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Candidate Baddi campaigns as 'community's friend' in MI
Ashok Baddi talked about his campaign and his ambitions during a campaign rally attended by over a 100 supporters.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Thu, 19, Mar 2026
- 05:11 EDT
- 35
Ashok Baddi / IANS
Ashok Baddi, an Indian-American community leader eyeing the Michigan House of Representatives, told hundreds of his supporters that he wishes to be a friend of the community, while speaking at a campaign event.
A Democrat turned Republican, Baddi is a community leader and a small-business owner. With over two decades of civic and faith-based service, he brings practical, real-world experience as the owner of Minuteman Press Rochester Hills and as a board member of a local Hindu temple.
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Talking to a packed audience of over a 100 people, Baddi spotlighted his campaign philosophy and said, "I want to be known as a friend of the community. That is all I wish for."
He continued, "I want only one thing that people remember me as saying... 'he was able to help me in one way or the other'. And I feel that is going to prove to my life."
Baddi also addressed his decision to move from the Democratic party to the Republican party, saying, "I'm running to make a difference. Because I think I'm going to make the right choice, which I already have. I did it when I voted for President Trump. I did it when I voted for Sani Reddy. All this when I was the chairperson of the Democratic Party Congress."
Baddi further clarifies his rationale behind switching sides on his campaign website and describes himself as "a Democrat who left the party after becoming disillusioned with blind partisanship and the belief that party loyalty should come before country and community."
Amid increasing divergence between Democrats and Republicans on immigration, an issue of particular concern to his constituency, an area he has previously described as a diverse suburban district north of Detroit, Baddi took a nuanced approach.
Baddi extended his support for immigration but also emphasised the importance of a rule-based system. He said, "we came to this land because this is a land of opportunity, of equal opportunity. There is probably no other nation in the world that allows or that has an open-door policy, where they have what is known as legal immigration."
He further noted that he was "all for legal immigration" and highlighted that rule following should be the norm and doing it is a "natural expectation" from everyone.
During his address, Baddi thanked all his political guides, leaders and his family for their support over the years. He gave special thanks to his wife, Dr. Purnima, sons Anirudh and Vidhav, and his daughter, Sanjeevani, and highlighted how his political life has affected his family and even his relationships with his wife and kids.
The Republican also addressed the need for funds to fuel his campaign. Baddi noted that one must have necessary funds even to do what is righteous, citing a Sanskrit saying.
He remarked, "If we do not have funds, then there is nothing to talk about, because you can't go preach about what is right, what is wrong to a person who is starving. That person will not understand what is right or wrong."
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