Some March 3 Primary Wins for Indian-Americans, And Endorsements For November 3

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Even as results are still trickling in from some states involved in the March 3, 2020 Democratic primaries in 14 states, some key candidates have made it to the top to run for the Nov. 3 elections. At the same time, Indian-Americans are engaged with the political process and endorsing candidates who promise to support their priorities if elected.

Congressman Ro Khanna, D-California, will be on the ballot Nov. 3 again, pitted against Republican Ritesh Tandon, a businessman, according to the results of the open primary that allows the two top vote-getters to move forward. In the state that Congressman Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, won handily (33.6 percent to Vice President Joe Biden’s 25.2 percent), Khanna won more than 65 percent of the vote in District 17, which encompasses much of Silicon Valley, to Tandon’s 24.2 percent, Ballotpedia reported.

In North Carolina state-level primaries, State Sen. Jay Chaudhuri who represents District 15, and was uncontested, will be running against GOP candidate Mario Lomuscio and Libertarian Kat McDonald, in November. Another Democratic primary winner in North Carolina was Ronnie Chatterjee for Treasurer, securing 36 percent of the vote to win against another Indian-American Dimple Ajmera’s close second with 34 percent. Ajmera is a two-term city councilwoman in Charlotte.  Chatterji faces off against Republican incumbent Dale Folwell on Nov. 3.

“With 100% of precincts in, we have won the Democratic primary for State Treasurer!” Chatterji, who branded himself with #TheNerdWeNeed, tweeted. “Thank you to everyone who supported us along this incredible journey. Congrats to my fellow candidates & their supporters. I look forward to working together to achieve victory in November,” he added.

In another delegate-rich state for the Presidential race, Texas, Indian-American Sri Preston Kulkarni vying for the U.S. Congress District 22 seat, advanced to November. A former diplomat during the Obama era, Kulkarni defeated Nyanza Davis Moore, an attorney, and Derrick Reed, a former city council member from Pearland, TX.

“We couldn’t have gotten here without your help,” Kulkarni tweeted. He will be competing against whoever wins the Republican runoff race where Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls and GOP heavyweight donor Kathaleen Wall are facing off.

In Democratic primary race for U.S. Congress in District 10 in Texas, Dr. Pritesh Gandhi was among the two top vote-getters, qualifying for the runoff which will take place on May 26, 2020. Mike Siegel won 44 percent of the vote and Gandhi 33.1 percent. The winner on May 26, will face off against incumbent GOP Rep. Michael McCaul.

Judge R.K. Sandill, running for the 127th Civil District Court in Texas, also won the primary for a new term, and will be facing a Republican opponent in November.

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Meanwhile, in Illinois, the leading Democratic political organization of Indian-Americans, endorsed a slew of candidates around the state and up and down the ballot, March 5.

The Indo-American Democratic Organization, IADO, chose 50 out of 85 candidates to support for November, selecting them after examining their responses on what they planned to do for South Asian-Americans.

Those endorsed include candidates of Indian origin and other ethnicities.

“It shows that elected officials and candidates understand they need to engage and receive the support of one of the fastest-growing communities in the Midwest,” Susan Patel, president of IADO’s board is quoted saying in a press release. “The response has been overwhelmingly and IADO is proud to build this coalition of both elected officials and candidates who will work with us when it comes to the progressive interests and values of Illinois’ 290,000+ South Asian Americans ”

“We asked every candidate who sought our endorsement specific questions on how they’ll engage and support South Asian Americans,” said Dr. Dilara Sayeed, IADO board member, and 2020 endorsement committee member. “And we endorsed those candidates who gave us detailed plans with a progressive agenda for our community.”

IADO’s total list of endorsed candidates include:

• Dick Durbin – U.S. Senate
• Mike Quigley – U.S. House of Representatives, 5th District
• Raja Krishnamoorthi – U.S. House of Representatives, 8th District
• Jan Schakowsky – U.S. House of Representatives, 9th District
• Bill Foster – U.S. House of Representatives, 11th District
• Cristina Castro – Illinois State Senate, 22nd District
• Laura Murphy – Illinois State Senate, 28th District
• Karina Villa – Illinois State Senate, 25th District
• Meg Loughran Cappel – Illinois State Senate, 49th District
• Margaret Croke – Illinois State House, 12th District
• Jennifer Gong Gershowitz – Illinois State House, 17th District
• Syamala Krishnamsetty – Illinois State House, 40th District
• Ken Mejia-Beal – Illinois State House, 42nd District
• Ryan Huffman – Illinois State House, 54th District
• Rita Mayfield – Illinois State House, 60th District
• Barbara Hernandez – Illinois State House, 83rd District
• Michael Cabonargi – Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
• Abdelnasser Rashid – Cook County Board of Review, 1st District
• Cameron “Cam” Davis – Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Cook County
• Kimberly Neely Dubuclet – Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Cook County
• Eira Corral Sepúlveda – Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Cook County
• Joe Cook – Democratic Party Committeeman, Chicago 41st Ward
• Andrea Vasquez – Democratic Party Committeeman, Chicago 40th Ward
• Halle Quezada – Democratic Party Committeeman, Chicago 50th Ward
• Jesse Reyes – Justice, Illinois Supreme Court
• Michael B. Hyman – Judge, Illinois Appellate Court
• John Griffin – Judge, Illinois Appellate Court
• Kerrie Maloney Laytin – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (Bellows vacancy)
• Russell Hartigan – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (C.Sheehan vacancy)
• Aileen Bhandari – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (Coghlan vacancy)
• Laura Ayala-Gonzalez – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (Ford vacancy)
• Celestia Mays – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (Funderburk vacancy)
• Jill Rose Quinn – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (K.Sheehan vacancy)
• Suzanne McEneely – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (Larsen vacancy)
• Michael Storm – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (Luckman vacancy)
• Teresa Molina – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (McCarthy vacancy)
• Heather Kent – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (O’Brien vacancy)
• Lynn Weaver Boyle – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (Patti vacancy)
• Araceli Reyes De La Cruz – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (Roti vacancy)
• Eileen O’Connor – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (6th Subcircuit)
• Jamie Guerra Dickler – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (6th Subcircuit)
• Jonathan Green – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (8th Subcircuit)
• Pamela Stratigakis – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (9th Subcircuit)
• Jon Stromsta – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (10th Subcircuit)
• Patricia Fallon – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (12th Subcircuit)
• Matt Flamm – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (13th Subcircuit)
• Michael Gerber – Judge, Cook County Circuit Court (13th Subcircuit)
• Azam Nizamuddin – Judge, DuPage County Circuit Court