Ankit Jain Sworn In As United States Senator For The District of Columbia

(Washington, D.C.)—Ankit Jain, the first Indian-American elected above the level of Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in the District of Columbia, was sworn in as a United States “Shadow” Senator on January 2, 2025, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

The Honorable Judge Vijay Shanker, who was appointed to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals by President Joe Biden, swore U.S. Senator Jain into office.

Also sworn into office that day were the Mayor of the District of Columbia, five members of the Council of the District of Columbia, five members of the State Board of Education, one United States “Shadow” Representative, and 345 Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners across all eight wards.

Below are Senator Jain’s swearing-in remarks in their entirety:
“Thank you to everyone who came out today. To my friends, family, and supporters—your belief in me and your relentless support made this moment possible, and I am so deeply grateful. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Judge Shanker for swearing me in—a moment made even more meaningful by the history we share as South Asians breaking barriers in public service in Washington, D.C. My name, my faith, my face—these are not what people have traditionally associated with leadership in this city. I want to thank the people of D.C. for believing in me, for taking a chance on a young man with a name you might not have heard before and a religion that you might not share.

The official title of this position is “United States Senator” for the District of Columbia, but most of you know this position as the “Shadow” Senator. Some people in the statehood community don’t like this title, but let’s be honest—this position is a shadow of what it should be. What D.C. truly deserves is a U.S. Senator with full voting powers who sponsors bills, participates in committee hearings, and who shapes the nation’s future as an equal partner. And though statehood is not yet a reality, what D.C. deserves now is a Senator who is our chief advocate before the U.S. Senate and our main voice for the rights of Washingtonians—someone who our city can turn to during times of uncertainty. That is not what this position has been up to now. But I am ready to take on the responsibility to bring this role out of the shadows and into the light. I plan to transform it into a forceful and effective advocate for the people of D.C., worthy of the city it represents.

I won’t pretend that the road ahead will be easy. But even in this challenging environment, there are real opportunities for an effective Senator to work pragmatically with the incoming Trump
administration and Republican Congress to move things forward. Take, for example, D.C.’s judicial vacancy crisis that is threatening to undermine the heroic efforts of Judge Shanker and the other
judges in our local courts. I am hopeful I will be able to work with my Republican colleagues in the Senate to get judges to fill our open judicial seats quickly nominated and confirmed. This is one of the most important steps the Congress and administration can take to make D.C. tougher on crime and reduce violence in our city. And while I look forward to finding common ground and areas of alignment with the federal government, let me be absolutely clear: I will not stand in the shadows if out-of-state Republicans try to take away D.C.’s rights. If that happens, I will fight as hard as I can to protect the people of D.C. and ensure our human rights are never taken away.

My friends, it’s true, we stand in mighty shadows today, but I urge you to not give up hope. Democracy needs you. For every dusk, there is a dawn. Sooner or later, it will be our turn to step into
the light. And when that happens; when Washington, D.C. becomes the 51st state in this Union, it will be your determination, your belief in justice, and your commitment to this community that lit the pathway to that victory. So, it is with boundless optimism and great hope for our future that I thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your next United States Senator. Let’s get to work.”