Harry Bhandari

Harry Bhandari is a Nepalese-born American politician and educator currently serving as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing the 8th district. A member of the Democratic Party, he has held this office since 2019 and is recognized as the first Nepali American to be elected to a state legislature in the United States. In addition to his legislative duties, Bhandari has a background in education and has been actively involved in various community and political initiatives.

Early life and career

Harry Bhandari was born on October 1, 1977, in Thapathana, Nepal. He is the son of Ammar Bahadur and Kanti Kumari. Bhandari pursued his education in Nepal, graduating from Prithvi Narayan Campus. He furthered his academic journey by earning a master's degree in English literature from Tribhuvan University. In pursuit of advanced studies, he relocated to the United States in 2005 to present a paper at George Mason University. His commitment to his new home culminated in his naturalization as a U.S. citizen in 2011.

Bhandari's professional career began in education when he became a teacher for Baltimore County Public Schools in 2006. He later taught at Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School and served as a faculty member at Baltimore City Community College. His dedication to education is evident in his teaching roles, where he has contributed to the academic development of students in his community. In 2015, following the devastating earthquake in Nepal, Bhandari returned to his home country to assist victims, demonstrating his commitment to humanitarian efforts.

Bhandari's political involvement began in 2008 when he volunteered for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. His engagement in politics deepened as he took on leadership roles, including serving as the secretary of the Young Democrats of America's minority caucus and participating on the board of directors for the District 6 Democratic and Civic Association Club. These experiences laid the groundwork for his future candidacy in the Maryland House of Delegates.

Legislative service

Bhandari's initial attempt to enter the Maryland House of Delegates was in 2014, which did not result in election. However, he successfully won a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates in 2018. His campaign was notable for running alongside Carl W. Jackson and incumbent state delegate Eric Bromwell, and he defeated the incumbent Republican state delegate Joe Cluster in the general election. Bhandari was officially sworn into office on January 9, 2019, taking his oath on copies of the Bhagavad Gita and Vedas.

Since taking office, Bhandari has been a member of the Health and Government Operations Committee, where he has contributed to discussions and decisions on various health-related legislative matters. In 2023, he was appointed chair of the Maryland Legislative Asian-American and Pacific-Islander Caucus, reflecting his commitment to representing the interests of Asian-American and Pacific-Islander communities in Maryland.

Bhandari's political activities have included participation in the Democratic Party's presidential primaries. He sought to serve as a delegate for Joe Biden at the 2020 Democratic National Convention and applied again for the 2024 convention, although his application was denied by the Maryland Democratic Party. In January 2025, following the election of state senator Kathy Klausmeier as Baltimore County Executive, Bhandari expressed his intention to apply for the remainder of Klausmeier's term in the Maryland Senate, although the Baltimore County Democratic Central Committee ultimately selected Carl W. Jackson for the position.

In 2024, Bhandari filed to run for Maryland's 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, officially announcing his campaign in late January. His platform focused on healthcare and education, although he faced defeat in the Democratic primary, finishing second to Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski.

Policy focus and district

Throughout his legislative career, Bhandari has prioritized various policy areas, including education, healthcare, gun control, and social issues. In the 2023 legislative session, he introduced a bill aimed at requiring high schools to teach conflict resolution classes, although this legislation did not progress out of committee. He also advocated for environmental initiatives, proposing legislation to encourage the installation of solar arrays in school construction projects.

Bhandari's stance on gun policy has been shaped by personal experiences, particularly following the tragic shooting of a Nepali student in Maryland. He pledged to introduce legislation to strengthen gun control laws and subsequently introduced the Sagar Ghimire Act, which aimed to reassess Maryland's extreme risk gun law. During his congressional campaign, he supported federal legislation to ban the sale of assault weapons.

In healthcare, Bhandari has been an advocate for affordability and access. He supported the establishment of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board during the 2019 legislative session and endorsed the Medicare for All Act during his 2024 congressional campaign. He also introduced bills aimed at reducing emergency department wait times, reflecting his commitment to improving healthcare services in Maryland.

Bhandari's engagement with social issues is evident in his legislative efforts to recognize Dashain, a significant festival in Nepali culture, as a commemorative day in Maryland. This legislation passed and was signed into law, making Maryland the first state to officially recognize the festival. Additionally, he introduced a bill in 2024 to require movie theaters to offer limited screenings of films with closed captioning and subtitle options, further demonstrating his commitment to inclusivity.

Bhandari resides in Nottingham, Maryland, with his spouse and two children. His personal experiences and professional background inform his legislative priorities, as he continues to serve the constituents of the 8th district in Maryland. Through his work, he aims to address the needs of his community while fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment for all residents.