With Vivek Ramaswamy's US Presidential bid, Indian-Americans lead the race for world's most powerful seat
Ramaswamy's announcement comes a week after former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley launched her bid for White House.
Indian-American tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy launched his 2024 US Presidential bid on Wednesday (February 22). He has now become the second member of the Indian-American community to enter the Republican Party's Presidential primary after Nikki Haley.
Ramaswamy, 37, made the announcement during a live interview on Fox News's prime time show of Tucker Carlson. He promised to "put merit back" and end dependence on China.
We’ve celebrated our “diversity” so much that we forgot all the ways we’re really the same as Americans, bound by ideals that united a divided, headstrong group of people 250 years ago. I believe deep in my bones those ideals still exist. I’m running for President to revive them. pic.twitter.com/bz5Qtt4tmm
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) February 22, 2023
Earlier this month, two-term former Governor of South Carolina and former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Haley announced her Presidential campaign. She announced that she will contest against her former boss and ex-US President Donald Trump for the Republican Party's nomination.
Get excited! Time for a new generation.
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 14, 2023
Let’s do this! 👊 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/BD5k4WY1CP
"We are in the middle of this national identity crisis, Tucker (the news anchor), where we have celebrated our differences for so long that we forgot all the ways we are really just the same as Americans bound by a common set of ideals that set this nation into motion 250 years ago," Ramaswamy said.
2024 United States Presidential election
The 2024 United States Presidential election will be the 60th quadrennial Presidential election. The incumbent, President Joe Biden has not formally announced a reelection campaign, and in November 2022, former President Donald Trump announced his candidacy for President for a second, nonconsecutive term. The winner of the 2024 Presidential election is scheduled to be announced on January 20, 2025.
Indians dominate the declared candidates' list
Even though there are many popular names like Pete Buttigieg, Ted Cruz, and Kamala Harris who are expected or are rumoured to announce their candidature, so far, only three have registered and launched their Presidential bids.
All three candidates will be fighting for the Republican nomination, and the surprising part is that two of the three Republican candidates are of Indian origin. Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and now Vivek Ramaswamy are the only ones to have confirmed their Presidential bids.
The number of Indian-Americans getting appointed to high-profile positions has grown rapidly in recent years, the biggest example being Kamala Harris, the US Vice-President.
Who is Vivek Ramaswamy?
Born on August 9, 1985, in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, Vivek Ramaswamy is an American entrepreneur and investor. In 2022, he co-founded Strive Asset Management. He has also founded the biopharmaceutical company Roivant Sciences. He is the author of Woke, Inc: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam, and Nation of Victims: Identity Politics, the Death of Merit, and the Path Back to Excellence.
After earning a degree in molecular and cellular biology from Harvard University, he went on to earn a law degree from Yale Law School, after which he worked as an attorney at the law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell. In 2014, he founded Roivant Sciences, which has since become a successful biopharmaceutical company that has raised over $3 billion in funding.
He has founded and invested in a number of companies across various industries, including technology, finance, and real estate. He has also been a vocal critic of what he calls "corporate wokeness" and cancel culture.
Other Indian-Americans who can enter the race
No one from the Democratic Party has confirmed their candidature. But, after talking about his reelection in Januray 2022, Biden is yet to mention anything about contesting again. It is highly unlikely that Biden, now 80, will go for reelection.
And in that case, Kamala Harris, 58, the first woman Vice President of the US will announce her campaign. And she is going to be the strongest contender so far, with President most likely supporting her bid. If Kamala launches her campaign, she will be the third person of Indian origin in the Presidential bid.
Another Indian-American politician, Ro Khanna, is rumoured to announce his campaign for US President election. The Congressman from California, belonging to the Democratic Party, is the youngest of the four Indian-American lawmakers in US House of Representatives. He has been a vocal advocate for progressive policies such as Medicare for All and a $15 minimum wage.