The Hindu American Political Action Committee (HAPAC) welcomed the culmination of a peaceful and fair 2020 election season demonstrating the robustness of the American democracy, but also a divided country with clear political divisions that must be understood and reconciled.
“We congratulate President-elect Joe Biden for his victory, and look forward to working with him and his Administration,” said Rishi Bhutada, HAPAC board member, “Hindu issues are American issues, and Mr. Biden has laid out a strong Hindu and Indian American agenda that we look forward to fulfilling together.”
HAPAC maintained communications with the President Donald Trump and Biden campaigns throughout the election season. HAPAC created a questionnaire outlining issues of concerns to Hindu Americans that was sent to both campaigns. Only the Biden campaign completed the questionnaire and it was published and distributed by HAPAC.
HAPAC welcomed reelection of Rep. Krishnamoorthi, the first Hindu to preside over the House of Representatives and one of the most consistent advocates for Hindu Americans in the U.S. Congress.
HAPAC welcomed the elevation of Niraj Antani (R, OH) from the Ohio state House to the Ohio state Senate. Sen. Antani’s efforts to educate Republican Members of Congress on India’s decision to abrogate Article 370 to protect Kashmiri Hindus and textbook revisions in California to accurately depict Hinduism have made him a national political leader for Hindu Americans.
Rep. Padma Kuppa (D, MI), a pioneering Hindu American interfaith community advocate, was reelected by a double-digit margin for Michigan’s 41st State House District. Her leadership and advocacy on behalf of Hindu Americans in strengthening hate crime legislation, immigration and textbook reform and representations of Hindus in the media makes her one of the most vocal community allies in a state house anywhere in the country.
Jennifer Rajkumar (D, NY), a public interest lawyer became the first Hindu to be seated in the NY State Assembly. Representing a diverse Queen borough district, Rep. Rajkumar will lead a district with one of the highest concentrations of Hindu Americans in the country with several temples and Hindu owned businesses.
“We are proud of the work HAPAC did in supporting strong Hindu American candidates and elevating our community’s concerns to the national agenda,” said Rakhi Israni, a member of the HAPAC Board of Directors. “Our work has just begun as we prepare for 2022, and will continue to seek out and support candidates that understand and represent the highest values and aspirations of the 3 million strong Hindu American community.”
