I recently attended the Bay Area Iranian-American Democratic Club’s endorsement meeting where they chose who to endorse in California’s congressional district 17, a contentious race between Democratic Congressman Mike Honda and challenger Ro Khanna. Although they praised Rep. Honda’s long record of supporting their community, they mentioned Khanna’s narrow victory in the 5-person primary. Some members felt it was important to unify behind the primary winner. But not all were happy with Khanna’s endorsement win.
Some complained that the Khanna campaign stacked the deck by having supporters and staff members join so they could cast their vote for him. One person explained that at the previous board meeting they agreed that only members in good standing for 30-days or more would be allowed to vote. However people were asked at the door if they wanted to sign up so they could vote that night. He also wondered if some of the new members were even of Iranian descent. Even I, Caucasian in appearance was told that I could sign up that night and vote. Having only come to observe, I thanked them but declined.
As customary, after the candidates spoke the club asked members of the campaign to leave so they could have a discussion and vote. Khanna’s campaign manager and new club member that night, Brian Parvizshahi objected mildly but eventually left. But more than one person pointed out to me that they thought one of the more vocal of Khanna’s advocates, “Lily” was part of Khanna’s campaign.
Many clubs have a 30, 60 or 90-day rule to discourage campaigns from stacking the deck like this, and with the Khanna campaign’s history at the Sunnyvale Democratic Club they might have been wise to enforce such a rule. Last election it was documented by one of the club’s founders Margaret Okuzumi, that 16 of Khanna’s staff and over 30 supporters joined the club in what appeared to be an effort to sway the endorsement vote. Many were not even residents of Sunnyvale. And one staff member had paid the membership fees of 6 other staffers with a single check.
Well it appears their concerns about “Lily” were correct, and the campaign had even touted their recent naming of Iranian-American Niloufar “Lily” Sarafan to campaign co-chair, an effort to show Khanna’s commitment to the Iranian-American community. Besides being the campaign’s co-chair, she is also a funder of the campaign. Under the name she is commonly known, “Lily Sarafan” she wrote two $2700 checks to the campaign (9/30/15 and 3/31/16). This means she is already maxed out for both the primary and general election. But in what appears to be a willful effort to evade campaign rules, Khanna’s campaign co-chair wrote two more $2700 checks under the name “Niloufar Sarafan” just two days before the primary election. The timing of the checks and the fact that she has previously hosted fundraisers would indicate she understands campaign finance rules. If she had waited two more days she would have only been able to contribute half of the $5400 because fundraising for the primary would close.
If what appears to be an open and shut case is confirmed to be fraud by the co-chair of Ro Khanna’s campaign, it is only one more example of shady behavior associated with Khanna’s campaigns going all the way back to his days at the University of Chicago. As the newly elected class president, he was forced to resign when it was shown he helped to cover up cheating by his campaign team.
Learn more about the CA17 race at the following links:
Ro Khanna: #1 in the country with Wall St type donors ~ Center for Responsive Politics
No, Ro Khanna, you are not like Bernie Sanders ~ Glen The Plumber
Rep. Honda’s opponent is dancing with the Kochs ~ Glen The Plumber
Ro Khanna misleads at the Santa Clara County Democratic Club ~ Glen The Plumber
Rep. Honda endorsed by Civil Rights Icons, Rep. John Lewis and Ben Jealous ~ remembrance
Rep. Honda makes Silicon Valley a safer and better place for travel ~ MartaD