Harry Bhandari

Bhandari was born in Thapathana, Nepal, on October 1, 1977,{{Cite web|url=http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/Details/bhandari01|title=Members - Delegate Harry Bhandari|website=mgaleg.maryland.gov|access-date=November 12, 2023}} to father Ammar Bahadur and mother Kanti Kumari. He graduated from Prithvi Narayan Campus, earned his master's in English literature from Tribhuvan University,{{cite news |last1=Bhattarai |first1=Pradeep |title=Harry Bhandari, first Nepalese state delegate in the US, earns his PhD |url=https://breaknlinks.com/news/59287 |access-date=January 29, 2024 |work=Breaknlinks |date=December 26, 2021 |language=en}} and later attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where he received his Doctor of Philosophy in 2021.

Bhandari moved to the United States in 2005 to present a paper at George Mason University,{{cite news |last1=Acharya |first1=Prakash |title=Living a true American dream |url=https://kathmandupost.com/life--style/2023/06/24/living-a-true-american-dream |access-date=January 29, 2024 |work=The Kathmandu Post |date=June 24, 2023 |language=English}} and became a U.S. citizen in 2011.{{cite news |last1=Adhikari |first1=Priyanka |title=US Delegate-Elect Harry Bhandari commits to work for Nepali community's welfare |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/us-delegate-elect-harry-bhandari-commits-to-work-for-nepali-communitys-welfare |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=The Himalayan Times |date=November 13, 2018 |language=en}}

Bhandari became a teacher for Baltimore County Public Schools in 2006{{cite news |last1=McQueen |first1=Tashi |title=AFRO spotlight on Black excellence: meet the Maryland legislators who got their start in the classroom |url=https://afro.com/afro-spotlight-on-black-excellence-meet-the-maryland-legislators-who-got-their-start-in-the-classroom/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=Baltimore Afro-American |date=May 18, 2023}} and later taught at Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School,{{cite news |last1=Russell |first1=Lia |title=Maryland Del. Harry Bhandari to run for Congress following US Rep. Ruppersberger's retirement announcement |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/01/29/harry-bhandari-to-run-for-congress/ |access-date=January 29, 2024 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=January 29, 2024}} and worked a faculty member for Baltimore City Community College. He briefly returned to Nepal following the April 2015 Nepal earthquake to assist earthquake victims.

Bhandari first entered politics in 2008 as a volunteer for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. He later served as the secretary of the Young Democrats of America's minority caucus and on the board of directors for the District 6 Democratic and Civic Association Club.{{cite web |title=Harry (H.B.) Bhandari, Maryland State Delegate |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa18015.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=November 16, 2023}}

Bhandari unsuccessfully ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in 2014.{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Pamela |date=November 3, 2018 |title=Democrats, Republicans have hopes for clean sweep in crowded race for House district in Baltimore County |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-co-delegates-eighth-district-20181102-story.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun}} He won election to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2018, during which he ran on a slate with Carl W. Jackson and incumbent state delegate Eric Bromwell and defeated incumbent Republican state delegate Joe Cluster in the general election.{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |date=November 7, 2018 |title=House Dems Pick Up At Least 5 Seats |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2018/11/07/house-dems-pick-up-at-least-5-seats/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters}}{{cite news |last1=Sears |first1=Bryan P. |date=November 8, 2018 |title=Basking in victory, Hogan says Trump hurt rest of Md. GOP |url=https://thedailyrecord.com/2018/11/07/basking-in-victory-hogan-says-trump-hurt-rest-of-md-gop/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=The Daily Record}}

File:Legislative AAPI Caucus Evening Reception (52707480307).jpg, 2023]]

Bhandari was sworn in on copies of Bhagavad Gita and Vedas{{cite news |title=अमेरिकामा नेपाल चिनाउँदै डा. ह्यारी भण्डारी |url=https://www.corporatenepal.com/story/239037 |access-date=January 29, 2024 |work=Corporate Nepal |date=May 2, 2023 |language=Nepali}} on January 9, 2019, and has served as a member of the Health and Government Operations Committee during his entire tenure. He has also chaired the Maryland Legislative Asian-American and Pacific-Islander Caucus since 2023.

During the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Bhandari ran to serve as a delegate for Joe Biden at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.{{Cite news |last=Kurtz |first=Josh |date=January 27, 2020 |title=No Surprise: Biden Is Dem Establishment Choice, Convention Filings Show |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/01/27/no-surprise-biden-is-dem-establishment-choice-convention-filings-show/ |access-date=January 26, 2024 |website=Maryland Matters |language=en-US}} He again applied to run as a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention, pledged to Biden, but was denied by the Maryland Democratic Party.{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Selection process for Democratic convention delegates irks some lawmakers |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2024/04/22/selection-process-for-democratic-convention-delegates-irks-some-lawmakers/ |access-date=April 22, 2024 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 22, 2024}}

