Residents of Sugar Land, Texas, know they have something special. Considered the fittest and the safest city in Texas, it’s also a symbol of the increasing diversity within the Lone Star State. Its population is composed of almost equal quarters of Hispanics, blacks, whites and Asians.

Sugar Land’s South Asians, in particular, are the focus of an extensive report on News21. They’re a small but significant number, about 9,000 in the city and 35,000 in the wider congressional district (Texas 22nd). Many first arrived from India and Pakistan in the 1960s and 1970s to meet the needs of the growing energy and aerospace industries. Today this vibrant and prosperous community wants political currency and has begun to make the necessary steps to acquire it.

In these same Houston suburbs, Democratic Congressman Nick Lampson is campaigning for reelection. Even though he is the incumbent, some still consider him a dark horse: a Democrat in a bastion of Republicanism. He’s in search of a new enduring majority and is keenly aware of the budding South Asian voting bloc.

Thus Sugar Land offers a fascinating study of how politicians are taking notice of a community (or rather a constituency) of new Americans and are practicing the fine art of outreach. The same story is also playing out on the national scene, where federal campaigns have been utilizing South Asian networks for fund-raising since the early nineties.

Our News21 package, Cowboys and Indians, begins with an examination of how the South Asian constituency is changing the conventional wisdom on the upcoming congressional race in TX-22. An accompanying video feature analyzes Lampson’s outreach strategy to the South Asians in his district, as compared to that of Republican rival Pete Olson. Next, an interactive element presents video profiles of some prominent South Asians, and serves as a study of the motivations and challenges of first-generation civic leaders. There’s also a “Then and Now” photo slideshow of Sugar Land, depicting its changing demographics, economy and political scene. Finally, a detailed interactive map/infographic provides the reader with the geography of South Asians in the country as well as some national data on their rising economic and political power.

Sugar Land is a small city but what’s happening there reflects the vaster political emergence of new Americans. Thanks to all those who helped us tell its story. Keep an eye out with us to see how this story will play out in the coming months of this election year.