MARYLAND(TIP): Indian American Aruna Miller, who is running for Congress from Maryland’s open 6^th district, has won a key endorsement from Former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

 “Aruna Miller devotes her enormous energies and talents to her constituents, rising early, staying up late, all the while focused on results,” Kennedy Townsend said in a statement. “She has strong values and is able to work across the aisle. She is just the leader we need right now in Congress. I am proud to endorse her.”

Miller replied in gratitude to the former lieutenant governor.

“I am honored to have the endorsement of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, an outstanding public servant who left an indelible mark as Maryland’s first woman Lieutenant Governor,” she said. “Kathleen is one of my heroes and role models, and I am excited to have her support. Following her example, I will never stop trying to make Maryland, and the world, a better place.”

Kennedy Townsend is the daughter of Sen. Robert Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy.

Earlier on Saturday, Miller won a Western Maryland straw poll by securing 140 votes against 76 gained by her Democratic primary rival David Trone. Last month, she had won “Our Revolution” candidate forum straw poll.

She wrote on her Facebook page: “A deep gratitude to Western Marylanders, the voters, the Gubernatorial and Congressional candidates, and to the organizers of the Summit.”

She added that the straw poll results have been accurately predicting the primary winner for the last 14 years and the victory margin for the 6th Congressional District straw polls have never been this large.

“Thank you to the miracles in my life; my family, friends, the priceless volunteers, and the dedicated staff who poured their heart and soul into the exciting day,” she wrote on the post.

The primary is scheduled for June 26.

Miller has raised more than $1 million campaign donations so far. Her campaign said more than 97 percent of the contributions have come from individuals and it has “far outpaced her rivals in both the number of contributions (1,723) and individual donors (1,402).”

Miller, who came to the United States from India at age 7, is a civil engineer by profession. The issues she has focused include women’s rights, children’s safety, environmental protection, and transportation.