Harry Bhandari, a Democrat representing District 8 in Baltimore County, Maryland, is a Nepalese-born American politician and educator serving in the Maryland House of Delegates since January 9, 2019. Born on October 1, 1977, in Thapathana, Nepal, he is the first Nepali American elected to a state legislature in the United States. Notable achievements include receiving the Baltimore County Asian American Award in 2017 and serving as chair of the Land Use and Zoning Subcommittee of the Economic Matters Committee in 2026. He ran unsuccessfully for Maryland's 2nd congressional district in the 2024 Democratic primary.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Earned an M.A. in English Literature from Tribhuvan University in Nepal; attended The Johns Hopkins University and University of Maryland Baltimore County, where he received a Ph.D. in 2021.
• Early Career: Former principal and English teacher in Kathmandu public schools; teacher in Baltimore City and Baltimore County Public Schools since 2006, including at Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School; adjunct faculty at Baltimore City Community College.
• Political Experience: Volunteered for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign; past secretary of the Young Democrats of America Minority Caucus; board member of the District 6 Democratic and Civic Association Club; president of Linover Community Association; member of Baltimore County Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee since 2013. Unsuccessfully ran for House of Delegates in 2014; elected in 2018 on a slate with Carl W. Jackson and Eric Bromwell, defeating incumbent Republican Joe Cluster. Served on Health and Government Operations Committee with subcommittees on health occupations/long-term care and insurance/pharmaceuticals; shifted to Economic Matters Committee in 2026, chairing land use/zoning and serving on housing/real property subcommittees. Secretary of Maryland Legislative Asian-American and Pacific-Islander Caucus. Married with two children.