Contesting from 6th Congressional District in Pennsylvania.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: Former Navy doctor Manan Trivedi, who is currently mounting his third campaign for political office in Pennsylvania, has received a key endorsement that could significantly boost his chances for victory this time.
Democracy for America (DFA), a Democrat-leaning Political Action Committee (PAC), has officially announced their support for Trivedi. In a press release announcing the endorsement, DFA Chair Jim Dean said that Trivedi’s Constituency – The 6th Congressional District in Pennsylvania – is one of the most important “battleground districts” for the Democrats to win in this election.
“We need to take a stand against Paul Ryan clones – like Ryan Costello – and their horrible ideas,” Dean wrote. “That’s why DFA is endorsing Manan Trivedi for Congress. He’ll provide progressive leadership in this all-important district, rather than letting it fall to someone who we can’t trust to protect Medicare.”
Costello, a Republican, is Trivedi’s opposition in the race for the critical Pennsylvania District. The Constituency borders Philadelphia, and represents areas to the north and west of the major metropolis.
The District has skewed heavily Republican, voting red in every election since 2002, but voting slightly blue in Presidential races – John Kerry and Barack Obama won the District in 2004 and 2008, respectively, but Mitt Romney won in 2012.
“Trivedi has showed his commitment to the people of his district after his return from the front lines of Iraq by working as a health policy advisor to the Navy Surgeon General,” wrote Dean, adding that Trivedi would also “make sure that the needs of veterans in his home district […] are addressed.”
Trivedi, who has run unsuccessfully twice before in 2010 and 2012, decided to give it a third try after hearing that Republican incumbent Rep. Jim Gerlach would not run for re-election this November.
Trivedi was formerly running against fellow Democrat Mike Parrish for the party’s ticket in the race, but Parrish has since dropped out.
Pennsylvania’s Congressional Primary is on May 20.
[This article was updated on 5/8/14.]