Vilification of Campaign Contributions from Iranian Americans Unveiled in Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District Debate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2024
Washington, DC — The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) condemns last night’s attacks on Former Phoenix Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari for receiving support from Iranian American donors. Yesterday evening, Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District Democratic candidates engaged in a debate that pivoted from campaign platforms to personal attacks.
With her impressive record of achievements during her time on Phoenix City Council, Ansari’s personal heritage and the support she garners from the Iranian American community should not call into question her commitment to the people of Arizona. Ansari aptly highlighted that many of her campaign supporters are Iranian Americans, irrespective of party lines, expressing their enthusiasm for a fellow Iranian American vying for a congressional seat.
Notably, Ansari’s potential election would mark a historic moment as the first Iranian American Democrat elected to the U.S. Congress. However, attempts to discredit Ansari and her Iranian American supporters is not only disparaging to the Iranian American community but also undermines the broader immigrant narrative of inclusivity and representation.
It is regrettable that amidst the pursuit of public office, her opponent chose to resort to xenophobic insinuations against Ansari, the first Iranian American to hold public office in Arizona, merely based on her campaign’s donor profile. The Iranian American community remains significantly underrepresented in U.S. government and PAAIA celebrates the fact that Iranian Americans nationwide have shown support for Ansari’s historic campaign for U.S. Congress.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Shannon Kuehn
Director of Communications
Shannon@paaia.org
ABOUT PAAIA: The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, PAAIA, Inc., is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian organization that serves the interests of Iranian Americans and represents the community before U.S. policymakers and the American public at large.
