Amar was raised in Montgomery County and helped run Maryland’s largest gun violence prevention program. He’s fighting for our youth and to lower the cost of living.
Our Community & Our Values
Here in District 39, we are one of the most diverse places in America.
Though we come from every corner of the globe,
we share the same values.
We are people of fortitude. We work hard. We crave the opportunity to build and own something real in this country.
We value faith and family above all else. We live the values of brotherhood and sisterhood. We take care of each other.
The Democratic Party should unite us.
But so many feel our system responds more to lobbyists than people, and our leaders spend more time fighting each other than fighting back.
We will never attack fellow Democrats.
We will never take lobbyist or corporate money.
Our campaign is about fixing real, day-to-day problems and bringing people together.
Step 1: Lower the cost of living by fighting rules written by special interests.
Lower Car Insurance Premiums: Maryland’s car insurance rules are written by lobbyists. It’s why our premiums are so much higher than other states. We’re starting off by changing some of the most flagrant parts of the system like legalized price discrimination.
Lower HOA Fees: Private equity has bought up HOA management companies and is jacking up fees and profits. Watch.
Affordable Childcare and Eldercare: Anti-competitive practices are pushing out low-cost, locally owned providers.
For Amar, Affordability is Personal
Amar’s parents are immigrants and entrepreneurs. In the 90s they had incredible success, but when he was nine, his family lost everything, including their home.
They moved seven times before he graduated high school and only found stability when they were taken in rent-free by a family friend. He knows that for struggling families every dollar makes a difference.
Step 2: Work together to get needed resources for youth and community safety.
Community Rec Centers: Why is District 39 so often the last in MoCo to get resources?
Mental Health and Vocational Training: In-school services and programs that can dramatically save money and reduce crime.
Healthy School Meals: By taxing junk foods and investing the money in kids we can improve outcomes and lower costs.
For Amar, Youth are Non-Negotiable
In his mid-20s Amar lost one of his closest loved ones to addiction. The loss was devastating for him and his family. So he went to work helping to build Roca into Maryland’s largest community-based gun violence and addiction prevention program.
He worked hands on helping young people find housing, overcome substance abuse, resolve trauma, and find better paths.
Watch this interview with Ted Koppel on CBS to learn about Amar’s work at Roca.
Step 3: Create jobs by improving our business ecosystem and fighting climate change.
Extend the Red Line Germantown: We have a plan for an innovative, low-cost solution that will reduce traffic on 270.
A 30-day Permitting Shot-Clock: Making Maryland business-friendly doesn’t require sacrifices, it just requires efficiency.
Clean Energy Opportunity Zones: Let’s create a new base of employment amid federal job cuts and fight climate change.
For Amar, Innovation Is The Only Option
Amar received his Bachelor’s from Amherst College in computer science, completed a Fulbright research grant in machine learning, and received his Master’s in Energy and Infrastructure Engineering from Stanford.
In college he started a coding education company. After selling it to his first employee, he started a small investment firm that was acquired in 2018. He knows that for shared prosperity, Maryland must think differently.
For ALL: Amar’s Message
Throughout all our struggles, my parents made sure that we found our way to a house of worship every single weekend, and that we prayed before every single meal. I grew up in the temple, the masjid, the church and at so many bar and bat mitzvahs.
I am a person of faith. I believe our faith, values, and wisdom traditions unite us.
For Amar, It Is Never Too Late To Bring People Together
At Roca, Amar helped mediate conflicts between young people who had shot at each other, and in some cases killed each other’s family and friends. At Stanford, he hosted interfaith dialogues between Muslim and Jewish students. As a combat engineer in the Army reserve he has built lasting friendships with Americans of every political affiliation.
This campaign is about bridging divides and finding common ground.
Step 0: Win the right way: with real people, knocking doors, making calls, and organizing events. Without you, nothing changes.