Local ads, local candidates

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October 20, 2008

In the run up to election day I need help from our readers. I want to know about all the desi candidates running for elected office this Nov. 4th. In the comments of this post please provide:

1) Name of candidate and party affiliation

2) City, State

3) Office they are running for

4) Their website, a news article about them, or a commercial by them

In the early days of SM I had the time to do all this myself. These days I am just too busy to do all the research. More importantly however, there are many more desi candidates running. Let me get you guys warmed up by posting Ashish Mahendru’s television ad. He is running for judge locally here in Houston. That’s right, in Texas you elect your judges so that laws get interpreted just the way you like .

Big bonus points for anyone that finds a desi candidate running for office in the state of North Dakota, where SM’s world blogging headquarters is based.

Politics

POSTED BY abhi @ 11:33 PM

31 comments

1 · John Hoeven on October 21, 2008 01:10 AM · Direct link

North Dakota? That's gotta suck

2 · Umair on October 21, 2008 02:02 AM · Direct link

Driving around the Fremont, Ca area this weekend I saw signs for Ravi Johal.
His website didn't state a party: http://www.ravijohal.com/.
Candidate for: Board Member; Washington Township Health Care District

3 · LS on October 21, 2008 02:43 AM · Direct link

Not too far from Fremont, I watched Sashi speak in SF.

Name: Sashi McEntee
Party: Republican
Location: San Francisco,CA
Web: http://www.voteforsashi.com/

4 · oraaaz on October 21, 2008 03:03 AM · Direct link

Harmeet Dhillon, Republican
San Francisco, CA
California State Assembly
http://www.dhillon08.com/

5 · Rajiv on October 21, 2008 09:05 AM · Direct link

Fun fact: Ashish Mahendru was one of the lead judges in the McDonald's french fry lawsuit.
I really hope the guy stands a chance. From what I've heard from my parents in Houston, South Asians are starting to get excited about this guy.

6 · teacup on October 21, 2008 11:17 AM · Direct link

Dr. Rishi Saxena
TN State Representative
Tennessee District 34 - Democrat
http://drrishisaxena.com/

7 · Ennis on October 21, 2008 11:18 AM · Direct link

harpreet Singh is running for re-election to the City Council of Richmond, CA: http://sikhswim.com/2008/10/16/harpreet-singhs-reelection-campaign-in-california/

8 · Ennis on October 21, 2008 11:19 AM · Direct link

Farheen Hakeem is running for MN State Rep: http://www.farheenhakeem.org/frequently-asked-questions

9 · Ennis on October 21, 2008 11:21 AM · Direct link

Muhammad Ali Hasan is running for Colorado state rep: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali_Hasan
The last two are desi, I had checked earlier.

10 · V.V. Ganeshananthan on October 21, 2008 11:41 AM · Direct link

Jay Goyal is running for reelection in Ohio.

Jay Goyal, Democrat
Ohio State Representative
Mansfield, OH (73rd District)

When Jay won his race two years ago, he was the youngest Indian-American elected official in the United States. We've blogged about him before.

11 · bookworm on October 21, 2008 12:06 PM · Direct link

Neeraj Nigam
Independent
Sterling, VA
Candidate for US House of Representatives District 10 - Virginia
http://www.neerajnigamforcongress.org/

12 · Raj on October 21, 2008 12:12 PM · Direct link

Muhammad Ali Hasan is running for Colorado state rep: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali_Hasan
The last two are desi, I had checked earlier.

There is a documentary on Link Tv that runs once in awhile on his family and there efforts to get Bush elected.
The lead singer of Junoon is friends with the family. In the documentary they discuss their differences of opinion on Bush and other issues.

13 · Spycandy on October 21, 2008 12:41 PM · Direct link

Kish Rajan is a democrat running for the city council of Walnut Creek, CA, couldn't find a website though.

