Isak Nti Asare

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Isak Nti Asare

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

May 3, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Indiana University, 2011

Graduate

University of Oxford, 2013

Personal

Religion

Christian

Profession

Professor

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

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Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

Personal Instagram

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Isak Nti Asare (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Indiana's 9th Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on May 3, 2022.

Nti Asare completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Isak Nti Asare lives in Bloomington, Indiana. Asare earned a bachelor's degree in political science and linguistics from Indiana University in 2011 and a graduate degree from the University of Oxford in 2013. His career experience includes co-founding FairFrame and working as a faculty member at Indiana University.

Elections

2022

See also: Indiana's 9th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Indiana District 9

Erin Houchin defeated Matthew Fyfe, Tonya Millis, and Jacob Bailey in the general election for U.S. House Indiana District 9 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Erin Houchin (R)	63.6	143,166
		Matthew Fyfe (D)	33.6	75,700
		Tonya Millis (L)	2.8	6,374
		Jacob Bailey (G) (Write-in)	0.0	36

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 225,276
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Aleem Young (Freedom Party Party)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 9

Matthew Fyfe defeated Isak Nti Asare and D. Liam Dorris in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 9 on May 3, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Matthew Fyfe	56.8	12,240
		Isak Nti Asare	29.2	6,305
		D. Liam Dorris	14.0	3,023

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 21,568
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Babak Rezaei (D)
• Jonathon Cole (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 9

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 9 on May 3, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Erin Houchin	37.3	21,697
		Mike Sodrel	25.8	15,008
		Stu Barnes-Israel	21.0	12,193
	Submit photo	Jim Baker	5.1	2,946
		J. Michael Davisson	2.7	1,597
		D. Eric Schansberg	2.7	1,559
		Brian Tibbs	2.5	1,461
		Dan Heiwig	1.6	919
		Bill Thomas	1.3	756

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 58,136
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Hiren Patel (R)

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Indiana District 9

Tonya Millis advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Indiana District 9 on March 5, 2022.

		Candidate
✔		Tonya Millis (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Isak Nti Asare completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Nti Asare's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

A leukemia survivor, Isak Nti Asare is a passionate advocate for affordable and accessible healthcare, a leading educator on the impact and future of cybersecurity policy, and a sought-after advisor for local and national governments on the opportunities and challenges of emerging technology. As a faculty member at Indiana University, he serves as co-director for the Cybersecurity and Global Policy Program, director of the IU Cybersecurity Clinic, and fellow at the Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research. Isak is also a senior associate at Oxford Insights, a firm that guides public organizations in implementing new technology ethically and responsibly, and former co-founder at FairFrame, a recently acquired software startup that uses artificial intelligence and data analytics to identify implicit bias in text. With degrees from Indiana University and University of Oxford, Isak was recently named to Indiana University’s College of Arts and Sciences' “20 Alumni Under 40” list. Diagnosed in 2018, his leukemia, now in a chronic stage, has progressed toward remission; Isak continues to undergo treatment and fight every day. He and his family are members of the Family Life Church where he volunteers, teaches, and ministers. Isak lives in Bloomington, Indiana with his wife, Mariah, and their son, Theodore.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I know what it's like to be chronically ill in America: To not know how to afford medical bills, and to have to decide between paying bills and paying for my life-saving chemotherapy. I also know what it is like to have so-called “good” health insurance through work and still struggle to afford my deductibles and premiums. Healthcare is a human right, and for me, policy is personal. I am running to make sure that this aspiration is a realization—for all Americans—and will fight to create a national healthcare plan.
• We live in an increasingly data-driven and digital society. We also face myriad challenges—from climate change to economic instability to future pandemics. The steps and actions we take today will determine our readiness for an uncertain future. We do not have time to wait! My career has focused on helping local and national governments think about the future. I am the candidate who takes these future challenges seriously and is ready now to do what it takes to protect all Americans.
• The pandemic has uncovered many deficiencies in the ways our government cares for its people. We can heal the wounds from the pandemic, economic depression, and deep-rooted injustices. We can fight for a more equitable, fair, and prosperous society. We can come together as a community to make a government that cares for all Americans. Let's move forward, together.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Universal Healthcare: I believe that healthcare is a human right. For most of the world, this is not a revolutionary idea, but in America, it is so far from our current reality. There is no reason why the wealthiest nation in the world should be so far behind in providing healthcare to everyone. It is well within our ability to make it happen. It is time for us to stop serving the powerful health insurance and pharmaceutical industries, and start shaping a coherent vision for national health care. It is possible to lower costs, guarantee coverage, and provide better health for all Americans.

Digital Bill of Rights: I support a digital bill of rights. Tech companies’ entire business model depends on our data. We have the right to some measure of control and to share in the benefits that our data produces. The impact of technology is so unregulated that it is clear that we need a digital bill of rights. Further, if we are to harness the significant potential of emerging technology like artificial intelligence we need to put guardrails in place now to minimize its negative effects and that can only be done through a human centered approach.

Economic Bill of Rights: I support an economic bill of rights that will establish a basic standard of living, access to necessary services, a clean environment, and an education for every American. True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security, but we have the resources and ingenuity to do it, so let’s do it!

