Thirty-one-year old Raj Shah took over as the Republican National Committee’s Research Director Feb. 23, the first Indian-American in the top job manning an army of dirt-diggers against Democrats, big and small. He is also the RNC’s deputy communications director. Right now he is “laser focused” on preventing Hillary Clinton from becoming the Democratic nominee and he wrote a book on it. During 2013-2014, Shah was the co-founding partner and managing director of America Rising LLC, a Republican opposition research group, where he developed the organization’s Hillary Clinton opposition research book.
His office today has two missions- building a case (against Clinton) and presenting it to the media in a rapid response mode, reaching every type of news or other outlet from Tumblr to the New York Times.
The latest “dirt” Shah’s department fed to media which the AssociateHild Press credited it with, was on whether Clinton signed the Separation Statement that all outgoing State Department personnel sign affirming they’ve turned over job-related materials before leaving. It’s still making waves and forced Clinton to hold a press conference of sorts to declare her innocence. “We still don’t know if Hillary signed that. They’ve been dodging the question all week. It’s a very good example of what we do,” Shah says.
When announcing his appointment RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said, “Raj will take the helm of a top-notch Research Department as we prepare to defeat Hillary Clinton and the Democrats in 2016 and to hold them accountable for their records. Raj is the expert on the subject of all things Clinton, and his expertise will be an asset to our party.”
The 22-year old who began at RNC pulling news clips at 5 a.m. fresh out of college after getting his Bachelor of Arts and Government degree from Cornell University doesn’t want to do anything else. This even though he was born and brought up in an apolitical and religious Jain family of Democrats in Connecticut. He would have followed the then traditional Indian-American career path of medicine or law, but 9/11 happened as he was graduating from High School and his focus changed completely.
“I was politically apathetic but that got me interested in geopolitical issues and domestic politics. After 9/11, I was reading everything I could get my hands on.” Add to that an internship with then Connecticut Republican Congressman Chris Shays plus a White House internship, and his career was mapped out. He admits he’s become somewhat of a junkie and loves the world of political machinations. “There were a couple of instances when I considered going into PR, or leaving campaigns and electoral politics but …” it’s now seemingly in his blood.
Today, he and a couple of colleagues oversee GOP’s massive operation which during the presidential election cycle is the largest dedicated research infrastructure. While the Republican presidential primary process rolls on with multiple candidates duking it out, Shah says, “We stay focused on Hillary Clinton. It’s our job to take the fight to Hillary Clinton.”
This is Shah’s fourth stint at the RNC where he has served in different positions though not at the top of the ladder as he does now. What attracted him to the Republican Party when most Indian-Americans are Democrats, he says may sound like a cliche. “I believe in the principles of less government, less interference in the private sector, letting it have the opportunity to grow. I also believe in a strong military and a strong national security policy and posture.”
His mother Pramila Shah, originally from Bhujpur, Gujarat, was a dentist until she retired. His father Suresh Shah from Mumbai, got his engineering degree from Oklahoma State University, but later switched careers and became a “very successful” businessman owning a chain of retail stories. They are more into politics now and discuss issues with Shah. “When I was younger, they were Democrats and I guess I was a Democrat … But very apolitical,” until 9/11 hit home.
Growing up in the Jain faith with parents closely involved with the Connecticut Jain Society, Shah attended religious classes and his parents took him to India to visit historic temples and other places. “It’s part of my heritage that I will never forget,” Shah says.