MIAMISBURG- Ohio State Representative Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg) announced that he will run for State Senator in the 2020 election.
Current State Senator Peggy Lehner is term limited. Ohio Senate District 6 encompasses most Dayton area suburbs.
‘Having been born and raised in this community, I am running for State Senator to ensure every Ohioan who works for it has the opportunity to achieve their American Dream. I will lay out a vision throughout this campaign to solve the many great challenges our community and state face,’ Rep. Antani said.
Rep. Antani is the youngest Indian American and Hindu American elected official in the United States. He serves as the 2nd Indian American elected official in Ohio history, after Rep. Jay Goyal, (D) who served three terms from 2006 from the 73rd District. If elected as State Senator, Antani would become the highest ranking Indian American elected official in Ohio history, and the first Indian American State Senator in Ohio history.
‘I am excited to announce that I am running for State Senator in 2020! Current State Senator Peggy Lehner has served our Dayton area community with distinction and is term limited next year. I fully expect the Republican primary election in March of 2020 to be one of the most competitive races in Ohio, but I am confident with your support, we will win!
‘Since 2014, I have had the honor of serving as your State Representative in the Ohio House of Representatives. I have worked hard every day to make the opportunity of the American Dream achievable for all Ohioans who work for it. If I am elected your State Senator, I will work tirelessly to use our principles and values to solve the challenges our community and state faces. Over the course of this campaign, I look forward to working hard to earn your support,’ he said in a statement.
Rep. Antani is currently serving his third term in the Ohio House of Representatives. Born and raised in Miamisburg, he is a graduate of The Ohio State University, following his K-12 education at Miamisburg High School and Miamisburg City Schools. Antani is an award winning legislator, having received the AMVETS Ohio Legislator of the Year award for his work helping veterans, the Friend of Community Colleges award from the Ohio Association of Community Colleges and the Distinguished Government Service award from the Ohio Association of Career Colleges & Schools for his work advancing workforce development.
‘Ever since he was in the third grade, he was interested in public activities. Later it seemed to grow to a burning desire for politics,’ his mother Kokila said earlier.
Antani too agreed with it. He said he had interned with state representatives and US Congressmen for years. He chaired Ohio’s Young Americans for Romney coalition in 2012.
Antani said earlier that he is Republican because it has the same values as the Indian community, like hard work, respect for elders, self reliance and values while Democratic Party believes in dependency.
‘In 1978, my parents immigrated to the United States from India. They did not come with much, but they came pursuing an idea known to every immigrant, to find their American Dream. Settling first in Washington Township, and then buying a home in Miami Township, my father worked for Hewlett-Packard for 35 years. When my father, (Jaimini) passed away in 2010, it was his values of hard work and of fighting for what is right that I sought to carry on. It is my hope that I can carry my parents’ legacy, and provide every Ohioan with the opportunity to reach their American Dream,’ he said earlier.
