TAMPA(US) , NOVEMBER 3: Indian-American Peter Jacob, running for the US Congress from New Jersey, has received USD 70,000 in donations after former White House aspirant Bernie Sanders made a last minute fund-raising pitch for him.
“In the time since the email went out, we have raised over USD70,000! Even more amazing, every single dollar that has come from that email is from small, personal donors, just like you,” Jacob said in an email to his supporters.
“This goes to show that it is completely possible to run a campaign and raise the funds you need without bowing to special interests or lobbyists,” he said.
The email for fund raising was sent by ‘Friends of Bernie Sanders’, which is the principle Senatorial campaign committee for Senator Bernie Sanders.
“Peter Jacob is taking on a Republican incumbent that virtually everyone called unbeatable. He is a progressive who worked as part of Bernie’s campaign for president. His latest poll has him tied,” the email said.
“Three races for Congress that were initially dismissed by the political establishment are virtually tied according to the last polls released.
“If you contribute today, you can help Zephyr Teachout, Peter Jacob, and Nanette Barragan break their ties and win on Tuesday,” the email reads.
Josh Levin, campaign manager of Peter Jacob for Congress, expressed his surprise at the sudden influx of donations.
“This just proves that Peter’s strong stance for campaign finance reform; getting corporate money out of politics and relying on the power of the people of this country is shared by more than just the majority of this district; the whole country wants to see an end of government corruption,” he said.
A former social worker, 31-year-old Jacob has consistently campaigned to put “People Over Politics” by prioritising the concerns and needs of people over those of large corporations and career politicians.
The seventh Congressional district in New Jersey, which is home to inventor Thomas Alva Edison, prominent among which include electric light, has been a Republican fortress for the past several decades.
While the Indian American constitute just one per cent of the total voters here, Asian American accounts for 10 per cent.
After attending Union County College in New Jersey, Jacob continued his undergraduate studies in Sociology at Kean University.
Soon after, Peter studied at Washington University in St Louis, earning a Master degree in Social Work from a top-ranked program in the nation.
During his undergraduate and graduate years, Peter was a student activist and a leader.
He worked with the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW), the YWCA, and the International Institute.
Through these and other community organisations, he helped fight the ongoing scourges of child abuse, human trafficking, and Iraq War.
