Republican entrepreneur and community leader Sharanjit Singh Thind has officially launched his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives from New York’s 18th Congressional District, a seat widely expected to be one of the most competitive contests in New York during the 2026 election cycle.
Thind filed his nomination papers in September 2025, bringing with him a diverse background spanning business, media, and public service. Originally from Punjab and a long-time New Yorker, he says his experience in both the private sector and government equips him to tackle the district’s pressing economic and social challenges.
Ahead of his filing, Thind met with Ed Cox, Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee, to assess the party’s prospects for 2026. Since then, Thind says he has stayed in close contact with local GOP leaders and has received what he describes as strong early encouragement from grassroots supporters across the Hudson Valley.
The district, covering parts of Orange County, Dutchess County, and Ulster County, is currently represented by Democratic Congressman Patrick Ryan, who won re-election in 2024. Thind believes shifting voter sentiment, rising cost-of-living concerns, healthcare access, and job security will make the race highly competitive.
A central focus of Thind’s campaign is preparing the region for the economic transformation driven by artificial intelligence. He argues that AI will significantly reshape employment and says policymakers must invest in worker retraining and career transitions to protect the local workforce.
“I’m not against innovation,” Thind said, adding that major technology companies should play a greater role in funding workforce development and community support. He has also called for tighter oversight of financial institutions, pointing to the growing number of fraud cases targeting senior citizens.
Tourism is another area he sees as underutilized in the Hudson Valley. Referencing the region’s recent selection as a filming location for a Netflix production starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey, Thind says strategic public-private partnerships could generate higher tourism revenue and strengthen small businesses.
Thind holds degrees in business administration and journalism. After arriving in the United States in the early 2000s, he worked with multiple companies before founding his own Manhattan-based advertising agency. For nearly 20 years, he has served as Editor-Publisher of The South Asian Insider. He is also the author of The Beginning – Mad Men of Nu Way Advertising, a memoir detailing his media career.
His public-service record 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 largest township in the United States. He has also participated in numerous political campaigns at various levels.
Thind plans to self-fund the initial phase of his campaign and rely mainly on grassroots donations, which are capped at $3,535 per individual under federal law. Congressional candidates are not eligible for public matching funds.
Calling NY-18 a district “where every vote truly counts,” Thind said his campaign will prioritize economic security, support for working families, expanded healthcare access, and protections for senior citizens.
He currently owns property in the Catskills and is finalizing a long-term lease in Saugerties, while his family continues to reside on Long Island.
“Our community needs leadership that builds opportunity, strengthens local business, and prepares people for the future of work,” Thind said.
