Rep. Krishnamoorthi wants bipartisan approach in new House

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Residents of the 8^th Congressional District in Illinois voted for long-time Indian-American lawmaker Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat, sending him back to Capitol Hill after what appears to have been a more than usually competitive race leading up to election day  November 8, 2022.

“I’m honored to be decisively elected for a 4^th term to represent my constituents,” Rep. Krishnamoorthi told News India Times responding to an email query. “It’s the honor of my life to serve them in the U.S. Congress,” he added.

While declaring his victory Krishnamoorthi called on all candidates everywhere to “denounce violence and bigotry” and “focus on what we share in common as Americans.”

According to Ballotpedia, Krishnamoorthi secured a safe 56.3 percent of the vote to Republican Chris Dargis’ 43.7.

An Independent candidate Mohammed Faheem was disqualified. And in the Democratic primary on June 28, a South Asian-origin candidate Junaid Ahmed tried to unseat Krishnamoorthi as the party’s favorite, but was defeated handily, with Krishnamoorthi securing more than 71 percent of the Democratic primary vote.

Compared to the 2020 elections where Krishnamoorthi garnered 73.2 percent of the vote against his opponent, and in 2018 when he got 66 percent, his showing this November 8, was lower. The race to represent Illinois’ 8^th Congressional District was one of 75 “top targets” declared by the National Republican Campaign Committee early in the 2021-2022 election cycle, and money poured in to his opponent’s campaign coffers. Krishnamoorthi’s frequent emails for donations to his campaign sounded a note of warning to supporters about a possible defeat.

“Whatever side you’re on in this election, those on the other side are not your enemy,” he said after claiming victory.  “We are all Americans, and we must work together on behalf of a better and stronger nation.”

Regardless of which party ultimately wins a majority in the House of Representatives, Krishnamoorthi said he would continue working to preserve and protect Social Security and Medicare; ensure women’s reproductive rights; work with law enforcement to increase public safety; protect the rights and safety of religious minorities and LGBTQ communities. He also promised to combat inflation, promote fair competition, and fight extreme price hikes under the guise of inflation

“My parents came to this country with little more than a dream for their family’s future and the faith that they could achieve it here in America,” Krishnamoorthi said in his post-election statement.  “And despite some hard times, we did. Now, we need to make sure that those opportunities continue for all of our people, whether they’ve been here for generations, or are relatively new to our shores,” he said.

Krishnamoorthi was first elected to Congress in 2016. He serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus.

His wife Priya, a physician, and their school-age children, live in Schaumburg, Illiois. He is an ubiquitous presence in many Indian-American events in Illinois and around the country.

District 8 is composed of several Chicago suburbs with significant Indian-American presence. Some of the areas in the Distict include Hoffman Estates, Elgin, Schaumburg, Wood Dale and Elk Grove Village.