Pakistani American Asif Mahmood Challenging Republican Rep. Young Kim in California’s Newly Drawn 40th District
- Although the California Physician, a Democrat, still faces tough odds in a right-leaning district during the midterms, he has support from several California House Democrats and statewide officials.
Pakistani American physician Asif Mahmood is challenging GOP Rep. Young Kim for a seat in the U.S. Congress from the newly drawn 40th District. Kim, who in 2020 won California’s 39th District, filed for reelection in the 40th, due to redistricting.
Mahmood, a Democrat, finished third in his 2018 run for California Insurance Commissioner, “receiving 13.5 percent of the vote and raising more than $2 million in that election cycle,” The Orange County Register reported. Gov. Gavin Newsom subsequently appointed him to the Medical Board of California.
Although Mohammed, 60, faces tough odds in a right-leaning district during a midterm election, he launched his campaign last week with endorsements from numerous California House Democrats and statewide officials. The Orange County Register reported that Mahmood has support from Rep. Mike Levin to state Attorney General Rob Bonta to Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan, as well as help from Nathan Click, “who has worked as communications for Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Hill, citing an analysis of California redistricting by political statistics site 538, noted that “the new district will have a GOP lean, being 4 percentage points more Republican than the nation as a whole.” The previous district was 6 points more Democratic than the nation as a whole, the report added.
The new 40th District covers eastern Orange County, from Yorba Linda to Rancho Mission Viejo, plus Chino Hills in San Bernardino County. Voter registration in the majority White district shows Republicans with a 5.6 point advantage over Democrats, according to The Orange County Register. The race already includes two other Republican challengers – Mission Viejo Councilman Greg Raths and American nationalist Nick Taurus of Laguna Hills.
“Families in the new 40th district work hard. We put our heads together to solve problems. When our neighbors face hard times, we help each other,” said Mahmood in a statement, The Hill reported. But politicians like Congresswoman Young Kim aren’t lifting a finger to help families here at home. Our country has big problems, but Congresswoman Kim is fighting against common-sense solutions that have bipartisan support,” he added.
Neither Mahmood nor Kim lives in the district they are contesting from, The Orange County Register report says, adding that while “residency isn’t required for federal office, it is considered favorable both politically and in terms of serving residents.”
Mahmood currently lives in Bradbury, in the San Gabriel Valley. But his campaign told the paper that he plans to move to Tustin to run for this seat. According to the report, Mahmood supports abortion rights and more affordable healthcare, and also promises to “fight to end our addiction to Big Oil” and to improve California’s roads and bridges.”
A practicing physician for internal medicine and pulmonary diseases at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena since 2000, he was previously chief of staff at the Greater El Monte Hospital. Mahmood is a member of the board of directors of the East Los Angeles College Foundation and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, United States Western Region.
He also works with nonprofit groups across Southern California, including UNICEF and volunteers at a free clinic. He also serves on the California Medical Board and on the board of the Valley Rescue Mission, the largest homeless shelter in Southern California. And he is chair of the Organization for Social Media Safety which fights cyber-bullying. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Sindh Medical College, now known as Jinnah Sindh Medical University in Karachi.
He is married to Noshaba Mahmoud and they have three children.