Darius Shahinfar Runs for U.S. Congress

Darius Shahinfar Runs for U.S. Congress

April 28, 2008

Darius Shahinfar – Candidate for U.S. Congress

Darius Shahinfar, an Iranian American, announced his intentions to run for New York’s 21^st Congressional District in front of two hundred people at the Ancient Order of the Hilbernians Hall in Albany, NY on March 9, 2008. The election primary is scheduled for September 9, 2008.

Mr. Shahinfar is one of five Democratic candidates seeking the nomination to represent the 21^st district. The seat became available when Congressman Michael R. McNulty, a powerful member of the Ways and Means Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Social Security, announced his retirement.

Darius Shahinfar was born in the United States after his mother and father emigrated from Iran to the states in 1959 for his father to attend medical school. Mr. Shahinfar was brought up in New Hartford, NY and received his BA in American History with a concentration in Soviet Studies from Bates College. Upon graduation, he moved to Washington DC to work for a law firm while applying to law school. He graduated Cum Laude in 1997 from Albany Law School where he served as the editor-in-chief of the Albany Law Review. Mr. Shahinfar has extensive experience in both the private and public sector. He recently served as Rep. Kristin Gillibrand’s regional representative tending to constituents issues and concerns.

There are currently a few Iranian Americans who hold elected public office. Mr. Shahinfar’s candidacy for the U.S. Congress reflects an increase in the number of Iranian Americans looking to serve the American public, as well as a welcome step toward further integration of Iranian Americans in the fabric of American civil society.

Having met Mr. Shahinfar and discussed issues of interest to the Iranian American community with him, PAAIA looks forward to supporting his candidacy.