Harry Bhandari | |
|---|---|
| ह्यारी भण्डारी | |
 Bhandari in 2022 | |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 8th district | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2019 Serving with Nick Allen, Carl W. Jackson | |
| Preceded by | Joe Cluster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 1, 1977 Thapathana, Nepal |
| Citizenship | Nepal United States (since 2011) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Prithvi Narayan Campus Tribhuvan University (MA) Johns Hopkins University (PhD) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Harry Bhandari (Nepali: ह्यारी भण्डारी; born October 1, 1977) is an Nepalese-born American politician and educator. A member of the Democratic Party, he has served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the eighth district since 2019. Bhandari is the first Nepali American elected to a state legislature in the United States.[1]
Bhandari is a candidate for Maryland's 2nd congressional district in the 2024 election.
Early life and education
Bhandari was born in Thapathana, Nepal,[2] on October 1, 1977,[3] to father Ammar Bahadur and mother Kanti Kumari.[2] He graduated from Prithvi Narayan Campus, earned his master's in English literature from Tribhuvan University,[4] and later attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Johns Hopkins University,[5] where he received his Doctor of Philosophy in 2021.[4]
Bhandari moved to the United States in 2005 to present a paper at George Mason University,[6] and became a U.S. citizen in 2011.[2]
Career
Bhandari became a teacher for Baltimore County Public Schools in 2006[7] and later taught at Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School,[8] and worked a faculty member for Baltimore City Community College.[5] He briefly returned to Nepal following the April 2015 Nepal earthquake to assist earthquake victims.[6]
Bhandari first entered politics in 2008 as a volunteer for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.[6] He later served as the secretary of the Young Democrats of America's minority caucus and on the board of directors for the District 6 Democratic and Civic Association Club.[5]
Maryland House of Delegates
Bhandari unsuccessfully ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in 2014.[9] He won election to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2018, during which he ran on a slate with Carl W. Jackson and incumbent state delegate Eric Bromwell[9] and defeated incumbent Republican state delegate Joe Cluster in the general election.[10][11]
Bhandari was sworn in on copies of Bhagavad Gita and Vedas[12] on January 9, 2019, and has served as a member of the Health and Government Operations Committee during his entire tenure. He has also chaired the Maryland Legislative Asian-American and Pacific-Islander Caucus since 2023.[3]
During the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Bhandari ran to serve as a delegate for Joe Biden at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.[13]
2024 U.S. House campaign
In January 2024, ahead of U.S. Representative Dutch Ruppersberger announcing that he would not run for re-election in 2024, Bhandari filed to run for Maryland's 2nd congressional district in the 2024 election.[14] He officially announced his campaign on January 29.[8] During the Democratic primary, Bhandari ran on a platform including healthcare and education.[15]
Political positions
Education
During the 2023 legislative session, Bhandari introduced legislation requiring high schools to teach conflict resolution classes. The bill did not pass out of committee.[7]
Environment
During the 2023 legislative session, Bhandari introduced legislation to encourage schools to install solar arrays in school construction projects.[16]
Gun policy
During the 2020 legislative session, Bhandari voted against a bill requiring background checks for shotgun and rifle sales.[17]
In June 2021, following the fatal shooting of Nepali student Sagar Ghimire in Woodlawn, Bhandari promised to introduce legislation to strengthen the state's gun control laws during the 2022 legislative session.[18] That year, he introduced the Sagar Ghimire Act to reassess Maryland's extreme risk gun law.[19]
During his 2024 congressional campaign, Bhandari supported federal legislation to ban assault weapon sales.[20]
Health care
During the 2019 legislative session, Bhandari supported a bill to establish the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to negotiate the price of prescription drugs in Maryland.[21]
During his 2024 congressional campaign, Bhandari endorsed the Medicare for All Act.[20] He also introduced bills to create a task force on reducing emergency department wait times during that year's legislative session.[15]
Israel
During his 2024 congressional campaign, Bhandari supported a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war, comparing it to the Nepalese Civil War.[20]
National politics
In May 2021, Bhandari called on Congress to pass the For the People Act.[22]
Social issues
During the 2023 legislative session, Bhandari introduced legislation that would make the state recognize Dashain as a commemorative day. The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore, making Maryland the first U.S. state to recognize the festival.[23]
In 2024, Bhandari introduced a bill that would require movie theaters to have limited screenings of movies with closed captioning and subtitle options.[15]
Personal life
Bhandari is married and has two children.[5] He lives in Nottingham, Maryland.[9] In September 2018, following the fatal shooting of Brindra Giri in Towson, Maryland, Bhandari helped Giri's family with funeral arrangements and with translating from Nepali to English.[24]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Eric Bromwell (incumbent) | 5,601 | 22.8 | |
