Usha Reddi

{{Short description|American politician}} {{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<ref name="Legislators 2023 v512">{{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}}</ref> | relations = | children = 3 | alma_mater = Ohio State University; Kansas State University | occupation = | profession = Educator (retired) | committees = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Usha L. Reddi''' (born 1965)<ref>{{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}}</ref> is an American politician and educator who served as a Democratic member of the Kansas Senate for the 22nd district.<ref>{{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}}</ref> She has also served as a city commissioner and mayor for the city of Manhattan, Kansas from 2013 to 2023.

==Career== ===Education=== Reddi was a long-time educator in Manhattan–Ogden public schools, where she served a term as President of the National Education Association chapter. In 2012, she unsuccessfully ran for the Kansas State Board of Education in District 6, placing second in the Democratic primary election behind Carol Viar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2012/08/09/accountant-wins-dem-nod-kansas-ed-board-seat-0/16424948007/|title=Accountant wins Dem nod for Kansas ed board seat|date=August 8, 2012|access-date=September 14, 2025|last=Hanna|first=John|website=Topeka Capital-Journal}}</ref>

===Manhattan City Commission=== In 2013, Reddi ran for the Manhattan city commission, coming in second place after Karen McCulloh with 17.47% of the vote.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===2020 U.S. Senate campaign=== In 2020, Reddi announced her campaign for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, but withdrew before the primary election.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===Kansas Senate=== 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> She lost the 2024 election for the seat to Republican Brad Starnes.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

== 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.<ref name="The Economic Times 2023 w162">{{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}}</ref> She is of Telugu descent.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-08-14 |title=Billboard put up against T-origin US mayor for advocating masks |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/billboard-put-up-against-t-origin-us-mayor-for-advocating-masks/articleshow/77534331.cms |access-date=2025-07-07 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/members/sen_reddi_usha_1/ Senator Usha Reddi | Legislators | Kansas State Legislature]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reddi, Usha}} Category:1966 births Category:Living people 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 Category:Indian emigrants to the United States Category:American people of Telugu descent Category:Politicians from Rajahmundry Category:21st-century American women politicians