– AURORA, Ill.
Republican Krishna Bansal’s campaign to represent District 84 in the Illinois legislature received a boost Oct. 2 when he was endorsed here by Republican rising star U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Illinois, at a breakfast fundraiser. If elected Nov. 4, Bansal will be the first Indian-American in the Illinois state legislature.
Shock represents Peoria, Ill. and is a member of the powerful U.S. House Ways & Means Committee and the Committee on House Administration which is charged with the oversight of federal elections and the day-to-day functions of the House of Representatives. Other guests at the fundraiser included State Rep. Mike Fortner, R-West Chicago, and Indian-American community leaders.
The 84th seat, currently held by Aurora Democrat Stephanie Kifowit, includes portions of Naperville and Aurora, which have a high proportion of Indian-Americans.
Kifowit won in 2012 by a decisive margin of 61.9 percent of the vote to Republican Patricia Free’s 38.1 percent.
Bansal’s foray into this heavily Democratic district casts doubts on his ability to win.
But the local businessman appears unfazed, meeting with the community in the hope of securing the ethnic vote, pushing his agenda of low taxes, fiscal responsibility, bringing jobs back to Illinois and funding school districts.
Schock shared the story of his first run for Illinois House when, at age 23, he ousted a long-term incumbent Democrat in a district that no one expected him to win, and with little support from the state party or the House Republican Organization.
He also shared stories of his recent visit to India and meetings with Prime Minister Modi.
“We are thankful for the congressman’s support and endorsement. Our campaign is gaining momentum every day,” said Bansal who has been ramping up efforts over the last few months. Other Republican leaders who have endorsed Bansal include U.S. Reps. Randy Hultgren and Peter Roskam, State Senators Mike Connelly and Jim Oberweis, State Rep. Darlene Senger, Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen, Circuit Clerk Tom Hartwell, County Clerk Jack Cunningham and Auditor Terry Hunt.
Also supporting Bansal is the group “Veterans for Krishna” which kicked off the Labor Day weekend here Aug. 28 with a flag raising ceremony attended by among others, Naperville Mayor George Pradel, a Marine Corps Veteran, who spoke in his support.
Bansal is the founder of Q1Tech, a technology and services company. He is a married to Meghna and the couple has two daughters.