Democratic Indian-American, Raja Krishnamoorthi, wins election to US House of Representatives

NEW DELHI: Democratic Indian-American businessman Raja Krishnamoorthi, 43, today won election to the US House of Representatives from the state of Illinois.

He contested for the 8th Congressional District of Illinois, which includes Chicago's west and northwest suburbs. Krishnamoorthi ran for the House on a platform that included protecting Social Security and medical benefits, making higher education more affordable, and bolstering small businesses.


Krishnamoorthi is president of two small businesses that develop and sell products in the national security and renewable energy industries. He earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from

Princeton University

and graduated with honours from Harvard Law School.

In his campaign, Krishnamoorthi advocated policies to help working families, including equal pay for equal work, paid sick and maternity leave, raising the federal minimum wage, and making college more affordable. He also defended and campaigned for women's reproductive freedom.

In March, he won the Democratic Party's Congressional primary in Illinois. US President Barack Obama endorsed Krishnamoorthi, and in a video message last month, described Krishnamoorthi as a "good friend".

The

Chicago Tribune

also endorsed Krishnamoorthi.



Krishnamoorthi's district has a considerable Indian-American population and he told PTI last month that the community, in its interaction with him, showed, "they are very concerned about the rhetoric coming from people like Donald Trump who has basically poisoned the political dialogue in this country with his insults to immigrants, people with disabilities, women, other minorities and veterans."

"People more than ever are yearning for unity in the face of the collective challenges confronting the country. Indian- Americans feel that call to action and call to unity even more keenly," Krishnamoorthi added.

Krishnamoorthi expressed strong appreciation for the India-US relationship, which he said has steadily become stronger and deeper. He said that a strong relationship between the two democracies is crucial, as the world confronts a plethora of challenges.

"I hope to be a positive force in developing the relationship between the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy," he added.

(With inputs from PTI)