South Asian Candidates in 2004

South Asian Candidates in 2004

When Congressman Dalip Singh Saund, the forefather to the new generation of Indian American politicians won elections from California in 1956, he had little idea that he had set an example for an entire generation of assertive, articulate and eager Indians waiting in the wings to claim their candidature. Here is a list that traces the current crop of Indian American politicos.

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South Asian Candidates for Elections in 2004

United States Senate

Chirinjeev Kathuria (R) lost the Republican nomination for the US Senate seat in Illinois. He received 0.8% of the vote. Address: 39 S. LaSalle St., Suite 600 Chicago, IL 60603, 312-726-5700 x225, fax: 312-726-1812 Website:http://www.kathuriaforsenate.com/

United States House of Representatives

Rohit Khanna (D) lost the Democratic nomination in the 10th Congressional District California. He received 19.6% of the vote. Background: He is a federal contestant for U.S. House, California -12th District (San Francisco and San Mateo County). Mailing address: Khanna for Congress, 3245 Glendora Drive #2, San Mateo, CA 94403. Campaign Headquarters: 111 W. San Bruno Avenue, San Bruno, CA 94066 650-583-7002,fax: 650-583-7102. Email:info@votero.com.http://www.votero.com

Peter Mathews (D) lost the Democratic nomination in the 37th Congressional District California. He received 16.1% of the vote.

Bobby Jindal (R) running for the Republican nomination in the 1st Congressional district of Louisiana being vacated by Rep. David Vitter (R) who will run for Senate.  Background: He is a candidate for U.S. House, Louisiana -1st District, P.O. Box 8628, Metairie, LA 70011 Phone: 504-274-0080 or 985-310-0080 Email:info@bobbyjindal.com,www.bobbyjindal.com, Primary and election: November 2, 2004, Info Nugget: The websitewww.opensecrets.org, in its 3/31/04 report suggest that Jindal has $764,182 cash on hand, while other Republican opponent had $167,181

Ayesha Nariman (D) running for the Democratic nomination in the 26th Congressional district of New York. Job: Financial Advisor Stands from: Candidate for U.S. House - District 26 (Genesee, Livingston, Wyoming), New York, Email:ayesha@localnet.com, Website:http://www.narimanforcongress.com/

Tim Phillips (R) lost the Republican nomination in the 1st Congressional District Oregon. He received 24% of the vote.

Arjinderpal Singh Sekhon(D) lost the Democratic nomination in the 2nd Congressional District California. He received 28.4% of the vote. A candidate for U.S. House from California - 2nd District. Primary results: Mike Johnson -44.3 Arjinderpal Singh Sekhon -30.4 Jeffrey Vance -25.3

A. D. Amar (R) is running for the 7th Congressional district of New Jersey.

State Level

Ash Bhatt (D) lost in the 20th State Assembly district of California. He received 3.3% of the vote.

Chonchol Gupta (R) lost the Republican nomination in the 70th State Assembly district of California. She received 1.0% of the vote.

Swati Dandekar (D) - incumbent She is running for re-election in the 36th State House district of Iowa. Background: Born in India, Dandekar has lived in Marion, Iowa for 27 years. 2002 was the first time she ran for a legislative office. Website:http://www.swatidandekar.com/

Sreenivasa Dandamudi (D) running for the Democratic nomination in the 64th State House district of Missouri. Website:http://www.sreenu2004.com/

Nikki Randhawa Haley (R) running for the Republican nomination in the 87th State House district of South Carolina.

Mayoral Elections

Eduardo Bhatia (PDP) running for election as the Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Suchita Saigal lost in the race for Mayor of Fresno, California. She received 20.9% of the vote.

Jayendra Shah lost Los Angeles County Supervisor - 4th District. He received 9.5% of the vote.

Sanjiv Kapoor (G) lost County Council, County of Fresno, CA. He received 13.5% of the vote.

Source: The information has been collated from the Indian American Centre for Political Awareness and IALI and other sources.