A documentary about a Sikh American who ran for Congress and won, in 1956
About the film
In 1956, two candidates who couldn’t have been more different from each other– a wealthy WWII aviatrix and a local farmer of Indian descent– competed for a seat in Congress. The highly entertaining drama that ensued engaged an 80% voter turnout, and Dalip Singh Saund (D) defeated Jackie Cochran Odlum (R) to become the first-ever Asian member of the U.S. Congress. He represented California’s 29th District for three consecutive terms. SAUND vs COCHRAN is a nonpartisan documentary in development about this important milestone in American democracy.
“Seldom if ever has the American melting pot cooked up a spicier election dish than the contest now simmering in California’s 29th Congressional District.”
‘BILL BECKER, ASSOCIATED PRESS – MAY 5, 1956’
Share stories about 1956 America, connect us to people who knew Saund or Cochran or anyone who voted in 1956 (they’d be in their 80s today).
In 2026, you will hear a lot from America250– an initiative working to engage every American in the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This is the perfect opportunity to tell the story about Dalip Singh Saund– our first Asian American congressperson.
Impact
This is a story of democracy in action. It is about the first Asian American, first Indian American, and first Sikh American elected to serve in the U.S. Congress. It is about a female aviation pioneer who broke barriers in the air and in the political arena.
Their dramatic competition captured national and international attention and engaged America in a conversation about political representation that has strong parallels to what women and people of color face today.
A nonpartisan perspective on this surprisingly overlooked story of political inclusion will highlight the intersection of ethnicity, gender, wealth, and belonging as we think about how to vote and as we commemorate the U.S. Semiquincentennial in 2026.
