{{Short description|American politician (born 1965)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Padma Kuppa | state_house = Michigan | district = 41st | term_start = January 1, 2019 | term_end = December 31, 2022 | predecessor = Martin Howrylak | successor = Julie Rogers | birth_name = Padma Kuppa | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|8|10}} | birth_place = Bhilai, India | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = Sudhakar Tadepalli | children = 2 | education = | alma_mater = National Institute of Technology, Warangal (1988) | occupation = Mechanical engineer | profession = | website = {{URL|https://www.electpadmakuppa.com/|Campaign website}}<!-- Defunct: {{url|kuppa.housedems.com|State House website}} --> }}
'''Padma Kuppa''' (born August 10, 1965) was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 41st House District, which encompasses the cities of Troy and Clawson, from 2019 to 2022. She was the first Asian immigrant and Hindu to serve in the Michigan Legislature.
Kuppa is a mechanical engineer by trade and a community organizer. She has served as President of the Troy Historical Society, which oversees the Troy Historic Village, and is a founding member of the Troy-area Interfaith Group. She is tri-lingual in English, Hindi, and Telugu.
In 2022, Kuppa unsuccessfully ran for the Michigan Senate in the new 9th Senate District following the decennial redistricting process.
== Early life and education == Kuppa was born on August 10, 1965, in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India into a Telugu family.<ref name="Bio">{{Cite web|url=https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2021-2022/michiganmanual/2021-MM-P0251-p0251.pdf|title=State Representative Padma Kuppa D-41st Representative District|website=Michigan Legislature|access-date=January 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103101945/https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2021-2022/michiganmanual/2021-MM-P0251-p0251.pdf|archive-date=January 3, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-07 |title=Rainbow coalition propels Telugu NRI's political dreams in US, in race for Senate |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/rainbow-coalition-propels-telugu-nris-political-dreams-in-us-in-race-for-senate/articleshow/93400604.cms |access-date=2025-07-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> In 1969, her father began attending Stony Brook University on Long Island, New York, as a graduate student, and later became a post-doctoral fellow. Her mother also went back to school and eventually earned a PhD in biology from Stony Brook and was a post-doctoral fellow at MIT and Georgetown University.<ref name="THV2015">{{Cite web|url=https://www.troyhistoricvillage.org/april-30-2015-insights-of-a-20th-century-immigrant/|title=Insights of a 20th Century Immigrant|website=Troy Historic Village|date=April 30, 2015|access-date=January 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218180140/https://www.troyhistoricvillage.org/april-30-2015-insights-of-a-20th-century-immigrant/|archive-date=December 18, 2015}}</ref><ref name="ADW">{{Cite web|url=https://adesiwoman.com/podcast/a-conversation-with-michigan-state-representative-padma-kuppa/|title=A Conversation with Michigan State Representative Padma Kuppa|website=A Desi Woman Podcast|first=Soniya|last=Gokhale|date=May 19, 2021|access-date=January 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116010012/https://adesiwoman.com/podcast/a-conversation-with-michigan-state-representative-padma-kuppa/|archive-date=January 16, 2022}}</ref>
In 1970, during her parents' studies in the United States, Kuppa and her family moved to Long Island where she began attending kindergarten.<ref name="THVBio">{{Cite web|url=https://www.troyhistoricvillage.org/many-stories-padma/|title=Padma Kuppa|website=Troy Historic Village|access-date=January 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809084919/https://www.troyhistoricvillage.org/many-stories-padma/|archive-date=August 9, 2020}}</ref> When she was 15 years old, Kuppa and her family returned to India, unlike most immigrants of the era. Kuppa recalled of her parents' decision: "That move was very difficult. I did not think or behave as an Indian. I was Indian on the outside and American on the inside."<ref name="THV2015" /> She has also said of this time in her life, "I didn't feel at home. I had an American accent, I had an American attitude. And so I think that it wasn't just the best age to move, to shift cultures."<ref name="ADW" />
Returning to India with her family in 1981, Kuppa finished high school at Stanley Girls High School and later graduated from Regional Engineering College Warangal (now National Institute of Technology, Warangal). Kuppa was the first woman to earn a degree in mechanical engineering from the university.<ref name="THVBio" /><ref name="TTOI">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/stanley-student-padma-seeks-re-election-to-house-of-reps/articleshow/79007806.cms|title=Stanley student Padma seeks re-election to House of Reps|website=The Times of India|first=Uttara|last=Varma|date=November 3, 2020|access-date=January 15, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103030044/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/stanley-student-padma-seeks-re-election-to-house-of-reps/articleshow/79007806.cms|archive-date=November 3, 2020}}</ref>
