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Indian-American Congressional candidate from Virginia Krystle Kaul has raised $1 million for her race, a landmark which only a few first timers are able to reach. Ms Kaul, who is of Kashmiri and Punjabi heritage, is running for the US House of Representatives from the 10th Congressional District of Virginia. Ms Kaul is the only Indian-American woman in the Democratic race to represent a district that is 44% minority.
“I have consistently broken barriers throughout my career, from the CIA to the US Central Command and the Pentagon, driven by a dedication to excellence. I became one of the youngest ever directors at the Department of Defense,” Kaul said in a statement after her campaign announced that she has reached the USD 1-million mark in fundraising. “I am often told I cannot do it – and then I do,” she said.
If elected, she would be the second Indian-American woman to be elected to the House after Pramila Jayapal from Washington State.
A small business owner, a professor and a former senior defense official in the Department of Defense, holding the highest civilian rank, Ms Kaul is a second-generation Indian-American who has worked in defense contracting with Deloitte, Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, General Dynamics IT and others.
On her website, she mentions that if elected she will fight to protect reproductive health freedoms which are under attack, ensure gun safety to keep schools and communities safe and fight MAGA extremists who threaten democracy.
She says, “As your next congresswoman, I will fight to ensure the same opportunities that enabled my immigrant grandparents to achieve their American dream remain accessible to all. I will fight for the small business owners fueling our local economy. I will fight for livable wages for our families. And, I will always fight against any legislation that attacks our freedoms or enemies that threaten our way of life.
“The robust support we’ve received signals a clear demand from Virginia voters for a leader who grasps the intricacies of national security and emerging trends technology and is ready to enact effective policies,” she said.
“VA-10 is ripe for a qualified woman of color who is truly battle-tested and ready to hit the ground running with extensive policy experience. I’m excited to lead the charge to send a National Security Democrat to Congress,” Ms Kaul said.
Ms Kaul graduated with a BA from American University and MA degrees from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and Brown University where she was working on her PhD in Political Science. She speaks nine languages and holds a Top Secret/SCI clearance with polygraphy.