In January 2025, after state senator Kathy Klausmeier was elected Baltimore County Executive, Bhandari told Maryland Matters that he would apply to fill the remainder of Klausmeier's term in the Maryland Senate.{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Battles for three legislative appointments starting to take shape |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2025/01/13/battles-for-three-legislative-appointments-starting-to-take-shape/ |access-date=January 14, 2025 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 14, 2025}} The Baltimore County Democratic Central Committee voted unanimously to elect Carl W. Jackson to Klausmeier's seat on January 28, 2025.{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Del. Jackson wins unanimous nod to fill Baltimore County Senate vacancy |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2025/01/28/del-jackson-wins-unanimous-nod-to-fill-baltimore-county-senate-vacancy/ |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 28, 2025}}

{{main|2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland#District 2}}

In January 2024, ahead of U.S. Representative Dutch Ruppersberger announcing that he would not run for re-election in 2024, Bhandari filed to run for Maryland's 2nd congressional district in the 2024 election.{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Herb |date=January 26, 2024 |title=Maryland Rep. Ruppersberger to retire after 11 terms |url=https://rollcall.com/?p=739869 |access-date=January 26, 2024 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US}} He officially announced his campaign on January 29. During the Democratic primary, Bhandari ran on a platform including healthcare and education. He was defeated in the Democratic primary election, placing second behind Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski with 8.5 percent of the vote.{{cite news |last1=Harpster |first1=Lexi |title=Johnny Olszewski wins Democratic nomination for Maryland's 2nd District |url=https://www.foxbaltimore.com/news/local/johnny-olszewski-wins-democratic-nomination-for-marylands-2nd-district |access-date=May 14, 2024 |work=WBFF |date=May 14, 2024 |language=en}}

During the 2023 legislative session, Bhandari introduced legislation requiring high schools to teach conflict resolution classes. The bill did not pass out of committee.

During the 2023 legislative session, Bhandari introduced legislation to encourage schools to install solar arrays in school construction projects.{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Campaign for rooftop solar goes to school |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/02/28/campaign-for-rooftop-solar-goes-to-school/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 28, 2023}}

During the 2020 legislative session, Bhandari voted against a bill requiring background checks for shotgun and rifle sales.{{cite news |last1=DePuyt |first1=Bruce |title=Democrats Challenge Hogan to Put Up Solutions on Crime |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/02/05/democrats-challenge-hogan-to-put-up-solutions-on-crime/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=February 5, 2020}}

In June 2021, following the fatal shooting of Nepali student Sagar Ghimire in Woodlawn, Bhandari promised to introduce legislation to strengthen the state's gun control laws during the 2022 legislative session.{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Colin |last2=Condon |first2=Christine |last3=Fenton |first3=Justin |title=Man killed by police after shooting, explosion in Woodlawn had carried gun, harassed community, neighbors say |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-co-cr-woodlawn-shooter-20210509-hbvjdt366ba6lhizaubn3ckxpi-story.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=May 9, 2021}} That year, he introduced the Sagar Ghimire Act to reassess Maryland's extreme risk gun law.{{cite news |last1=Condon |first1=Christine |title='I just closed my eyes, and he shot the gun': Survivor recounts Woodlawn gunman's 2021 rampage, calls for reevaluation of 'red flag' laws |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-ci-sagar-ghimire-act-20220318-ijb5m67ha5cy3ggcxp6afgdcai-story.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=March 18, 2022}}

During his 2024 congressional campaign, Bhandari supported federal legislation to ban assault weapon sales.

During his 2024 congressional campaign, Bhandari supported a ceasefire in the Gaza war, comparing it to the Nepalese Civil War.{{cite news |last1=Russell |first1=Lia |title=Gaza, gun laws, health care access define 2nd Congressional District primary debate |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/03/04/gaza-gun-laws-health-care-access-define-2nd-congressional-district-primary-debate/ |access-date=March 4, 2024 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=March 4, 2024}}

During the 2019 legislative session, Bhandari supported a bill to establish the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to negotiate the price of prescription drugs in Maryland.{{cite news |last1=DePuyt |first1=Bruce |title=House Panel Drastically Scales Back Prescription Drug Affordability Bill |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/03/22/house-panel-drastically-scales-back-prescription-drug-affordability-bill/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=March 22, 2019}}

During his 2024 congressional campaign, Bhandari endorsed the Medicare for All Act. He also introduced bills to create a task force on reducing emergency department wait times during that year's legislative session.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Danielle J. |title=Meet the state lawmakers running for Congress: Del. Harry Bhandari |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2024/04/02/meet-the-state-lawmakers-running-for-congress-del-harry-bhandari/ |access-date=April 13, 2024 |work=Maryland Matters |date=April 2, 2024}}

In May 2021, Bhandari called on Congress to pass the For the People Act.{{cite news |last1=Took |first1=Jacob |title=White Marsh 'votercade' spreads support for voting rights |url=https://www.avenuenews.com/avenuenews/white-marsh-votercade-spreads-support-for-voting-rights/article_8509f797-527e-5063-883a-5bd075857e2c.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=The Avenue News |date=May 11, 2021 |language=en}}

During the 2023 legislative session, Bhandari introduced legislation that would make the state recognize Dashain as a commemorative day. The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore, making Maryland the first U.S. state to recognize the festival.{{cite news |last1=Panthi |first1=Kishor |title=Maryland Becomes First US State to Recognize Nepali Festival Dashain |url=https://patch.com/maryland/across-md/maryland-becomes-first-us-state-recognize-nepali-festival-dashain |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=Patch |date=May 5, 2023 |language=en}}

In 2024, Bhandari introduced a bill that would require movie theaters to have limited screenings of movies with closed captioning and subtitle options.

