the national teachers' union, backed her campaign.[10] Maryland's Sierra Club chapter endorsed her too, pointing to her environmental positions.[11] EMILY's List, which backs pro-choice Democratic women, supported her as well.[12] Then there was 314 Action, an organization supporting STEM-background candidates, which fit perfectly with her engineering career.[13] U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York also threw her support behind Miller's candidacy.[14]

On the ground, Miller performed well. She won straw polls among Democratic activists in Western Maryland, showing real grassroots momentum in the district.[15]

But money mattered enormously. Businessman David Trone became the largest self-funding House candidate in American history. He vastly outspent her. A Washington Post analysis showed Miller was outspent roughly 11 to 1, a crushing financial disadvantage in a tight primary.[16] The June 26, 2018, primary went to Trone. Miller ran strong but didn't advance to the general election.[2][17]

2022 Gubernatorial Campaign and Election as Lieutenant Governor

After 2018, Miller stayed involved in Maryland Democratic circles. In December 2021, Wes Moore, a bestselling author and former CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, picked her as his running mate. Moore, an African American from Baltimore, paired with Miller, an Indian American immigrant from Montgomery County. It was a ticket reflecting the state's demographic diversity and appealing to the Democratic base.

Several strong candidates competed in the Democratic primary. Moore and Miller won the nomination on July 19, 2022.[3] They faced the Republican ticket of Dan Cox and Gordana Schifanelli in the general election on November 8, 2022. It wasn't close. The Moore-Miller team won decisively in a state with a strong Democratic lean.[3]

Miller was inaugurated as lieutenant governor on January 18, 2023, alongside Governor Wes Moore.[1]

Lieutenant Governor of Maryland (2023–present)

Since taking office, Miller has served as a central member of the Moore administration. She's been involved across various policy areas and has represented the administration in numerous public engagements.

In February 2025, she testified before the Maryland Senate Finance Committee backing SB 385, the VAX Act, and urging its passage.[18]

That same month, Miller welcomed nearly two dozen Buddhist monks to the Maryland State House. They were making their final stop in Annapolis as part of a "Walk for Peace" event.[19]

On February 24, 2025, Governor Wes Moore and Miller filed for reelection at the Maryland State Board of Elections. They announced their intention to seek a second term.[20][21][22] Coverage highlighted their emphasis on economic gains and bipartisan cooperation during their first term.[23]

Personal Life

Miller has three children. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000, after being born in Hyderabad and immigrating to the country earlier in her life. She lives in Maryland.

Her South Asian American identity and immigrant status form a central part of her public profile. As the first Asian American lieutenant governor of Maryland and the first immigrant to hold statewide office in the state, her 2022 election carried historical weight. It mattered to South Asian American communities and showed something about immigrant representation in American politics more broadly.

Recognition

Miller's 2022 election made history on several fronts. She became the first South Asian American woman ever elected lieutenant governor in the United States. National media outlets and South Asian American advocacy groups took notice. Beyond that, she's Maryland's first Asian American lieutenant governor and its first immigrant in statewide office.

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend preceded her as the only other woman to serve as Maryland's lieutenant governor, holding the office from 1995 to 2003.

During her 2018 congressional run, Miller drew endorsements from prominent national groups. EMILY's List backed her.[24] So did the Sierra Club's Maryland chapter.[25] The National Education Association supported her too.[26] And 314 Action backed her candidacy.[27] These endorsements reflected recognition of her qualifications and positions on education, environmental protection, reproductive rights, and having STEM professionals in government.

Legacy

Miller's career includes several firsts. She's Maryland's first immigrant in statewide office. Her 2022 election alongside Governor Moore reflected the state's increasingly diverse political leadership. And her distinction as the first South Asian American woman elected lieutenant governor anywhere in the United States connected her to a broader trend. South Asian Americans were gaining political power at the state and national level during the 2020s.

