"My story starts with escaping a dictatorship and ends with finding a home in West Virginia. Everything in between is why I fight."

Ace sitting at the family table (far right)

Born in Tyranny, Forged in Liberty

An immigrant who believes in the American Dream — and wants to protect it.

I was born into an authoritarian regime in Iran, only a few years after a pro-democracy movement failed. My uncle was a pro-democracy student who was imprisoned at the time. When the movement he was part of collapsed, it paved the way for an authoritarian regime that took over, brutally punished its opponents, launched the nation into a war, and led it into poverty. We fled the country when my older brother was about to be conscripted into Iran’s military.

I now see a similar authoritarian regime taking over in a country I’ve grown to love, endangering not only the structures that make it great, but its history and its ideals of freedom, liberty, and justice. I want to be a part of making those ideals real for more people.

Beating the Odds - Together

A person who beat the odds, but only with help.

Once we immigrated, my family grew up in poverty. Our only income came from a job my older brother had at a grocery store and money my mother could earn sewing neighbors’ clothes and baby-sitting.

I didn’t know a single word of English when I immigrated. As a smaller kid, I was picked on and bullied. I was able to overcome these circumstances – but never alone. Through hard work and support from ESL instructors in public schools, I learned English and excelled in my classes. Through hard work, support from coaches, and access to school facilities, I became a high school state weightlifting record holder. Beyond my family’s work, we were supported by neighbors and community members, at times welfare dollars, free and quality public schools, Pell grants, and other public benefits.

My first job after college was as an AmeriCorps volunteer serving in a low-income school. The only reason I could afford to do that job and then go on to graduate school afterwards was because I had SNAP benefits, a small stipend for housing, and AmeriCorps Education Benefits that helped me pay my tuition.

I came to see the ideal American dream – overcoming and beating the odds – not as something we do alone, but as something we do together with people, neighbors, and public programs that make us all better.

Faith in Every Neighbor

I’m a mission-driven leader who has spent my career working across divides to bring people together and get things done.

That spirit of and belief in community stems from my faith, and my faith journey made me who I am.

I grew up as a secular Muslim who experienced kindness from neighbors who were Evangelical pastors. I was introduced to Christianity by Mormon missionaries. I learned about the Sermon on the Mount, which greatly informed my political and religious ideology, through a Catholic priest and a progressive Methodist pastor. And I deepened my sense of self by attending both progressive and conservative bible studies, Muslim prayer groups, and other religious and spiritual activities. I also learned from amazing activists who did not identify with a religion but believed deeply in the value of all lives.

My faith and social beliefs are the reasons why I try to respect the planet and treat every neighbor the way they want to be treated, not the way I want to be treated. It’s also why I believe in democracy and not in dictators or oligarchs. Democracy is the only type of government that treats every life as having equal worth.

The things I believe I’ve gained from people of all faiths – and people who are atheist who embodied my faith better than regular church goers – are to treat people’s values and hopes as sincere regardless of whether they’ve had my life and faith experiences or not. And to believe that their lives are invaluable.

A Father’s Promise

A dad who joined and led in resistance.

I’ll disagree with many constituents in my views on our current president. I believe West Virginians are good and care deeply about one another. I cannot say the same for our president.

On the night of November 2, 2016, I remember looking into the crib of my sleeping daughter, asking, “How did this happen?” How did a reality tv celebrity whom we saw brag the month before about assaulting women become the President of the country my daughter would grow up in?’ Wanting to raise her with good values — honesty, faith, service, and decency — I wondered what havoc a dishonest billionaire would wreak.

For the last 10 years, I have been a part of community resistance efforts. I am deeply inspired by these movements and will run my campaign in solidarity with them. I believe that our futures and our children’s and grandchildren’s futures depend on it.

Now you know my story, I hope to know yours.

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