Alex Mohajer, a 38-year-old openly gay Democrat, has recently announced his campaign for state senator in California. If elected, Mohajer would represent several high-profile communities in Orange County, including Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, and Irvine. A victory in the election would also make him the only Iranian American in California’s legislative body, marking a historic milestone.
Championing LGBTQ+ Rights and Beyond
Mohajer, the proud son of Iranian immigrant parents, earned his undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and a graduate degree from Chapman University’s Dave E. Fowler School of Law. Over the last decade, he has actively fought against sexual harassment and discrimination cases in Los Angeles County. As the current president of the California Stonewall Democrats, Mohajer is a dedicated advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive rights, healthcare access, and climate change.
A Platform Rooted in Family and Personal Experience
Drawing on his background as the son of Iranian immigrants, Mohajer’s platform emphasizes support for working-class families, small business owners, and public school education. “My mom came here and struggled and sacrificed a great deal so that we could have access to a good public school education and have opportunities she didn’t have,” Mohajer said, according to the Daily Pilot.
Breaking Barriers as an Openly Gay Iranian American
In his campaign news release, Mohajer highlighted the potential significance of his election, stating that he could be “one of the first openly gay Iranians elected anywhere in the world.” Mohajer also expressed solidarity with the women and girls in Iran advocating for their rights through the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising, vowing to bring the fight for a free Iran to Sacramento.
An Advocate for Marginalized Communities
Mohajer’s campaign emphasizes the importance of intersectionality and nonpartisanship in the fight for the liberation of oppressed people. He pledges to advocate for marginalized communities in California, particularly in light of rising hate against Asian American, Jewish, LGBTQ+, and Black neighbors.
The election for California’s State Senate will take place in November 2024, with voters in Mohajer’s district having the opportunity to cast their ballots in support of his historic campaign.