Photo via Flickr Creative Commons by Gage Skidmore
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will soon choose his running mate. For some Indian Americans, Sen. Kamala Harris is a popular choice for more hope and representation of the Indian American community.
An Indian American political organization called IMPACT committed to distribute $10 million to Indian American candidates who are running for higher office in America. Sen. Harris is among the candidates that IMPACT is endorsing.
The endorsements are a part of an IMPACT funding program that helps Indian Americans prepare and run for office, reported IndiaNewEngland.com.
Sen. Harris said, “I’m excited about the Indian American community’s growing engagement in the political process not just as an Indian American, but as someone who believes the more Americans of all ethnicities and backgrounds feel ownership in our democracy, the stronger our democracy will be,” according to Indica News.
IMPACT recently announced they will be hiring public interest lawyer Neil Makhija as their new Executive Director. Makhija is a lecturer at University of Pennsylvania law school and was a Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania legislature in 2016.
Makhija believes it is a pivotal time for America and the Indian American community in politics.
“After significant gains in previous election cycles, Indian Americans are posed to assert out emerging power by electing more Indian American candidates at every level of government, and by supporting excellent candidates of all backgrounds who share our ideals of inclusivity, equity, and civil rights,” said Makhija according to Indica Times.
While Sen. Harris is gaining more attention as one of Biden’s potential running mates, some of the Indian American and other minority communities see her political position as a chance to be represented.
IMPACT said now is a time that the Indian American community is taking more action than ever before in American politics. The number of Indian Americans in Congress grew five times larger in less than 10 years and the first Hindi language political ad was released last week, reported Indica News.
“As IMPACT moves to its next phase of leadership,” said Sen. Harris, “I look forward to being joined in the Capitol by even more Indian Americans to move our country forward for everyone.”
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