Her civil engineering background also stood out within Maryland's political field. Few elected officials come from STEM careers. Organizations like 314 Action have worked to close that gap, and her endorsement from them during 2018 highlighted the point.[28]

Her trajectory shows one path through Maryland politics. O'Malley's 2010 appointment got her started. Election to the House of Delegates followed. She ran for Congress in 2018, lost, but stayed competitive. Then came her race for lieutenant governor in 2022. That she won. Her February 2025 reelection filing with Governor Moore positions her to serve through 2031 if voters reelect them in 2026.[29]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Aruna Miller, Maryland House of Delegates". 'Maryland State Archives}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "David Trone, largest self-funder in House history, wins Democratic nod in Maryland".Roll Call.https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/david-trone-largest-self-funder-house-history-wins-democratic-nod-maryland.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Maryland Election Results". 'The Washington Post}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ "Aruna Miller, House of Delegates". 'Maryland State Archives (archived)}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Aruna Miller – Sponsored Legislation, 2018 Regular Session". 'Maryland General Assembly}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "O'Malley: $60 Million In Deals On India Trip".WBAL.http://www.wbal.com/article/84268/3/OMalley-60-Million-In-Deals-On-India-Trip.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "India Trade Mission". 'Archived source}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Sister State Agreement". 'Archived source}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Maryland Democratic Party". 'Maryland State Archives}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Aruna Miller Receives National Teachers Union Endorsement".Bethesda Magazine.http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/2018/Aruna-Miller-Receives-National-Teachers-Union-Endorsement/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Aruna Miller Endorsement". 'Sierra Club Maryland Chapter}'. 2018-04. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "EMILY's List Endorses Aruna Miller for Congress in Maryland's 6th District".EMILY's List.https://www.emilyslist.org/news/entry/emilys-list-endorses-aruna-miller-for-congress-in-marylands-6th-district.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Miller receives 314 Action endorsement".The Baltimore Sun.http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bs-md-miller-314-action-20171120-story.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "NY senator endorses state delegate in race to succeed Delaney in Maryland".The Washington Post.2018-03-28.https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/ny-senator-endorses-state-delegate-in-race-to-succeed-delaney-in-maryland/2018/03/28/72b8438e-3291-11e8-8abc-22a366b72f2d_story.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Baker, Miller win straw polls among Democratic activists in Western Maryland".The Washington Post.2018-04-22.https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/baker-miller-win-straw-polls-among-democratic-activists-in-western-maryland/2018/04/22/b1817984-45db-11e8-bba2-0976a82b05a2_story.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "In the year of the woman, can Maryland's Aruna Miller win a congressional primary despite being outspent 11-1?".The Washington Post.2018-06-21.https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/in-the-year-of-the-woman-can-marylands-aruna-miller-win-a-congressional-primary-despite-being-outspent-11-1/2018/06/21/a2ff4794-733d-11e8-805c-4b67019fcfe4_story.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ 26,_2018_Democratic_primary) "Maryland's 6th Congressional District election (June 26, 2018 Democratic primary)". 'Ballotpedia}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller Delivers Testimony in Support of the VAX Act". 'Office of Governor Wes Moore}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller Welcomes Monks on "Walk for Peace" to Final Stop in Annapolis". 'Office of Governor Wes Moore}'. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller file for reelection".WUSA9.https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/politics/maryland-gov-wes-moore-lt-gov-aruna-miller-file-for-reelection/65-ff61b44a-1886-4476-925b-699aace51e44.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller file for reelection".CBS News.https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/maryland-gov-wes-moore-aruna-miller-file-reelection/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "'They should be ready': Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller file for reelection".WBAL-TV.https://www.wbaltv.com/article/politics-maryland-gov-wes-moore-lt-gov-aruna-miller-file-reelection/70468392.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller File for Reelection, Cite Economic Gains and Bipartisan Support".South Asian Herald.https://southasianherald.com/maryland-governor-wes-moore-lt-gov-aruna-miller-file-for-reelection-cite-economic-gains-and-bipartisan-support/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "EMILY's List Endorses Aruna Miller for Congress in Maryland's 6th District".EMILY's List.https://www.emilyslist.org/news/entry/emilys-list-endorses-aruna-miller-for-congress-in-marylands-6th-district.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Aruna Miller Endorsement". 'Sierra Club Maryland Chapter}'. 2018-04. Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Aruna Miller Receives National Teachers Union Endorsement".Bethesda Magazine.http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/2018/Aruna-Miller-Receives-National-Teachers-Union-Endorsement/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  27. ↑ "Miller receives 314 Action endorsement".The Baltimore Sun.http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bs-md-miller-314-action-20171120-story.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  28. ↑ "Miller receives 314 Action endorsement".The Baltimore Sun.http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bs-md-miller-314-action-20171120-story.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  29. ↑ "Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller file for reelection".WUSA9.https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/politics/maryland-gov-wes-moore-lt-gov-aruna-miller-file-for-reelection/65-ff61b44a-1886-4476-925b-699aace51e44.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
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