OHIO(TIP): Indian American Democrat candidate Aftab Puravel from Ohio’s first congressional district received former President Barack Obama’s endorsement on August 2.

The Hamilton County Courts clerk is one of the dozens of Democrats the former president — who’s considered the de facto leader of the party — endorsed via twitter in what’s billed as the “first wave of mid-term endorsements.”

Last week, political analyst Larry Sabato’s “Crystal Ball” moved the district to the “Toss up” column, indicating that it will be one of the dozens of districts that will decide which party will control Congress after November. Previously, Sabato had deemed Ohio-1 as “Likely Republican.”

Pureval is the only Indian American endorsed by Obama on Wednesday. In all, the previous occupant of the White House endorsed more than 80 Democrats who are running for various state and federal offices that include governor, lieutenant governor, US Senate and US House of Representatives.

Pureval, who won the Democratic primary unopposed, has so far outraised Chabot by more than 2 to 1 margin, campaign finance data by the Center for Responsive Politics shows. Through June 30, he raised more than $1.5 million, compared to $950,000 raised by the congressman.

Pureval, 35, is the son of an Indian father and Tibetan mom. He is a former Special Assistant US Attorney for the Department of Justice and the first Democrat to get elected as the Hamilton County Courts clerk in a hundred years.