Harry Bhandari

Harry Bhandari (Nepali: ह्यारी भण्डारी; born October 1, 1977) is a 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]

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 byJoe Cluster
Personal details
Born (1977-10-01) October 1, 1977
Thapathana, Nepal
CitizenshipNepal
United States (since 2011)
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
EducationPrithvi Narayan Campus
Tribhuvan University (MA)
Johns Hopkins University (PhD)
WebsiteCampaign website

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 and other members of the Asian-American and Pacific-Islander Caucus with Governor Wes Moore, 2023

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] He again applied to run as a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, pledged to Biden, but was denied by the Maryland Democratic Party.[14]

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.[15] He officially announced his campaign on January 29.[8] During the Democratic primary, Bhandari ran on a platform including healthcare and education.[16]

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.[17]

Gun policy

During the 2020 legislative session, Bhandari voted against a bill requiring background checks for shotgun and rifle sales.[18]

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.[19] That year, he introduced the Sagar Ghimire Act to reassess Maryland's extreme risk gun law.[20]

During his 2024 congressional campaign, Bhandari supported federal legislation to ban assault weapon sales.[21]

Foreign policy

During his 2024 congressional campaign, Bhandari supported a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war, comparing it to the Nepalese Civil War.[21]

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.[22]

During his 2024 congressional campaign, Bhandari endorsed the Medicare for All Act.[21] He also introduced bills to create a task force on reducing emergency department wait times during that year's legislative session.[16]

National politics

In May 2021, Bhandari called on Congress to pass the For the People Act.[23]

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.[24]

In 2024, Bhandari introduced a bill that would require movie theaters to have limited screenings of movies with closed captioning and subtitle options.[16]

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.[25]

Electoral history
Maryland House of Delegates District 8 Democratic primary election, 2014[26]
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
Maryland House of Delegates District 8 Democratic primary election, 2018[27]
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
Maryland House of Delegates District 8 election, 2018[28]
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
Maryland House of Delegates District 8 election, 2022[29]
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
  1. Sen, Sandeep (November 11, 2018). "Two Americans of Nepali origin win US election". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  2. 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.
  3. "Members - Delegate Harry Bhandari". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  4. Bhattarai, Pradeep (December 26, 2021). "Harry Bhandari, first Nepalese state delegate in the US, earns his PhD". Breaknlinks. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  5. "Harry (H.B.) Bhandari, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  6. Acharya, Prakash (June 24, 2023). "Living a true American dream". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. Kurtz, Josh (November 7, 2018). "House Dems Pick Up At Least 5 Seats". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  11. Sears, Bryan P. (November 8, 2018). "Basking in victory, Hogan says Trump hurt rest of Md. GOP". The Daily Record. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  12. "अमेरिकामा नेपाल चिनाउँदै डा. ह्यारी भण्डारी". Corporate Nepal (in Nepali). May 2, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  13. Kurtz, Josh (January 27, 2020). "No Surprise: Biden Is Dem Establishment Choice, Convention Filings Show". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  14. Kurtz, Josh (April 22, 2024). "Selection process for Democratic convention delegates irks some lawmakers". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  15. Jackson, Herb (January 26, 2024). "Maryland Rep. Ruppersberger to retire after 11 terms". Roll Call. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  16. Brown, Danielle J. (April 2, 2024). "Meet the state lawmakers running for Congress: Del. Harry Bhandari". Maryland Matters. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  17. Kurtz, Josh (February 28, 2023). "Campaign for rooftop solar goes to school". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  18. DePuyt, Bruce (February 5, 2020). "Democrats Challenge Hogan to Put Up Solutions on Crime". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. Russell, Lia (March 4, 2024). "Gaza, gun laws, health care access define 2nd Congressional District primary debate". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  22. DePuyt, Bruce (March 22, 2019). "House Panel Drastically Scales Back Prescription Drug Affordability Bill". Maryland Matters. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  23. Took, Jacob (May 11, 2021). "White Marsh 'votercade' spreads support for voting rights". The Avenue News. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  24. Panthi, Kishor (May 5, 2023). "Maryland Becomes First US State to Recognize Nepali Festival Dashain". Patch. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  25. 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.
  26. "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  27. "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  28. "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  29. "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022.
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