Jamil Ahmad
Candidate for:
US Representative - OR District 1
What drives me to seek an elected position
I am running against Representative Bonamici because she has voted for military aid to religious states such as Israel, Egypt and Jordan. Her votes are misaligned with the voters of the 1st Congressional District and violate the US Constitution’s separation of church and state. She also retroactively funded President Biden’s unauthorized Middle East war. Doing so encourages presidents to start unauthorized wars and presume Congress will fund them later.
The policy of dividing the world into separate states based on religious and ethnic groups is an existential threat to both me and the Republic of the United States of America. I am obligated to fight back, and that is why I am running.
The first three priorities or issues I want to tackle
Equity (Article II of Multnomah County Platform, Plank 1)
I believe in the right of all people to live in dignity, free from abuse, neglect, poverty, violence and oppression.
Representative Bonamici has voted for over $72 dollars of military aid to religious states (i.e. Israel, Egypt and Jordan), supporting systems of abuse, neglect, poverty, violence and oppression. I will vote no.
Education (Article III of Multnomah County Platform)
Every child should have access to two years of publicly funded preschool. Outside of Multnomah County, such funding is limited to those who are below 200% of the poverty line (assuming they don’t get wait listed). For example, if a single mom of two children makes $55,000 per year, her children would NOT qualify for publicly funded preschool in Washington County. Our leaders, at multiple levels, have failed those children. I will reduce funding for wars and increase funding for publicly funded preschool education.
Environment (Article VII of Multnomah County Platform)
The Hillsboro Airport emits over 1,000 pounds of lead per year due to the use of leaded aviation gas while not offering an unleaded aviation gas option. Federal funding should be withheld from airports that offer leaded aviation gas but no unleaded alternative.
The experiences and insights I will bring to the office
Due to my background, I instinctively know that it is a bad policy to divide the world into separate states based on religious and ethnic groups (Representative Bonamici and other elected officials don’t seem to understand that). I am biracial, and I am not a member of any organized religion. If we divide the world into separate spaces for each religion and/or ethnic group, there will be no space for me. This is an existential fight for me.
No one is entitled to live in a state which provides preference to their specific religious or ethnic group. Instead, everyone is entitled to live in a state which provides equality to all. It is part of the foundation of our country. The separation of church and state was meant to avoid the religious warfare that plagued the old world. Unfortunately, some of our leaders don’t understand our own history, don’t follow the Constitution and are oblivious to the consequences that they are causing for our future.
What being a Democrat in Multnomah County means to me
I am running for the 1st Congressional District, which spans from Portland in the east to the Oregon Coast in the west. It includes parts of Multnomah County and other counties, such as Washington County. I happen to live in the part of Washington County which is included in the 1st Congressional District. I believe that the 1st Congressional District is a microcosm of Oregon and indeed of the United States. The diverse composition of the 1st Congressional District represents the type of coalition the Democratic Party needs.
To fight an aspiring tyrant, it is best to build the broadest coalition possible. For example, the Democratic Party cannot afford to exclude rural voters, lower income voters and anti-war voters. We made the mistake of excluding voters in 2024, and the aspiring tyrant won. To build an effective coalition, we will need to change both our policies and who we nominate as our leaders.