Bhandari is married and has two children. He lives in Nottingham, Maryland. In September 2018, following the fatal shooting of Brindra Giri in Towson, Maryland, Bhandari helped Giri's family with funeral arrangements and with translating from Nepali to English.{{cite news |last1=Pitts |first1=Jonathan M. |date=September 21, 2018 |title=Maryland Rite Aid shooting victim Brindra Giri, mother of two, had just moved to U.S. |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/bs-md-giri-profile-20180921-story.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Maryland House of Delegates District 8 Democratic primary election, 2014{{cite web

| title = Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates

| work = Maryland State Board of Elections

| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2014/results/primary/gen_results_2014_1_01608.html }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Eric Bromwell (incumbent)

|votes = 5,601

|percentage = 22.8

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Renee Smith

|votes = 4,632

|percentage = 18.9

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Bill Paulshock

|votes = 4,512

|percentage = 18.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Harry Bhandari

|votes = 3,828

|percentage = 15.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Debbie Schillinger

|votes = 3,124

|percentage = 12.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Steve Verch

|votes = 1,752

|percentage = 7.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Kyle Williams

|votes = 1,114

|percentage = 4.5

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Maryland House of Delegates District 8 Democratic primary election, 2018{{cite web

| title = Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for House of Delegates

| work = Maryland State Board of Elections

| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/primary/gen_results_2018_1_01608.html }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Eric Bromwell (incumbent)

|votes = 6,595

|percentage = 31.2

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Harry Bhandari

|votes = 5,941

|percentage = 28.1

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Carl W. Jackson

|votes = 5,246

|percentage = 24.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Joe Werner

|votes = 3,335

|percentage = 15.8

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Maryland House of Delegates District 8 election, 2018{{cite web

| title = Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates

| work = Maryland State Board of Elections

| url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/general/gen_results_2018_2_01608.html }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Eric Bromwell (incumbent)

|votes = 22,485

|percentage = 18.0

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Harry Bhandari

|votes = 22,094

|percentage = 17.7

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Joseph C. Boteler III

|votes = 20,802

|percentage = 16.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Carl Jackson

|votes = 20,232

|percentage = 16.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Joe Cluster (incumbent)

|votes = 20,084

|percentage = 16.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Joe Norman

|votes = 18,898

|percentage = 15.2

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes = 99

|percentage = 0.1

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=Maryland House of Delegates District 8 election, 2022{{cite web |title=Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/general_results/gen_results_2022_7_12.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |date=December 7, 2022}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Maryland Democratic Party

|candidate = Harry Bhandari (incumbent)

|votes = 19,702

|percentage = 21.62

}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Maryland Democratic Party

|candidate = Carl W. Jackson (incumbent)

|votes = 18,950

|percentage = 20.79

}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Maryland Democratic Party

|candidate = Nick Allen

|votes = 18,062

|percentage = 19.82

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Maryland Republican Party

|candidate = Kathleen A. Smero

|votes = 11,838

|percentage = 12.99

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Maryland Republican Party

|candidate = Timothy M. Neubauer

|votes = 11,259

|percentage = 12.36

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Maryland Republican Party

|candidate = Glen Geelhaar

|votes = 11,243

|percentage = 12.34

}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes = 74

|percentage = 0.08

}}{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=Maryland's 2nd congressional district Democratic primary election, 2024{{cite web |title=Official 2024 Presidential Primary Election Results for Representative in Congress |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2024/Primary_Results/gen_results_2024_3_2.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=June 1, 2024}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Johnny Olszewski|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=65,994|percentage=78.7}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Harry Bhandari|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=7,148|percentage=8.5}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Sia Kyriakakos|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=4,079|percentage=4.9}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Sharron Reed-Burns|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=3,472|percentage=4.1}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Jessica Sjoberg|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=1,691|percentage=2.0}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Clint Spellman Jr.|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=1,466|percentage=1.8}}

{{Election box end}}

{{reflist}}

• {{commons category inline}}
• {{Cite web|url=http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/Details/bhandari01|title=Members - Delegate Harry Bhandari|website=mgaleg.maryland.gov|access-date=November 12, 2023}}

{{Maryland House of Delegates}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhandari, Harry}}

Category:1977 births

Category:Living people

Category:American people of Nepalese descent

Category:Asian-American state legislators in Maryland

Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates

Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States

Category:Nepalese emigrants to the United States

Category:Politicians from Baltimore County, Maryland

Category:People from Parbat District

Category:Prithvi Narayan Campus alumni

Category:Schoolteachers from Maryland

Category:Tribhuvan University alumni

Category:University of Maryland, Baltimore County alumni

Category:Candidates in the 2024 United States House of Representatives elections

Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly