Salman Bhojani
{{Short description|American politician (born 1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Salman Bhojani
| image = Salman Bhojani.jpg
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| smallimage =
| alt =
| caption =
| order =
| office =
| state_house = Texas
| district = 92nd
| residence = Euless, Texas, U.S.
| term_start = January 10, 2023
| predecessor = Jeff Cason
| successor =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|02|18}}
| birth_place = Pakistan
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = University of Texas at Dallas (BS)
Southern Methodist University (JD)
| party = Democratic
| spouse = {{marriage|Nima|July 4, 2004}}
| children = 2
}}
Salman Bhojani (born February 18, 1980) is an American corporate lawyer and politician who is a former member of the City Council of Euless, Texas.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eulesstx.gov/cityhall/council/place_6.htm|title=Place 6, Council Member Salman Bhojani | publisher=City of Euless |access-date=December 7, 2018}} He was the first Muslim American to hold elected office in Euless.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/euless-salman-bhojani-fights-stickland-makes-city-council-10668748|title=Salman Bhojani Got Elected to Euless City Council. What Now?|last=Young|first=Stephen|date=May 9, 2018|website=Dallas Observer|access-date=December 7, 2018}} In October 2021 Bhojani announced his candidacy for the Texas House of Representatives.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bhojanifortexas.com/|title=Bhojani for Texas|access-date=June 18, 2021}} He was elected to the Texas House in November 2022, becoming one of the first Muslims and South Asians elected to the Texas Legislature.{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/04/quran-texas-capitol-taken/|title=Quran taken from Texas Capitol chapel recovered by state police. They aren't saying who removed it|date=April 4, 2023 |access-date=May 30, 2023}}
Early life and education
Bhojani was born in Pakistan and lived there until the age of 10. He is an Ismaili Muslim.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DFrUeWSsahn/?igsh=MW85andrM2VwNnZzYQ== |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=www.instagram.com}} In 1990, his family immigrated to Montreal where he completed primary and secondary school. In 1999, Bhojani moved with his parents to Carrollton, Texas.{{Cite web|url=http://politics.blog.mystatesman.com/2018/05/14/in-salman-v-stickland-a-celebration-of-diversity-in-euless-is-tested/|title=In Salman v. Stickland, a Celebration of Diversity in Euless is Tested|last=Tilove|first=Jonathan|date=May 14, 2018|website=Austin American-Statesman|language=en|access-date=July 2, 2019}} In 2000, he enrolled at the University of Texas at Dallas, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 2003. During and after his studies, Bhojani worked at convenience stores and gas stations. In 2003, he became the owner of a gas station and convenience store, acquiring more properties around the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex in the following years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/salman-bhojani-2a24b8a|title=Salman Bhojani|website=LinkedIn|access-date=July 2, 2019}} He moved to Bedford, Texas, in 2007 and then to neighboring Euless in 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://politics.blog.mystatesman.com/2018/05/14/in-salman-v-stickland-a-celebration-of-diversity-in-euless-is-tested/|title=In Salman v. Stickland, a Celebration of Diversity in Euless is Tested|last=Tilove|first=Jonathan|date=May 14, 2018|website=Austin American-Statesman|language=en|access-date=July 2, 2019}}
In 2009, Bhojani enrolled in the evening program at the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He received his Juris Doctor in 2013 and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas.{{Cite web |title=Salman Bhojani, candidate for Texas State Representative |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/voter-guide/2022-general/candidate/1765/salman-bhojani/ |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}
Career
Bhojani worked for Haynes and Boone at the firm's Dallas headquarters from 2013 to 2015, practicing corporate law. In 2015, he left Haynes and Boone to found Bhojani Law, PLLC, a firm specializing in real estate law, corporate law and estate planning, with offices in Irving, Texas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/salman-bhojani-2a24b8a|title=Salman Bhojani|website=LinkedIn|access-date=July 2, 2019}}
