It's a little hard getting started in this business as an Indian-American running in Minnesota for federal office, but the help of USINPAC has assisted me in overcoming many initial obstacles and made this process that much easier.  For that, I am very grateful.  I hope to continue my relationship with USINPAC through my campaign and throughout my career in Congress.

Ashwin Madia was a moderate Republican until 2002, when his positions on social issues and Iraq led him to the Democratic Party. In 2006, Madia volunteered on the DFL campaigns of Grace Baltich, Andy Borene, Senator Satveer Chaudhary, and Wendy Wilde. He announced his run for the 3rd Congressional District seat in 2008 and moved back to Plymouth. After running for Congress in 2008, Madia started his own practice, Madia Law.

Ashwin's parents moved to the U.S. from Mumbai, India. His family settled in Plymouth, Minnesota, where he went to Osseo Senior High School. Later he attended the University of Minnesota, where he became student body president. Eventually he joined New York University School of Law. Madia provided pro bono representation to battered women, disabled children, and immigrants seeking asylum. Madia then joined the United States Marine Corps and completed the Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia. His first duty station was Okinawa, Japan, where he served as a prosecutor, defense counsel, and legal advisor to a Marine Corps commanderand successfully defended a fellow Marine from treatment under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Madia also served in Iraq from September 2005 to March 2006 in a non-combat role to strengthen Iraq's criminal justice system. This job included working with Iraqi judicial officers, U.S. military and civilian officials, and representatives of the European Union and United Nations, as well as briefing top U.S. generals on the status of the rule of law in the country. In July 2006, Madia finished active duty and returned to Minnesota, where he began to work at a local law firm.