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Salaam Bhatti

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Salaam Bhatti
Bhatti in 2026
Personal details
Born1986 (age 39–40)
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
PartyDemocratic
EducationAlbright College (BA)
Touro Law Center (JD)
Websitehttps://salaamforva.com/

Salaam Bhatti (born 1986) is an American public interest attorney who has served as the SNAP director of the Food Action and Research Center and as a spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. In 2025, Bhatti announced his campaign for the United States House of Representatives in Virginia’s 1st congressional district, currently represented by Republican Rob Wittman, for the 2026 elections.[1]

Early life and education

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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]

Career

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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 2023, Bhatti was named by the FRAC as its SNAP director.[13]

Political positions

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Bhatti has been described as a progressive.[14]

Data centers

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Bhatti has criticized the data center industry, claiming that data centers "destroy communities" and that the construction of more data centers will lead to increased costs and health impacts. He has called for both Democratic and Republican politicians to remain separate from corporations such as Dominion Energy that financially benefit from the construction of data centers.[15]

Economic policy

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Bhatti claims that poverty is man-made rather than natural, and thus has the potential be eliminated. He has called for higher taxes on billionaires as an example of a way to eliminate poverty.[16] He criticized the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, claiming that it could raise energy, healthcare, housing, and grocery costs, adding that people would die as a result from the cuts to their healthcare. He has also claimed that the cuts made by the OBBBA to SNAP would have effects on the wider economy, as grocery stores would lose revenue and potentially need to increase costs or shut down.[17]

Governance

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Bhatti has called for uncapping the House of Representatives and combating financial corruption in American politics.[16]

Healthcare

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Bhatti supports the implementation of Medicare for All.[16]

Recognition

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Bhatti was awarded Albright College's Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2018 for his public benefits work.[18] 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.[19]

Personal life

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Bhatti is an Ahmadiyya Muslim who has been a spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA.[20] He has also been a spokesperson for the True Islam campaign run by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, which exists to combat Islamic extremism and separate it from mainstream Islam.[21] He is married to Hina Latif.[22]

References

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  1. ↑ Feld, Lowell (18 July 2025). "Democrat Salaam Bhatti Launches Campaign for Congress in Virginia's 1st District". Blue Virginia.
  2. ↑ "Salaam Bhatti for Congress". Salaam Bhatti for Congress. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  3. ↑ "Salaam Bhatti, Esq. '08". Albright College. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  4. ↑ Bhatti, Salaam (30 March 2025). "Radicalization". A Paycheck Away. Substack. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "Easing the Way". Touro University. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  6. ↑ Lear, Len (18 May 2017). "Muslim spokesman a lawyer, standup comic". Chestnut Hill Local. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  7. ↑ Sullivan, Chase (15 August 2017). "Lawyer Spotlight: Q&A With Attorney Salaam Bhatti". LeanLaw. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  8. ↑ "PRESS RELEASE: VPLC selects Salaam Bhatti as its new deputy director, hires Cassie Edner as its new public benefits attorney". Virginia Poverty Law Center. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  9. ↑ Pilkington, Ed (28 June 2025). "'You open the fridge – nothing': renewed threat of US hunger as Trump seeks to cut food aid". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  10. ↑ Wright, Sydney. "FARM policy forum discusses opportunities for regional collaboration amid federal cuts to SNAP, food distribution programs". Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  11. ↑ Wilson, Norbert. "E262: Impact of skimming and shimming fraud on SNAP recipients". Duke University World Food Policy Center. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  12. ↑ "Hunger in the US: How Disasters Disrupt Access to Food". Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  13. ↑ "Food Research & Action Center Names Salaam Bhatti as SNAP Director". Food Research & Action Center. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
  14. ↑ vascope (2026-05-21). "Democrats' primary plans crumble after redistricting loss". Virginia Scope. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  15. ↑ Hardy, Liana; Government; Reporter, Education (2026-06-19). "In Virginia's First District Democratic primary, candidates are divided about how to get rural votes". Henrico Citizen. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
  16. 1 2 3 Hagi, Randi B. (2026-04-15). "Quick Draw: candidates Bhatti and Perriello on redistricting Virginia". WMRA and WEMC. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
  17. ↑ Alvey, Rebekah (2025-10-08). "Democratic Food and Ag Candidates Enter the Political Fray". Civil Eats. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
  18. ↑ "Salaam Bhatti, Esq. '08". Albright College. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  19. ↑ Partman, Janele. "COG announces 2021 regional leadership awards". Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
  20. ↑ Machcinski, Anthony J. "3 points learned from talk on Islam in Dover". York Daily Record. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
  21. ↑ Manzoor, Alia (2016-08-20). "Twitter bans extremist accounts, Supports 'True Islam' campaign". Rabwah Times. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
  22. ↑ Jumaa, Yasmine (2019-01-02). "One Door At A Time: Henrico Couple Brings Back Neighborly Values". VPM. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
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