Pramila Jayapal is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Washington’s 7th congressional district since 2017. Born on September 21, 1965, in Chennai, India, she became the first Indian-American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives. Jayapal is a prominent progressive leader who served as Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 2021 to 2025 and previously worked as a civil rights activist focused on immigrant advocacy.
Pramila Jayapal Early Life
Pramila Jayapal was born into a Malayali Nair family in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Her mother, Maya Jayapal, is a writer, and her father, Jayapal Menon, worked as a marketing professional. She has an older sister named Suseela.
Jayapal left India at approximately age five when her family relocated due to her father’s career. She spent 11 years of her childhood in Indonesia and 13 years in Singapore, living abroad for a total of 24 years. She attended Jakarta Intercultural School (also referred to as Jakarta International School) alongside her sister.
Jayapal can speak Hindi but does not speak Malayalam fluently despite her Malayali heritage.
Education
In 1982, at age 16, Pramila Jayapal moved to the United States alone to pursue higher education. Her parents supported her American education with approximately 421,902.25 rupees (in Indian currency). She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University.
After completing her undergraduate studies, Jayapal obtained a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Immigration Status and Citizenship
When Jayapal initially came to the United States, she was classified as a “residential alien,” the legal term for foreign nationals living in the country. She initially lost her green card when she gave birth prematurely in India and was unable to return to the United States in time to maintain her Permanent Resident status.
Pramila Jayapal became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000. She is one of only 14 naturalized citizens currently serving in Congress.
Civil Rights Activism
Before entering electoral politics, Jayapal was a Seattle-based civil rights activist specializing in immigrant advocacy. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, she founded an organization originally called Hate Free Zone, which was later renamed OneAmerica. The organization focused on protecting immigrant communities from discrimination and hate crimes.
Jayapal served as the executive director of OneAmerica until 2012, building it into one of the largest immigrant advocacy organizations in Washington state. Her work with the organization established her reputation as a progressive voice on immigration reform and civil rights issues.
Political Career
Washington State Senate (2015-2017)
In early 2014, State Senator Adam Kline announced his retirement from Washington’s 37th legislative district, prompting Jayapal to launch her first political campaign. She quickly gained momentum with endorsements from Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and other political leaders. In the August 5, 2014 primary election, Jayapal captured more than 51% of the vote among six candidates.
Jayapal served in the Washington State Senate from 2015 to 2017, establishing herself as a strong progressive voice in state politics.
U.S. House of Representatives (2017-Present)
In January 2016, long-time U.S. Congressman Jim McDermott announced he would not seek another term representing Washington’s 7th congressional district. Jayapal declared her candidacy to succeed him and received an endorsement from Senator Bernie Sanders. She won the election and assumed office in January 2017.
Jayapal is the first woman elected to Washington’s 7th Congressional District and the first person of color elected to the Washington State Democratic delegation. She represents a district that encompasses most of Seattle and its surrounding areas including Shoreline, Vashon Island, Lake Forest Park, and parts of Burien and Normandy Park.
Congressional Leadership and Committees
Pramila Jayapal co-chaired the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 2019 to 2021 alongside Representative Mark Pocan. She then served as Chair of the Caucus from 2021 to 2025, leading the 96-member group and growing it into a powerful voting bloc. During her tenure, she established term limits for the position and is now Chair Emerita of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Jayapal serves on several key House committees including the House Judiciary Committee, the House Budget Committee, and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. She is the first immigrant to ever serve as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration on the Judiciary Committee. She is also a member of the Steering and Policy Committee.
Additionally, Jayapal serves on the Select Committee for Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, is a member of the Immigration Task Force for the Congressional Asian Pacific Asian Caucus, and is Vice Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus where she co-chairs the Transgender Equality Task Force.
Legislative Priorities
Jayapal is known for her progressive policy positions and has championed several key initiatives during her time in Congress. She is a leading advocate for the Medicare for All Act, which would establish a single-payer healthcare system in the United States. She has also consistently fought for a $15 federal minimum wage.
Immigration reform remains a central focus of her legislative work, drawing on her experience as an immigrant and civil rights activist. On January 20, 2020, Jayapal endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries. In 2024, she raised over $400,000 for Vice President Kamala Harris’s election campaign and made public statements in support of Harris.
Pramila Jayapal Age
Pramila Jayapal is 60 years old as of February 2026. She was born on September 21, 1965.
Pramila Jayapal Net Worth
Pramila Jayapal’s net worth has varied across different reports and time periods. In 2018, OpenSecrets estimated her net worth at $214,017. However, according to her 2023 financial disclosure report, her net worth is actually negative, ranging between -$10,649,973 and -$600,004 due to significant liabilities.
As of January 30, 2026, Quiver Quantitative estimates Jayapal’s net worth at approximately $1.6 million, which ranks as the 274th highest net worth in Congress. The discrepancy between estimates reflects different methodologies and timing of valuations.
Assets and Investments
According to her 2023 financial disclosure report, Jayapal’s assets range in value between $850,027 and $2,150,000. Her most valuable reported assets include various Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) and Dimensional ETF holdings, each valued between $100,001 and $250,000. As of January 2026, she has approximately $736,600 invested in publicly traded assets that can be tracked.
Her liabilities total between $2,750,004 and $11,500,000, which significantly impact her overall net worth calculation.
Congressional Fundraising
In her Q4 2025 FEC disclosure filed in January 2026, Jayapal reported $264,200 in new fundraising, ranking as the 12th highest among Q4 reports. She disclosed $367,700 in spending and maintained $2.0 million in cash on hand at the end of the filing period, ranking 23rd among all Q4 reports.
Personal Life
Pramila Jayapal was formerly married to Alan Preston. Details about her current marital status are not publicly disclosed. She is the author of Pilgrimage: One Woman’s Return to a Changing India, published in March 2000.
Controversies
In September 2021, BuzzFeed reported that 14 former staffers had described Jayapal’s congressional office as a volatile and dysfunctional workplace. Jayapal’s office responded with a statement calling the allegations “sexist,” “ugly stereotypes,” and lacking context. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has described Jayapal as “a rising star in the Democratic caucus”.