Our Bureau
New York, NY
Sharanjit Singh Thind, a Republican entrepreneur and community figure, has launched his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives from New York’s 18th Congressional District, entering what party strategists consider one of the state’s key battlegrounds for the 2026 elections.
Thind filed his candidacy in September 2025, bringing a career that spans business, media, and public service. Born in Punjab and a longtime New Yorker, he says his mix of private-sector experience and government roles gives him a strong foundation to address the district’s economic and social priorities.
Before filing, Thind met New York Republican State Committee Chairman Ed Cox — son-in-law of former President Richard Nixon — to discuss the party’s landscape for 2026. Thind said he has remained in close contact with local GOP leadership since, receiving what he describes as “encouraging early signals” from grassroots supporters across the Hudson Valley.
The 18th District, which includes parts of Orange, Dutchess and Ulster counties, is represented by Democrat Patrick Ryan, who secured re-election in 2024. Thind believes shifting political attitudes, along with voters’ focus on affordability, healthcare, and jobs, will make the district especially competitive in the upcoming cycle.
A major pillar of Thind’s platform is preparing the region for rapid technological change. He argues that artificial intelligence will reshape the job market and says lawmakers must ensure workers have access to retraining and transitions.
“I’m not opposed to innovation,” he said, emphasizing that large technology companies should contribute more toward workforce readiness and community support. He also calls for stronger oversight of financial institutions, noting the rise in fraud cases affecting senior citizens.
Tourism, he adds, remains an under-leveraged asset in the Hudson Valley. Citing the region’s appeal and recent use as a filming location for a Netflix production starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey, Thind says targeted investments and partnerships could boost local businesses and bring higher-value visitors to the area.
Thind holds an MBA and a journalism degree. After arriving in the U.S. in the early 2000s, he worked with several companies before founding his own advertising agency in Manhattan. He has also served as Editor-Publisher of The South Asian Insider for nearly two decades. His book, The Beginning – Mad Men of Nu Way Advertising, chronicles his years in the media industry.
His government experience includes serving as a commissioner on the Nassau County Human Rights Commission until 2018 and working with the Receiver of Taxes Office in the Town of Hempstead, the nation’s largest township. He has also contributed to numerous election campaigns at different levels, gaining what he describes as “a ground-level understanding” of policy and governance.
Thind plans to invest personal funds into the early phase of the campaign and will rely on small contributions — capped at $3,535 per individual in federal House races — to build momentum. Federal matching funds are not available for Congressional candidates.
Calling NY-18 a district “where every vote matters,” he says his message will center on economic resilience, support for families, expanded healthcare access, and protections for seniors.
Thind owns property in the Catskills and is finalizing a lease for a home in Saugerties in Ulster County. His family currently lives on Long Island.
“Our region deserves a representative who can create opportunity, strengthen local industry, and prepare communities for the future of work,” he said.
