Dr. Nina Ahmad, a Bangladeshi American, who is a scientist and women's rights advocate, is a Democrat nominee for the office of Pennsylvania Auditor General in the November 3 general election.

In support of her candidacy, a virtual event has been orgranised on Wednesday, in which representation and women’s participation in all levels of politics will be discussed.

If elected, Nina would represent the first woman of color to serve as a statewide executive in the Commonwealth’s 233-year history. She would also become the only current woman and person of color in Pennsylvania’s executive offices.

A first-generation American, she is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Like many South Asian Americans in the US, who are helping in building a new America, her journey has been an inspiring one.

She grew up during a violent civil war in South Asia, and came to the US alone when she was 21 years old. After improving her English by watching American television shows, she earned her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and achieved success as a molecular biologist and entrepreneur.

In addition to her professional life, Nina has been a successful civic leader who takes on big fights and wins. As president of the Philadelphia NOW, Nina led a fight against the District Attorney’s office when they refused to fire three prosecutors who had e-mailed degrading pornographic images. She has led important efforts to fight workplace discrimination and harassment which undermines women and people of color economically.

She has helped raise millions of dollars for local non-profits that improve the quality of life for working and poor families.

As a public servant, she has served as Deputy Mayor for Public Engagement under Mayor Jim Kenney, overseeing the Commission for Women, the Office of Black Male Engagement, and the Youth Commission and worked closely with the Office of LGBT Affairs.

She has also served on President Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and on Mayor Nutter’s Commission on Asian American Affairs.

Nina and her husband Ahsan have lived in Philadelphia for over 25 years. The couple have two daughters, Joya and Priya.  

The Republicans nominated Timothy DeFoor, an African American, which means that the victor would be the first person of color to be elected to statewide executive office in Pennsylvania.