Usha Reddi
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Usha Reddi
| image =
| state_senate = Kansas
| district = 22nd
| term_start = January 11, 2023
| term_end = January 13, 2025
| predecessor = Tom Hawk
| successor = Brad Starnes
| birth_name = Usha Reddi
| birth_date = 1965
| birth_place = Rajahmundry, India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| spouse = Brian Niehoff{{cite web | title=Senator Usha Reddi | website=Legislators | date=2023-07-25 | url=http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/members/sen_reddi_usha_1/ | access-date=2023-07-25}}
| relations =
| children = 3
| residence = Manhattan, Kansas, U.S.
| alma_mater = Ohio State University; Kansas State University
| occupation =
| profession = Educator (retired)
| committees =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}Usha L. Reddi (born 1965){{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |date=2023-01-17 |title=Triumph of Spirit: Immigrant From Rajahmundry and a Rape Victim Usha Reddi Begins Tenure as Kansas State Senator |url=https://americankahani.com/lead-stories/triumph-of-spirit-immigrant-from-rajahmundry-and-a-rape-victim-usha-reddi-begins-tenure-as-kansas-state-senator/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=American Kahani |language=en-US}} is an American politician and educator served as a Democratic member of the Kansas Senate for the 22nd district.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-13 |title=Usha Reddi: Meet the Indian American who has become senator of Kansas |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/usha-reddi-meet-the-indian-american-who-has-become-senator-of-kansas-101673607448207.html |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} She has also served as a city commissioner and mayor for the city of Manhattan, Kansas from 2013 to 2023.
Career
Reddi was a long-time educator in Manhattan-Ogden public schools, where she served a term as President of their National Education Association chapter. In 2012, she ran for Manhattan city commission, coming in second place (after Karen McCulloh) with 17.47% of the vote. {{Cite web |date=April 10, 2013 |title=2013 Riley County Election Results |url=https://www.rileycountyks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10880/Final-All-Groups-Results?bidId= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203083527/https://www.rileycountyks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10880/Final-All-Groups-Results?bidId= |archive-date=December 3, 2023 |access-date=February 14, 2024 |website=Riley County KS}}
In 2020, Reddi unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, seeking to become the first Indian-American Senator from Kansas.{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Tim |date=2023-01-06 |title=Manhattan city commissioner selected to complete Senate term of Democrat Tom Hawk |url=https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/06/manhattan-city-commissioner-selected-to-complete-senate-term-of-democrat-tom-hawk/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Kansas Reflector |language=en-US}} Following Senator Tom Hawk's resignation, Reddi was elected to the Kansas Senate by the Democratic precinct chairs in the district. She was chosen over Riley County Democratic Party Chair Katie Allen by a vote of 23 to 19.{{Cite web |last=Seaton |first=Ned |date=2022-12-23 |title=Reddi, Allen to contend for Hawk's Senate seat |url=https://themercury.com/news/reddi-allen-to-contend-for-hawks-senate-seat/article_fa15fb77-1834-5c10-86a3-eb09ca2bd767.html |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=The Mercury |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=UPDATED: Reddi wins Senate seat to replace Hawk {{!}} Sunflower State Journal |url=https://sunflowerstatejournal.com/reddi-wins-senate-seat-to-replace-hawk/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=sunflowerstatejournal.com}} She lost the 2024 election for the seat to Republican Brad Starnes.{{cite news|url=https://themercury.com/news/starnes-unseats-reddi-in-kansas-senate-district-22/article_04211d96-9c03-11ef-929a-bf00d7e088bf.html|title=Starnes unseats Reddi in Kansas Senate District 22|work=The Manhattan Mercury|date=November 5, 2024}}
Personal life
Reddi holds two bachelor's degrees, one in developmental psychology from the Ohio State University and the other in elementary education from Kansas State University. She also holds a master's degree in educational leadership from Kansas State University. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1973 and moved to Manhattan in 1992.{{cite web | title=Indian-American Usha Reddi becomes Senator in Kansas state of US | website=The Economic Times | date=2023-01-13 | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/indian-american-usha-reddi-becomes-senator-in-kansas-state-of-us/articleshow/96966231.cms | access-date=2023-07-25}}
Committee membership
- Transportation{{Cite web |title=Senator Usha Reddi {{!}} Legislators {{!}} Kansas State Legislature |url=http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/members/sen_reddi_usha_1/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=www.kslegislature.org}}
- Assessment and Taxation
- Joint Committee on State Building Construction
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/members/sen_reddi_usha_1/ Senator Usha Reddi | Legislators | Kansas State Legislature]
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Category:Politicians from Manhattan, Kansas
Category:Kansas State University alumni
Category:Schoolteachers from Kansas
Category:21st-century members of the Kansas Legislature
Category:Women state legislators in Kansas
Category:American politicians of Indian descent
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