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Service, love, integrity, vision, boldness, joy, and humility.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To protect and further the rights of Americans. To give a voice and fight for those that might not have one and to lift those on the margins. To protect and defend the constitution of the United States and to ensure that democracy and all its supporting practices flourish.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was 12 years old on 9/11. The enduring legacy to me of those horrific events is how a badly shaken nation came together in sadness and patriotism, how the public rallied behind the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and how Americans viewed the threat of terrorism at home and the steps the government took to combat it. In retrospect, our many missteps in responding to this unprecedented crisis are clear two decades later, but I wish that the national unity and willingness to pursue collective action were not so short-lived. Remarkably, the last time we truly had bipartisan action in America was 20 years ago. This was enshrined in the 9/11 commission co-chaired by the incomparable Congressman Lee Hamilton who held the seat I am running for for 34 years. Our current response to the horrors of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is in stark contrast to how the nation responded to 9/11 and that is in no small part due to the political incompetence and polarized partisanship of politicians like Rep. Trey Hollingsworth. We can reorganize our society around collective good and collective action and in that national unity continue to move America back toward our highest ideals and aspirations.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2018. Leukemia usually progresses slowly, so by the time I found out, it had already developed into a crisis. The years leading up to diagnosis were spent fighting increasingly worsening symptoms including severe fatigue, dramatic weight loss, chronic bone and muscle pain, stomach cramps, debilitating headaches, constant nausea and the frustrations that come from not knowing what is wrong with you. After my diagnosis, dealing with medical procedures, frequent hospitalizations, the side effects of chemotherapy, disruptions to my ability to work, let alone leave my bed, and the mental and emotional toll of all of this has been, to say the least, distressing. I also have had to deal with the injustices of the American healthcare system and the substantial impact it has had on my finances. Through all of this pain and suffering however, there is also hope, healing, and joy. Leukemia has shaped my worldview and it informs my decision to run for office. It also informs my impatience to see the great aspirations of America made a reality for everyone. I know first-hand that tomorrow is not promised, so if change will come, we must work for it now while we have the chance! Finally, the treatment that I have had to endure has also given me hope in the processes that lead to change in this country. All of the issues that we see now in this country are the symptoms of the underlying disease that has slowly developed into a crisis. Radical and immediate intervention is called for. The treatment can be painful and it may cost us everything, but if we endure, I can personally attest that we will heal and get better and live life like never before.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Asare's campaign website stated the following:

“	TO PROTECT INCOME AND WEALTH All Americans have a right to a basic standard of living. The distribution of wealth should be more equitable No American should fear old age Poverty of any kind should be abolished TO SECURE WORK & JOB EQUALITY All Americans have the right to contribute to our workforce and to have quality working conditions. Parenting, homemaking, and caregiving should be viewed as part of the workforce We should address the gender wage gap We should ensure paid leave We should protect labor unions TO ENSURE ADEQUATE HOUSING All Americans have the right to safe and accessible housing. TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS Healthcare is a human right. We must lower costs, increase accessibility, and improve outcomes. Improve U.S global ranking in life expectancy Improve clinical quality nationwide by at least 20% Lower annual spending on healthcare by at least 20% Improve patient convenience and satisfaction by at least 20% Improve satisfaction among clinicians by at least 20% Expand public health infrastructure TO REBUILD EDUCATION All Americans have a right to a quality education. Fully fund public Pre-K-12 education Highlight pathways to trade schools and skilled labor Invest in continuing education for working adults Lessen student debt burden TO GROW SUSTAINABLY We believe that our economy should balance people, planet, and profits. We should do all we can to expand productivity and innovation within the ecological cap of the planet. Protecting farmers by ensuring a stable and healthy environment America should lead the world in the production and sale of green technologies such as solar panels and electric vehicles creating 100,000s of jobs Invest in improving our electrical grid and infrastructure TO KEEP AMERICANS SAFE Providing for the common defense and protecting American lives is one of the primary constitutional obligations of our representatives. TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR LEISURE All Americans should have ample time for leisure, social, and community connections. TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES America should be the greatest place in the world to have, raise, and be children. Establish paid family leave for all Americans Guarantee Universal pre-k and childcare Reduce Indiana’s infant mortality rate Make the child tax credit permanent TO INCREASE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT All Americans have a right to participate in democracy. Make voting in federal elections mandatory Voting day should be a national holiday TO REFORM IMMIGRATION We should create an accessible pathway to legal migration and citizenship for those seeking opportunities in America. TO RE-ENVISION THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM We should build a criminal justice system that prioritizes the safety of all communities, ensures fair and equal justice, and encourages prevention and rehabilitation instead of mass incarceration. Promoting community safety through alternatives to incarceration Fostering successful reintegration and reducing recidivism Providing funding for mental health resources and other social services TO DEMOCRATIZE THE INTERNET It's time for a digital bill of rights - a 'new deal for data' that can restore balance to the tech world and ensure that our data works for us all, based on values we agree on. Pass a digital bill of rights Fund local media to counter disinformation Help small businesses compete in digital TO PROTECT CRITICAL CYBER-PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE Our increasingly interconnected society and infrastructure brings with it increased risks. We must protect our critical infrastructure from cyber attacks. Pass legislation mandating reporting requirements Invest heavily in workforce development Provide funding for state and local governments to shore up cybersecurity efforts TO LEAD IN THE TECHNOLOGICAL RACE The United States must lead the 4th Industrial revolution. We must invest heavily in new frontiers and emerging technologies in every sector of the economy. Pass a national Artificial Intelligence Strategy Invest 250 billion dollars over the next 5 years in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and 5G	”
—Isak Nti Asare's campaign website (2022)

See also

2022 Elections

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Candidate

U.S. House Indiana District 9

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Footnotes

[show]

Indiana's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Jim Banks (R)

Todd Young (R)

Representatives

District 1

Frank Mrvan (D)

District 2

Rudy Yakym (R)

District 3

Marlin Stutzman (R)

District 4

Jim Baird (R)

District 5

Victoria Spartz (R)

District 6

Jefferson Shreve (R)

District 7

André Carson (D)

District 8

Mark Messmer (R)

District 9

Erin Houchin (R)

Republican Party (9)

Democratic Party (2)