Florida (TIP): Indian-American Mary Thomas, @MaryThomasEsq, a government attorney in Florida, narrowly lost her bid to enter the US House of Representatives in the closely contested Florida Republican Congressional primary.

38-year-old Mary Thomas, lost the party’s primary in Congressional District 2 of Florida, by just 1700 votes, to surgeon Neal Dunn.

“Congratulations to our next Congressman Neal Dunn. Together we will work to Make America Great Again. Thank you to our many volunteers” Ms Thomas tweeted.

Congratulations to our next Congressman Neal Dunn. Together we will work to Make America Great Again. Thank you to my many volunteers. MT

— Mary Thomas (@MaryThomasEsq) August 31, 2016

Her parents arrived in America from India in 1972. The Thomas family eventually settled in Pinellas County, where they started a successful small business.

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Ms Thomas has been a member of Governor Rick Scott’s administration since he was sworn into office in January 2011.

She currently serves as the General Counsel at the Department of Elder Affairs where she manages and oversees the legal department of an agency that administers a USD 900 million budget.

Neal Dunn, a businessman and surgeon, claims he is a conservative, but has fundraised for a Democrat and lied about being a lobbyist. He also advocated for expanding Medicaid in Florida and doesn’t think Obamacare should be immediately repealed.

Mary Thomas, meanwhile, wanted to stop Common Core, immediately repeal Obamacare, and supported term limits. She was endorsed, amongst others, by the conservative Club for Growth, House Freedom Caucus chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio (A, 94%), and the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List. Dunn was endorsed by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. (F, 38%) and supported by the ESA Fund, the same establishment PAC that targeted Tim Huelskamp in Kansas this year.