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Salaam Bhatti | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1986 |
| Education | Albright College (BA) Touro Law Center (JD) |
Salaam Bhatti (born 1986) is an American public interest attorney and candidate for Virginia's 1st Congressional District in the 2026 Democratic primary. Politico has described Bhatti as a "food aid policy wonk" for his expertise in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). [1]
Bhatti was raised in a low-income household as a child of immigrants and was a recipient of benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and free school meals. [2] He graduated from Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania in 2008 with a degree in political science and international relations. [3] He also studied at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. [4] He graduated from Touro Law Center in 2011, where he participated in the school’s clinic for veterans and was elected the commencement speaker. [5] He has trained in improvisational comedy with the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York City and Coalition Theatre in Richmond, Virginia. [6]
After graduating from law school, Bhatti was admitted to the bar in 2012 and practiced law in Queens, New York. In 2017, he provided pro bono legal services to immigrants affected by Executive Order 13769 at John F. Kennedy International Airport. [7] As public benefits attorney at the Virginia Poverty Law Center, Bhatti led a coalition to advocate for legislation to expand SNAP eligibility for over 25,000 households which received unanimous support in the Virginia General Assembly. Bhatti developed a screening tool with 18F to assist families in applying for SNAP in Virginia, which later developed into SNAPScreener.com nationwide. He also successfully advocated to twice increase Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits in the Virginia General Assembly. [8] At the Food Research and Action Center, a policy and research organization, Bhatti advocated against cuts to SNAP in the Farm Bill and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. [9] Bhatti was a panelist on several live sessions to teach about the effects of the bills on SNAP and other public benefits programs. [10] [11] [12]
In 2025, Bhatti announced his campaign for Congress in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District, currently represented by Republican Rob Wittman, in the Democratic primary. [13] Bhatti received an endorsement from activist and attorney Qasim Rashid, the nominee for the seat in 2020. [14]
Bhatti was awarded Albright College's Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2018 for his public benefits work. [15] In 2021, as Director of Virginia Hunger Solutions, Bhatti was awarded the Stuart A. Freudberg Award for Regional Partnership by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. [16]