Meet Suraj, Democrat for NY-12
I am an attorney, small business leader, and NYU lecturer on business ethics who proudly worked for President Obama.
When my parents emigrated from India in the late 1960s in search of economic opportunity, three generations of our family lived in a two-bedroom apartment over the bodega we ran. My dad got a job working the night shift fixing subway tracks, and eventually, he started a family business in hospitality.
I grew up bussing tables, filling vending machines, doing motel laundry, and helping out on construction sites. Together as a family, we lived the American Dream, something that's nearly far too difficult today.
In 2020, I challenged Carolyn Maloney and came within 3 points of victory. Over 100,000 New Yorkers voted in the 2020 Democratic primary election. And even in the midst of a pandemic – our campaign drove record turnout and brought a thirty-year incumbent down to 42% of the vote. But with over 12,000 votes left to count and 30,000 ballots that never arrived – our opponent was silent while we went to court to make sure every vote was counted.
Why I’m Running
I’m running for Congress because Democrats need a new generation of leaders - practical and progressive leaders who can deliver new energy and fresh ideas on how to get things done. Leaders who are always on the side of democracy, not just when it’s politically advantageous.
Our district, our city and our country are at a crossroads. We may have defeated Trump, but Trumpism is on the rise. The very future of American democracy is at stake.
I’m running against two career politicians who have listened to the whims of their corporate PAC donors rather than the needs of their constituents. They are more interested in maintaining their own power than fighting for the issues that matter. These 1990s politicians have lost nearly every major battle to Mitch McConnell - on abortion rights, gun reform, climate action, and our democracy.
Locally, they’ve contributed to a political culture of 'No’ - no to new housing, no to a living shoreline, and even no to a cutting-edge blood research center - that has led to a crisis of livability.
New Yorkers are hungry for change. They want more affordable housing, better jobs, safer streets, modern infrastructure that actually gets built in their lifetimes, and representatives who are willing to do whatever it takes to protect and codify their human rights at the federal level.
It’s time for a new approach. New fighters for a new decade. New messengers to make a better case for our values.
Do you live in the district?
featured events
For a full list of our upcoming events, click here.
Get out the vote remotely
Not able to help out at the polls? Join us to get out the vote on the phone!
12-8pm daily
Remote or in-person.
election day - Get out the vote
Join us on Election Day to help hand out flyers near poll sites! We’ll deploy you to a location in the district with a partner and materials.
Tuesday, August 23, all day
election night party
Join us after polls close Tuesday night to celebrate the campaign!
Tuesday, August 23rd, 8:30pm-late
RSVP for Address