Sanjyot Dunung running for U.S. House from Illinois

Indian-born entrepreneur says she is running for Congress “because the promise of the American Dream is under threat”

By Arun Kumar

Indian American small business owner Sanjyot Dunung is making a bid for the U.S. House from Illinois’ 8th Congressional District, which encompasses Chicago suburbs west of Evanston — including Elgin, Schaumburg and parts of Des Plaines.

“I’m running for Congress because the promise of the American Dream is under threat,” Dunung stated in a news release. “People are tired of career politicians who fail to deliver meaningful results. As the candidate for change, I will deliver fresh, responsible ideas to tackle economic chaos and uncertainty.”

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“Being an outsider, I won’t be tied to special interests or political insiders that perpetuate the same old outcomes for our community,” she stated. “As a small business owner, I will use my experience to create new solutions for a brighter future for all Americans—one where life is more affordable, safer, and healthier.”

Dunung, who was born in India, serves on the Board of Directors for the National Small Business Association, the Truman Center for National Policy, and the American Leadership Project. She also served on former President Joe Biden’s Foreign Policy Working Group.

Dunung moved to the United States when she was 6 years old, growing up in Des Plaines. Now, she works as a small business owner and has published 17 books on international business and a young adult novel, “Maddie & Sayara.”

She described herself as the “change candidate.” Critical of the Trump administration, Dunung hopes to bring about economic change. She listed protecting Social Security and Medicare, honoring the commitment to military families and veterans, ensuring access to affordable healthcare and education and fighting for reproductive freedoms as her top priorities.

“My life was Made in America,” Dunung stated. “This campaign was Made in America. It could not have happened anywhere else. Now, I’m committed to making sure that the same American Dream is alive and well now, and for generations to come.”

Dunung grew up in Des Plaines, Illinois, as the daughter of Indian immigrants, who instilled in her the values of hard work, community, service, and a deep pride in the promise of America, according to the release.

A graduate of Northwestern University, she became a successful EdTech entrepreneur and small business owner and made a career out of building things—companies, jobs, and a family, it stated.