| Democratic | Renee Smith | 4,632 | 18.9 | |
| Democratic | Bill Paulshock | 4,512 | 18.4 | |
| Democratic | Harry Bhandari | 3,828 | 15.6 | |
| Democratic | Debbie Schillinger | 3,124 | 12.7 | |
| Democratic | Steve Verch | 1,752 | 7.1 | |
| Democratic | Kyle Williams | 1,114 | 4.5 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Eric Bromwell (incumbent) | 6,595 | 31.2 | |
| Democratic | Harry Bhandari | 5,941 | 28.1 | |
| Democratic | Carl W. Jackson | 5,246 | 24.8 | |
| Democratic | Joe Werner | 3,335 | 15.8 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Eric Bromwell (incumbent) | 22,485 | 18.0 | |
| Democratic | Harry Bhandari | 22,094 | 17.7 | |
| Republican | Joseph C. Boteler III | 20,802 | 16.7 | |
| Democratic | Carl Jackson | 20,232 | 16.2 | |
| Republican | Joe Cluster (incumbent) | 20,084 | 16.1 | |
| Republican | Joe Norman | 18,898 | 15.2 | |
| Write-in | 99 | 0.1 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Harry Bhandari (incumbent) | 19,702 | 21.62 | |
| Democratic | Carl W. Jackson (incumbent) | 18,950 | 20.79 | |
| Democratic | Nick Allen | 18,062 | 19.82 | |
| Republican | Kathleen A. Smero | 11,838 | 12.99 | |
| Republican | Timothy M. Neubauer | 11,259 | 12.36 | |
| Republican | Glen Geelhaar | 11,243 | 12.34 | |
| Write-in | 74 | 0.08 | ||
References
- ^ Sen, Sandeep (November 11, 2018). "Two Americans of Nepali origin win US election". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c Adhikari, Priyanka (November 13, 2018). "US Delegate-Elect Harry Bhandari commits to work for Nepali community's welfare". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ a b "Members - Delegate Harry Bhandari". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ a b Bhattarai, Pradeep (December 26, 2021). "Harry Bhandari, first Nepalese state delegate in the US, earns his PhD". Breaknlinks. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Harry (H.B.) Bhandari, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c Acharya, Prakash (June 24, 2023). "Living a true American dream". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ a b McQueen, Tashi (May 18, 2023). "AFRO spotlight on Black excellence: meet the Maryland legislators who got their start in the classroom". Baltimore Afro-American. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ a b Russell, Lia (January 29, 2024). "Maryland Del. Harry Bhandari to run for Congress following US Rep. Ruppersberger's retirement announcement". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c Wood, Pamela (November 3, 2018). "Democrats, Republicans have hopes for clean sweep in crowded race for House district in Baltimore County". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ Kurtz, Josh (November 7, 2018). "House Dems Pick Up At Least 5 Seats". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ Sears, Bryan P. (November 8, 2018). "Basking in victory, Hogan says Trump hurt rest of Md. GOP". The Daily Record. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ "अमेरिकामा नेपाल चिनाउँदै डा. ह्यारी भण्डारी". Corporate Nepal (in Nepali). May 2, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ Kurtz, Josh (January 27, 2020). "No Surprise: Biden Is Dem Establishment Choice, Convention Filings Show". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ Jackson, Herb (January 26, 2024). "Maryland Rep. Ruppersberger to retire after 11 terms". Roll Call. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c Brown, Danielle J. (April 2, 2024). "Meet the state lawmakers running for Congress: Del. Harry Bhandari". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
- ^ Kurtz, Josh (February 28, 2023). "Campaign for rooftop solar goes to school". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ DePuyt, Bruce (February 5, 2020). "Democrats Challenge Hogan to Put Up Solutions on Crime". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ Campbell, Colin; Condon, Christine; Fenton, Justin (May 9, 2021). "Man killed by police after shooting, explosion in Woodlawn had carried gun, harassed community, neighbors say". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ Condon, Christine (March 18, 2022). "'I just closed my eyes, and he shot the gun': Survivor recounts Woodlawn gunman's 2021 rampage, calls for reevaluation of 'red flag' laws". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c Russell, Lia (March 4, 2024). "Gaza, gun laws, health care access define 2nd Congressional District primary debate". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ DePuyt, Bruce (March 22, 2019). "House Panel Drastically Scales Back Prescription Drug Affordability Bill". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ Took, Jacob (May 11, 2021). "White Marsh 'votercade' spreads support for voting rights". The Avenue News. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ Panthi, Kishor (May 5, 2023). "Maryland Becomes First US State to Recognize Nepali Festival Dashain". Patch. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ Pitts, Jonathan M. (September 21, 2018). "Maryland Rite Aid shooting victim Brindra Giri, mother of two, had just moved to U.S." The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
- ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
- ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
- ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022.
External links
- "Members - Delegate Harry Bhandari". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
This page was last edited on 13 April 2024, at 15:00