Maryland AAPI Leaders Host Moore-Miller Reelection Fundraiser

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Maryland’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community hosted a political fundraiser and community reception supporting the reelection of Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller on September 3 in Potomac, Maryland.

The event was held at the residence of Indian American physician Dr. Arul Vigg, who serves on the Maryland Commission on Kidney Disease. Bel Leong-Hong, chair of the Democratic National Committee’s AAPI Caucus, and Devang Shah, treasurer of the Maryland Democratic Party, co-hosted the gathering.

Delivering the keynote address, Moore thanked the hosts for organizing the event and urged supporters to participate in door-knocking and phone-banking during the final 60 days before the election. He expressed confidence that Maryland could serve as a model of progressive governance for the rest of the country.

“We have a chance to send a message. And we’re going to need your help. While there has been progress, we know the job is not done, and we are ready to finish the job,” Moore said. “We can build a state where we know that our job is not just to push back against what we are seeing in Washington, D.C., but actually push forward and show what an alternative can actually look like.”

Moore also discussed the diversity of his administration, highlighting several AAPI leaders who have served in key Cabinet positions. He named Secretary of State Susan Lee, Higher Education Secretary Sanjay Rai, Labor Secretary Portia Wu and Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani.

“The AAPI community runs deep in this administration, and it’s not just because we believe in diversity; it’s because we believe in working with the best,” he said.

Moore criticized U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., alleging that he believes vaccine policies should be based on the “dark web” and “conspiracy theories.”

In contrast, Moore said Maryland had enacted legislation to separate its vaccine and public health policies from federal HHS decisions.

“We’ve actually passed legislation to ensure that our vaccine policies and our health policies can be decoupled from what is happening over at HHS because I have much more confidence in Dr. Seshamani to be able to help put together our vaccine policy than I do in Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Because we actually believe in science here,” Moore said.

The Governor also discussed recent legislative and legal efforts to protect democracy, crediting Maryland State Sen. Dr. Clarence Lam for his work on the issue. Moore said Lam had fought to ensure “that our democracy belongs to Marylanders and not to Donald Trump.”

“There were a few leaders who said, ‘Not on our watch,’ and said that we cannot allow our democracy to die in broad daylight,” Moore said, adding that Lam was among those willing to “work and sacrifice.”

Moore cited a recent 6-1 court decision that he said would allow Maryland residents to determine what the state’s democracy should look like.

“That would not have happened without Senator Lam, and we are grateful,” he said.

Moore also cited significant reductions in violent crime across Maryland and Baltimore City during the past three years as accomplishments of his administration.

The Governor described Miller as a “partner” and “guide” in their work for Maryland.

In her remarks, Miller thanked attendees for their “generosity” and for participating in the event. “You have no idea how much that means to Governor Moore and me, not just to the two of us, but to the elected officials who are all here as well,” she said.

Miller recognized several elected officials in attendance, including U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney, former Rep. John Delaney, Dr. Lam and Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich.

She also highlighted the success of AAPI community members in achieving their American dream. Miller recognized Anil Sharma, who she said came to the United States from India with $100 and later built 22nd Century Technologies into a billion-dollar company.

Miller also recognized Paul Tiao for his dedication and service to protecting the country. She recalled meeting Tiao in 2017, when he launched Communities United Against Hate.

“You know there is a lot of hate going around in this nation right now,” she said.

Miller discussed the administration’s commitment to creating jobs, making communities safer and protecting immigrants. She said her governing philosophy with Moore was to “leave no one behind.”

“Four years ago, when we joined forces together on the ticket, we promised Marylanders that we would leave no one behind, and we kept that promise: more jobs, safer streets, stronger schools, and protection for our immigrant community, as opposed to being targeted at the federal level,” she said.

Dr. Vigg opened the event by welcoming guests and explaining the purpose of the gathering. He shared personal stories about how Moore’s leadership and character had inspired his family.

Recalling an earlier visit by Moore to his home, Dr. Vigg said, “I remember being starstruck by him, not simply by his ambition, but by his clarity of purpose, his ability to connect with people, and the unmistakable sense that his calling to public service extended far beyond any single campaign.”

Dr. Vigg also recognized his parents, who traveled from India for the event, and thanked his wife for her support in hosting the reception.

Leong-Hong welcomed attendees and emphasized the importance of supporting the Moore-Miller administration. She described Maryland as a beacon of progress under Moore and Miller and called for continued financial support and political participation ahead of the November election.

Leong-Hong also emphasized that the Moore-Miller philosophy of “leaving no one behind” remained a core principle of the administration.

Shah offered prayers for those who died or remained missing following the tragedy in Nepal.

Shah closed out the evening with an original limerick, thanking the crowd for giving up a weeknight and their own money to support the ticket. The verses traced Moore’s first term — citing Baltimore’s homicide rate falling to record lows, a wave of new business investment, and reductions in child poverty — before turning to his public clashes with President Trump and his rematch against Republican Dan Cox, whom Moore defeated in 2022. 

Shah also paid tribute to Miller, Maryland’s first Indian American Lieutenant Governor, calling her “my sister from another mother” in a nod to their shared birthdays and heritage. He also praised Moore’s travels across the country campaigning for Democrats hoping to retake Congress. 

The poem closed with a playful, half-joking line about a possible presidential future for Moore. “Now for Wes, we have a desire, past Annapolis reaching much higher, to a house that is white, where the future looks bright. Well, we’ll just let that rumor catch fire,” he added. 

Attendees at the event also got an opportunity to witness a few cultural performances from students in the DMV area.