The results of the congressional elections in the United States create new opportunities for Armenian advocacy organizations. More than 92% of candidates backed by the Armenian community won their races, and Armenian voters may have played a decisive role in several districts. Political commentator Artyom Yerkanyan made these points while discussing the election results.
According to Yerkanyan, Armenian organizations mainly supported Democratic candidates, who have more frequently advanced initiatives favorable to Armenians in recent years. Of the 64 candidates supported by the Armenian community, 50 were Democrats.
All six Senate candidates backed by Armenian organizations won by convincing margins. The race in New Hampshire was particularly important: Democrat Chris Pappas defeated John Sununu, whom Yerkanyan describes as an influential representative of the Azerbaijani lobby with close ties to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Abdul El-Sayed won in Michigan and will become the first Muslim senator. After his election, he addressed Armenian voters, saying he would defend the Armenian people’s dignity, security and right to self-determination.
Candidates supported by the community also performed well in House elections. The four co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues — Frank Pallone, Brad Sherman, David Valadao and Gus Bilirakis — were reelected. “Other members of Congress who are important to us also won, including Judy Chu, Jim Costa, Dina Titus and Rob Menendez, Bob Menendez’s son,” Yerkanyan said.
In California’s 30th congressional district, which includes Glendale, Burbank and Hollywood, Democrat Laura Friedman won with the support of the Armenian community. She is a former mayor of Glendale.
Yerkanyan says that in some districts, the margin between the winner and the losing candidate was smaller than the number of Armenian voters. In those cases, the community’s support for one candidate or another could have determined the outcome.
California’s gubernatorial election was also important among the state-level races. Xavier Becerra, a politician backed by the Armenian community, won. Yerkanyan says Becerra had advanced several initiatives favorable to Armenians as a member of Congress, earning the community’s appreciation.
Results for candidates associated with the Azerbaijani lobby
Before the elections, Armenian organizations published a list of ten members of Congress running for reelection who, they said, defended Azerbaijan’s interests on Capitol Hill. Only five won.
The winners included Henry Cuellar and Anna Paulina Luna, whom Yerkanyan describes as important figures for Azerbaijan. He said that, according to some reports, Cuellar received a bribe of more than $600,000 from the Azerbaijani administration. Yerkanyan also said Luna is actively working to change Section 907 restrictions on US military assistance to Azerbaijan and has met Ilham Aliyev several times.
At the same time, several influential representatives of the Azerbaijani lobby lost their races.
Results for candidates of Armenian descent
In California’s 49th congressional district, Republican Armen Kurdian lost to Democrat Mike Levin. Armenian organizations chose to support Levin because of his experience working with the Armenian community and his better chances of winning. Despite losing, Kurdian received more than 41% of the vote.
John Harabedian succeeded in California’s state legislative election and was reelected in the 41st district. In New York’s 71st district, Julien Segura, who has Armenian roots, lost.
In Artyom Yerkanyan’s assessment, the election results show the Armenian community’s political influence. Armenian votes can be decisive in several districts, underscoring the importance of taking the community’s interests into account.
👉 Politics