Biden hires Indian-American for top spot in presidential campaign

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An Indian-American has been hired by the Biden campaign to head its outreach to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Amit Jani, currently with the New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s administration, is going to join former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign as his National Asian American Pacific Islander director. Jani told News India Times he starts in his new position Sept. 16.

In an interview with this writer immediately after the first round of presidential candidate debates, Jani saw Biden as a front runner. “I like Joe Biden because he is more centrist. A lot of folks are going far left. Biden is more in line with the South Asian community which tends to generally be more centrist,” Jani said at that time.

In a press release from South Asians for America, Jani says, “It’s an honor to join a candidate in Vice President Joe Biden, with whom the Asian American Pacific Islander community can trust to represent and reflect the community’s values and principles.”

Jani has also served as the Director of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Outreach for the Murphy-Oliver Gubernatorial Campaign, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. This is a significant step up as Jani will be working on a national level in a front-runner’s race. Biden continues to lead the pack of more than 10 presidential contenders for the Democratic Party primaries in various states concluding with the national convention.

“It is encouraging that campaigns like that of Vice President Joe Biden are making the Asian American Pacific Islander community a priority, given the community’s rapid growth and success in the United States,” said Neha Dewan, co-chair of South Asians For America, adding, “We are proud that Amit Jani will be representing the community at this level and know he will do a tremendous job at making sure the community is visible and it’s input is considered at the grassroots level nationally.”

Jani previously served as a Congressional aide for Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., in the state’s 6th Congressional District. He is also savvy about matters inside the Beltway, having worked in a legislative capacity for Congresswoman Judy Chu in Washington, D.C., as well as the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).

He has also served as Committeeman for the Middlesex County Democratic Committee and currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Hudson County Schools of Technology Foundation.

Jani helped establish the  New Jersey Leadership Program (njlead) in 2015, a non-profit that helps place South-Asian youth in local government summer internships, and schools them on government, politics and community engagement.

A graduate of Rutgers University, Jani was named as a “30 Under 30 in New Jersey Politics” by Observer Magazine. He also hosts a podcast called Politics and Spice.