Indian-American candidate in Arizona ahead on fundraising, endorsements

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An Indian-American candidate running for U.S. Congress from Arizona is showing her campaign chops raising record amounts and securing critical endorsements in her race to unseat a Republican.

Dr. Hiral Tipirneni is running from District 6 which is also fielding another Indian-American Democrat, Anita Malik. A third Democrat who will be vying in the Aug. 4, 2020 Democratic primary, is Stephanie Rimmer.

This Oct. 7,  Dr. Tipirneni announced she has raised over $770,000 in her bid to unseat Rep. David Schweikert, an amount that her campaign claims is  “the most any candidate has ever raised through their first two quarters of a cycle in the 6th district.” The campaign has more than $600,000 cash on hand, the press release said, though the Federal Election Commission website has yet to show updated numbers for the period July 1-Sept. 30 for any of the candidates including Tipirneni.

“THANK YOU to every grassroots supporter who chipped in to help us #Flipthe6th. Together, we’re going to put people over politics & finally bring real leadership to Washington. #AZ06,” Tipirneni tweeted.

“You can feel the energy and excitement here in the 6th district. People are looking for someone who will fight for the kind of common-sense policies that ensure greater opportunity for people all across the district,” she is quoted saying in the press release.

Tipirneni raised over $330,000 this quarter, and more than 93% of her contributions were $100 or less, her campaign said.

The Indian-American, like a number of other Democratic candidates, does not to take any corporate PAC money.

According to the online news site, Arizona Central, “The race in the northeast Valley is expected to be the state’s most competitive among Arizona’s nine congressional districts.”

On Oct. 8, Tipirneni was endorsed by the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 359. SMART Local 359 represents more than 1,000 active and retired workers throughout the state of Arizona.

” I am so proud to have the endorsement of SMART Local 359! Arizona workers deserve a leader who will put the needs of Arizona families before partisan politics. I am ready to partner with SMART to move Arizona forward. #AZ06 #Flipthe6th,” Tipirneni tweeted

The Indian-American previously received the endorsements of Emily’s List, the organization that backs leading women candidates, as well as from End Citizens United, AZ-02 Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, AZ-01 Congressman Tom O’Halleran, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union 104, Communication Workers of America Arizona State Council, American Federation of Teachers Arizona, and Amalgamated Transit Local Union 1433. and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 640.

A former emergency room physician serving the Phoenix area, who took to advocating for cancer research after losing her mother and nephew to cancer, Tipirneni now leads teams of researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates in the fight to treat and cure breast cancer, prostate cancer, and childhood leukemia.

She is married to Dr. Kishore Tipirneni and the couple has lived in Arizona for more than two decades. They have three children.