In 1988, Kuppa returned to the United States to attend graduate school at Stony Brook University, her parents' alma mater, as a foreign student. In 1998, Kuppa and her husband moved to Troy, Michigan.<ref name="ADW" /><ref name="THVBio" />
== Career == Kuppa is a founding member of the Troy-area Interfaith Group, as well as the local Bharatiya Temple's Outreach Committee. She has served as a board member and advisory board member of the Women's Interfaith Solutions for Dialogue and Outreach in Detroit (WISDOM). She became board president of the Troy Historical Society, which oversees the Troy Historic Village, in October 2018.<ref name="Bio" /><ref name="THVBio" />
Kuppa worked with Chrysler as a mechanical engineer and project manager for over five years. She later worked as a business analyst at Ally Financial.<ref name="Sohrabji">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/michigan-social-activist-announces-bid-for-state-legislature-hopes-to-bring-fiscal-accountability-to-charter/article_61c0700a-11cc-11e8-a807-13904ea7cb53.html|title=Michigan Social Activist Announces Bid for State Legislature; Hopes to Bring Fiscal Accountability to Charter Schools|website=India West|first=Sunita|last=Sohrabji|date=February 14, 2018|access-date=January 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117044942/https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/michigan-social-activist-announces-bid-for-state-legislature-hopes-to-bring-fiscal-accountability-to-charter/article_61c0700a-11cc-11e8-a807-13904ea7cb53.html|archive-date=January 17, 2022}}</ref> Kuppa served on the City of Troy's Planning Commission from 2015 to 2018, having been appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. She was later elected to serve on the city's Zoning Board of Appeals from 2017 to 2018.<ref name="Bio" /><ref name="MI100">{{Cite web|url=https://housedems.com/rep-padma-kuppa-sworn-in-to-100th-legislature/|title=Rep. Padma Kuppa Sworn In to 100th Legislature|website=MI House Dems|date=January 7, 2019|access-date=January 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930042208/https://housedems.com/rep-padma-kuppa-sworn-in-to-100th-legislature/|archive-date=September 30, 2020}}</ref>
In 2018, Kuppa was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives. She assumed office in 2019 for the 100th Michigan Legislature, representing House District 41, which encompasses the cities of Troy and Clawson. A Democrat, Kuppa defeated Republican Doug Tietz in the general election, earning 51.3 percent of the vote versus 48.7 percent for Tietz. Kuppa's predecessor, term-limited Republican Martin Howrylak, attended her swearing-in ceremony.<ref name="MI100" /><ref name="Donnelly">{{Cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/06/oakland-county-legislature-race-results-winners/1825027002/|title=Legislature: Female Dems Manoogian, McMorrow win in Oakland|website=The Detroit News|first=Francis X.|last=Donnelly|date=November 6, 2018|access-date=January 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107090548/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/06/oakland-county-legislature-race-results-winners/1825027002/?from=new-cookie|archive-date=November 7, 2018}}</ref> During her first term, Kuppa was named Assistant Whip for her caucus.<ref name="Cousino">{{Cite news|url=https://www.monroenews.com/news/20190105/rep-camilleri-announces-assistant-democratic-whips|title=Rep. Camilleri announces assistant Democratic whips|website=The Monroe News|first=Dean|last=Cousino|date=January 5, 2019|access-date=January 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113123928/https://www.monroenews.com/news/20190105/rep-camilleri-announces-assistant-democratic-whips|archive-date=January 13, 2019}}</ref><ref name="IndiaWest">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/indian-american-state-sen-jay-chaudhuri-named-senate-democratic-whip/article_48123cc8-1442-11e9-a525-73ad5e833d84.html|title=Indian American State Sen. Jay Chaudhuri Named Senate Democratic Whip in North Carolina Legislature, Padma Kuppa Named Assistant Whip in Michigan|website=India West|date=January 9, 2019|access-date=January 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110011227/https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/indian-american-state-sen-jay-chaudhuri-named-senate-democratic-whip/article_48123cc8-1442-11e9-a525-73ad5e833d84.html|archive-date=January 10, 2019}}</ref> She was also selected to serve on the Energy Committee and the Local Government and Municipal Finance Committee.<ref name="MDOE">{{Cite web|url=https://mdoe.state.mi.us/legislators/Legislator/LegislatorDetail/5535|title=Legislator Details|website=Michigan Department of Education|access-date=January 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016091735/https://mdoe.state.mi.us/legislators/Legislator/LegislatorDetail/5535|archive-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref>