Bhojani was appointed to the Euless Parks & Leisure Services Board in 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://politics.blog.mystatesman.com/2018/05/14/in-salman-v-stickland-a-celebration-of-diversity-in-euless-is-tested/|title=In Salman v. Stickland, a Celebration of Diversity in Euless is Tested|last=Tilove|first=Jonathan|date=May 14, 2018|website=Austin American-Statesman|language=en|access-date=July 2, 2019}} In May 2017, he ran for Place 2 on Euless City Council, earning 43.1% of the vote in a three-candidate race won by incumbent Jeremy Tompkins with 54.6% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=http://records.eulesstx.gov/WebLink/0/doc/74529/Page1.aspx|title=Election Register|website=City of Euless|access-date=July 2, 2019}} In May 2018, Bhojani ran for Place 6 on Euless City Council, an open seat. He won 50.4% of the vote, defeating his opponent Molly Maddux by 37 votes out of 4,203 votes cast.{{Cite web|url=http://records.eulesstx.gov/WebLink/0/doc/74529/Page1.aspx|title=Election Register|website=City of Euless|access-date=July 2, 2019}} This election saw the highest voter turnout in a Euless municipal election since 1993.{{Cite web|url=http://records.eulesstx.gov/WebLink/0/doc/74530/Page1.aspx|title=Voting Register|website=City of Euless|access-date=July 2, 2019}}
This campaign earned local and national press coverage when Maddux sent a mailer to Euless voters highlighting Bhojani's Muslim faith and Republican State Representative Jonathan Stickland posted on Facebook calling Bhojani "sneaky," "a Muslim, lawyer, and a lifelong Democrat" with "ideas for our community [that] would scare a majority of our residents."{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-politics/2018/04/26/tea-party-firebrand-stickland-warns-muslim-candidate-euless-council-bring-massive-changes|title=Texas Lawmaker Aims 'Muslim' as Epithet against Euless City Council Candidate|last=Garrett|first=Robert|date=April 26, 2018|website=Dallas Morning News|access-date=July 2, 2019}}{{Cite web |title=Texas Muslim Attorney Survives Campaign Attacks on Faith and Profession to Win City Council Race |url=https://www.law.com/texaslawyer/2018/05/08/texas-muslim-attorney-survives-campaign-attacks-on-faith-and-profession-to-win-city-council-race/ |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Texas Lawyer |language=en}} Stickland, whose district includes Euless, contributed $5,000 to the Maddux campaign and donated political consulting, canvassing services and postage worth an additional $7,909.{{Cite web|url=http://records.eulesstx.gov/WebLink/0/edoc/65017/Maddux%2030%20day.pdf|title=Campaign/Officeholder Campaign Finance Report|website=City of Euless|access-date=July 2, 2019}} Stickland's comments were condemned on the editorial pages of The Dallas Morning News{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2018/05/08/another-day-another-low-texas-lowest-politician-state-rep-jonathan-stickland|title=Another Day, Another Low for Texas' Lowest Politician|last=Floyd|first=Jacquielynn|date=May 8, 2018|website=Dallas Morning News|access-date=July 2, 2019}} and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram{{Cite web|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/editorials/article210664299.html|title=Euless Should Celebrate its Council's New Diversity|last=Editorial Board|date=May 7, 2018|website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|access-date=July 2, 2019}} and in a press release by the interfaith group Faith in Texas.{{Cite web|url=https://faithintx.org/clergy-unite-against-racism/|title=Clergy Unite Against Racism|website=Faith in Texas|date=May 3, 2018|access-date=July 2, 2019}}
Bhojani was sworn in as councilman on May 22, 2018, and presented with a ceremonial gavel by Texas State Rep. Rafael Anchia on behalf of Joe Straus, speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. Upon his election, Bhojani became the first non-white minority elected official in Euless history.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-12 |title=Salman Bhojani is among the first Muslims elected to the Texas Legislature |url=https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2022-11-12/salman-bhojani-is-among-the-first-muslims-elected-to-the-texas-legislature |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=TPR |language=en}}
In January 2021, Bhojani announced that he would not seek reelection to Euless City Council.{{cite web |url= https://services.eulesstx.gov/Docs/Meetings/council/2021/2021-01-12%20Council%20Minutes.pdf |title = Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Euless City Council, Tuesday, January 12, 2021 |accessdate=June 18, 2021}} His term on Euless City Council ended in June 2021. In October 2021, he announced that he would be running for the Texas House of Representatives.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bhojanifortexas.com/|title=Bhojani for Texas|access-date=June 18, 2021}} Bhojani was elected to the state house in November 2022.{{Cite web |last=Representatives |first=Texas House of |title=Texas House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.texas.gov/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=www.house.texas.gov}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Texas House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhojani, Salman}}
Category:Southern Methodist University alumni
Category:University of Texas at Dallas alumni
Category:American politicians of Pakistani descent
Category:Pakistani emigrants to the United States
Category:Texas city council members
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:City council members of Asian descent
Category:Asian-American state legislators in Texas
Category:Democratic Party members of the Texas House of Representatives