• Parminder Aujla

SACRAMENTO (TIP): Indian American civil rights lawyer Anuj Dixit, a son of immigrants from India, is running for Congress in California’s 41st congressional district, to challenge Republican hardliner Ken Calvert.
Dixit, with a six-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force father, says he is running for Congress to shake up a system that’s been rigged for decades by insiders like Calvert with fresh energy and bold ideas to make Washington work for the middle class
A resident of the Inland Empire, a metropolitan area centering around the cities of San Bernardino and Riverside, he’ll make it easier to open a business, find a good-paying job, and help more Americans get ahead in life, according to his website. Dixit will lead the charge on going after big businesses that buy elections and dodge taxes and fight to cut middle-class taxes and make California more affordable, it says.

This race is one of the top red-to-blue priority contests in the country and will be critical to Democrats’ efforts to flip the U.S. House in 2026, according to Indian American Impact Fund which has endorsed Dixit.
A bold new voice for the Inland Empire, Dixit represents the next generation of leadership, focused on delivering real results for working and middle-class families, the political advocacy group stated in a press release.
“After coming of age in the post-9/11 era, Dixit dedicated his life to fighting for justice—defending voting rights, advocating for fair elections, and standing up for our democratic values,” it says. “Now, he’s running for Congress to bring that same commitment to Washington.”
“We’re thrilled to endorse Anuj Dixit, a fierce advocate for democracy and opportunity. Anuj understands the challenges facing working and middle-class families because he’s lived them—and he’s spent his career fighting for the rights and dignity of others,” Chintan Patel, Executive Director of Indian American Impact Fund, stated.
“He’s ready to make it easier for people to start small businesses, find good-paying jobs, and afford the basics—like buying a car, owning a home, and building financial security. At a time when trust in government is low and the cost of living is high, Anuj is offering a clear and hopeful vision rooted in accountability, transparency, and results. He’s exactly the kind of leader we need in Congress—and we’re proud to stand with him.”
“I’m honored to have the support of the Indian American Impact Fund,” stated Dixit. “This organization has led the way in making sure that communities like mine—often overlooked and underestimated—finally have a seat at the table.
“As the son of immigrants, a civil rights lawyer, and someone who’s spent his life fighting for fairness, I share that mission deeply. In Congress, I’ll continue that work—standing up for the Inland Empire and building a government that listens to and delivers for the people it serves.”
Dixit, according to his website, grew up on March Air Force Base in Riverside County, grounded in the values of service, hard work, and community. He grew up believing in the American Dream: if you work hard and treat people the right way, you can build a better life. But for too many working and middle-class families here in the Inland Empire, that dream has slipped further and further out of reach.
“Dixit’s commitment to justice was forged in tragedy. He lost his grandparents, aunt, and cousins in the Pan Am 103 (Lockerbie) bombing, and came of age in the shadow of 9/11,” it says. “Those moments cemented his determination to fight for what’s right and defend the values that bind us together as Americans.”
Off the campaign trail, Dixit helps run his family’s health clinic, which provides essential care to patients in the community. He is a graduate of UCLA and Columbia Law School.