In 2020, Kuppa won re-election against Republican Andrew Sosnoski in the general election. She earned 55.04 percent of the vote to Sosnoski's 44.96 percent.<ref name="F2D">{{Cite news|url=https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/oakland-county-election-results-2020.amp|title=Oakland County Election Results|website=Fox 2 Detroit|date=November 3, 2020|access-date=January 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118155333/https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/oakland-county-election-results-2020.amp|archive-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref> For the 101st Michigan Legislature during her second term, Kuppa was selected to serve on the Tax Policy Committee and Rules and Competitiveness Committee, in addition to returning to serve on the Local Government and Municipal Finance Committee. She was also selected to serve as an alternate member for the Michigan Legislative Council.<ref name="MDOE"/> In 2021, Kuppa received the Michigan United Cerebral Palsy Public Policy Award for her work with the disability and business communities.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ucpmichigan.org/awardsluncheon|title=Mary Ann Greenawalt Memorial Annual Awards|website=Michigan United Cerebral Palsy|access-date=September 17, 2022}}</ref>
In 2022, Kuppa unsuccessfully ran for the Michigan Senate in the new 9th Senate District following the decennial redistricting process.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/09/michigan-senate-democrats-hope-redistricting-is-the-needed-advantage-to-oust-republican-majority.html?outputType=amp|title=Michigan Senate Democrats hope redistricting is the needed advantage to oust Republican majority|website=MLive|date=September 7, 2022|access-date=September 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919050631/https://www.ucpmichigan.org/awardsluncheon|archive-date=September 19, 2021}}</ref>
== Personal life == Kuppa resides in Troy, Michigan, with her husband, Sudhakar Tadepalli. They have two children.<ref name="Bio" />
Kuppa is Hindu and a member of the Bharatiya Temple of Metropolitan Detroit.<ref name="Bio" /> She is multi-lingual and speaks English, Telugu, and Hindi;<ref name="ADW" /> the latter of which is the most spoken minority language in the district that Kuppa represents.<ref name="IndiaAbroad">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaabroad.com/indian-americans/democrat-padma-kuppa-making-bid-for-gop-held-district-in-michigan/article_8fb8001a-4a73-11e8-b8d8-e79618ffb4e1.html|title=Democrat Padma Kuppa making bid for GOP-held district in Michigan|website=India Abroad|first=Suman Guha|last=Mozumder|date=April 27, 2018|access-date=January 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110000222/https://www.indiaabroad.com/indian-americans/democrat-padma-kuppa-making-bid-for-gop-held-district-in-michigan/article_8fb8001a-4a73-11e8-b8d8-e79618ffb4e1.html|archive-date=November 10, 2020}}</ref>
== References== <references /><!-- NOT USED IN ARTICLE: <ref name="Shaffer">{{cite news |last1=Shaffer |first1=Catherine |title=Michigan's 100th legislature gains women, scientists |url=http://www.michiganradio.org/post/michigans-100th-legislature-gains-women-scientists |access-date=12 January 2019 |work=Michigan Radio NPR |date=December 31, 2018}}</ref>
<ref name="Dutt">{{cite news |last1=Dutt |first1=Ela |title=Indian-American swears oath of office on Gita in Illinois legislature |url=http://www.newsindiatimes.com/indian-american-swears-oath-of-office-on-gita-in-illinois-legislature |access-date=12 January 2019 |work=News India Times |date=January 7, 2019}}</ref>
BROKEN LINKS: <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://totaltelugu.com/english/ARTICLE/telugu-woman-wins-again-in-us-elections-1|title=Total Telugu}}</ref>
<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://housedems.com/kuppa|title=News From Rep. Kuppa|date=2018-12-27|website=housedems.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-25}}</ref> -->
== External links == *[https://housedems.com/kuppa Padma Kuppa District 41] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825022318/https://housedems.com/kuppa |date=2019-08-25 }} *[https://www.electpadmakuppa.com Padma Kuppa Campaign] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813125944/https://www.electpadmakuppa.com/ |date=2019-08-13 }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuppa, Padma}} Category:American women engineers Category:American politicians of Indian descent Category:Engineers from Michigan Category:Indian emigrants to the United States Category:Living people Category:Women state legislators in Michigan Category:Democratic Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:1965 births Category:Asian-American state legislators in Michigan Category:21st-century members of the Michigan Legislature Category:American people of Telugu descent Category:Telugu politicians