14 · yabadaba on October 21, 2008 12:48 PM · Direct link

Name: Ravindra Kumar, Ph.D., M.S
Party: Democrat
Office: Candidate for Gwinnett School District' 5
Location: Gwinnett County, GA
Web: http://electkumar.com/default.aspx
Media: http://www.ajc.com/gwinnett/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2008/10/15/gwinnett_school_endorse.html
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/stories/2008/10/17/newcomer.html?cxntlid=inform_artr

15 · gs on October 21, 2008 01:01 PM · Direct link

Harpreet Sandhu
Democrat
Richmond City Council
http://harpreetsandhu.net/

16 · Punam on October 21, 2008 01:12 PM · Direct link

Tony Sarwar
Collierville, TN
City Alderman
http://www.tonysarwar.com/

17 · CondeKedar on October 21, 2008 03:54 PM · Direct link

Name: A. Ghani (no first name available)
Party: Democrat
Office: Illinois State Senate (21st District)
Website: http://www.winbigin08.com/
Also see: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=243870&src=2

18 · sunzari on October 21, 2008 03:55 PM · Direct link

Though he is no longer running, Dr. Jamshad Wyne ran for the now vacant Republican Congressional seat formerly held by the besmirched Vito Fosella (Staten Island/Brooklyn, NY).

The campaign ended in unfortunate race-baiting by another prominent GOP candidate in Staten Island.

19 · sunzari on October 21, 2008 03:57 PM · Direct link

tried to make the link clickable oh wells:
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/09/06/2008-09-06_primary_fight_for_vito_fossellas_seat_tu.html

20 · lostone on October 21, 2008 04:45 PM · Direct link

Name: Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
Party: Apu is a serious party animal
Office: Mayor of Springfield
Website: http://www.thesimpsons.com/bios/bios_townspeople_apu.htm

21 · Abhi on October 21, 2008 11:07 PM · Direct link

Thanks all! Great sleuthing so far. Keep an eye out for posts about many of these candidates leading up to Nov. 4th.

22 · Dr Amonymous on October 22, 2008 01:30 AM · Direct link

Found through IALI (I think they're both Democrats, though I could be wrong):

Monisha Merchant, running for University of Colorado Board of Regents (CD-7)
http://www.merchantforregent.com/

Swati Dandekar, Iowa State Senate District 18
http://www.swatidandekar.com/

Also, I though this dude Mervyn Dymally I found through wikipedia was just interesting - Trinidadian former Lieutenant Governor of California and former Congressperson - still in public office!

I wish it were easier to find more non-indian-american candidates online.

23 · Singh is King on October 22, 2008 06:10 PM · Direct link

Republican candidate for California's 27th district.

Navraj Singh
http://www.singhforcongress2008.com/

24 · halfsie on October 22, 2008 10:18 PM · Direct link

Ravi Sandill
Harris County Judge
127th District

25 · DJ Drrrty Poonjabi on October 23, 2008 01:22 AM · Direct link

14 · Spycandy said

Kish Rajan is a democrat running for the city council of Walnut Creek, CA, couldn't find a website though.

Here you go.

Also, Susie Nagpal is running for city council in Manish's hometown of Saratoga, CA.

26 · DJ Drrrty Poonjabi on October 23, 2008 02:18 AM · Direct link

Ash Kalra, San Jose City Council.

27 · begtodiffer on October 23, 2008 11:02 AM · Direct link

Ashwin Madia running for Congress in MN.

28 · Maurice Reeves on October 29, 2008 03:21 PM · Direct link

Interestingly (and sadly) I checked the list of ALL candidates running in the elections in PA and didn't find a sing desi name...

List is here: http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=20&ElectionID=28.

*sigh* I really do live in Alabama don't I?

29 · evden eve nakliyat izmir on June 8, 2009 06:44 AM · Direct link

Thanks

30 · izmir evden eve on June 8, 2009 08:08 AM · Direct link

Thanks

31 · izmir matbaa on June 29, 2009 06:03 AM · Direct link

Thanks

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