June 8 :
D.C. Shadow Senator Ankit Jain, an Indian-American lawyer who specialises in voting rights, has received the Democratic nomination. The Associated Press reported that on June 4, Jain had 53.7% of the vote and his opponent, Eugene Kinlow, had 46.3%. Although they are not formally sworn in or seated by the United States Senate, the two senators chosen by DC voters are recognised as senators inside the District of Columbia. Advocating for statehood and protecting DC citizens' interests are their principal responsibilities.
Receiving the Democratic nomination for the position of D.C. Shadow Senator is an incredible honour. Jain expressed his gratitude to all those who have trusted him, promising to do his best to live up to their expectations in his victory speech. Jain thanked Eugene Kinlow, his opponent, for decades of fighting for the statehood of the District of Columbia. "Eugene ran a formidable campaign, and I want to express my deepest appreciation for his commitment to the people of D.C.," stated the governor.
Additionally, Jain urged locals to keep fighting for statehood and reaffirmed his commitment. Our battle is only getting started. At the same time as we have never been more threatened with losing our limited democratic liberties, the District of Columbia has never been closer to becoming a state. Democracy in our community is facing a critical moment. Involvement from the public is essential.
Ending patronage politics and introducing a fresh viewpoint were central to Jain's campaign platform. To accomplish these aims, he intends to collaborate closely with the Mayor, the D.C. Council, and other supporters of statehood. Notably, attaining statehood for D.C., guaranteeing voting rights for nearly 700,000 citizens, is his major aim as Shadow Senator. In order to rectify the present injustice, he intends to partner with Republicans and pro-democracy groups to incorporate statehood into significant legislative initiatives.
His platform includes removing financial constraints on local financing for abortions and marijuana legalisation, as well as securing adequate federal financing for D.C. priorities. To fund WMATA and other large-scale Metro projects, such as the Blue Line Loop and Silver Line Express, he is pursuing federal funding. To combat the alarming increase in violent crime in the nation's capital, Jain will spearhead efforts to reform federal gun restrictions. He supports more minority representation in the District of Columbia legislature through possible constitutional amendments upon statehood and thinks the D.C. Council should handle local matters like construction height limitations.
Jain, who was born to Indian immigrants, compared his family's battle for voting rights to that of his father's Green Card application. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to represent the immigrant, Asian, and Indian populations if elected as the first Asian-American citywide elected person in D.C. history in November. There are very few elected officials in this city with such a background.
Jain has been an advocate for a while, having done work for both FairVote and the Sierra Club. Participating in demonstrations and serving on multiple committees to strengthen local democracy, he has been an active member of the statehood movement in the District of Columbia. Among Jain's many accomplishments, including co-founding the March for Our Lives in New York City in support of stricter gun control regulations and earning a Juris Doctor from Columbia University, she has been actively involved in advocacy and legal work.
Now that he has the Democratic nomination, Ankit will go on to the November general election, where he intends to continue his struggle for the statehood of the District of Columbia and perhaps make history.
