Bajun Ray Mavalwalla
Auspicious Origins
Bajun Ray Mavalwalla’s story is one of service, perseverance, and heart. Born in Avenal, California, to Bajun and Sylvia Mavalwalla, he learned early on the value of hard work and responsibility. His father worked as a draftsman for Chevron, and his mother was a telephone operator for Pacific Bell. In 1968, the family moved to Petaluma, California, where Bajun was raised and attended public schools.
From a young age, Bajun showed a natural sense of civic duty. His first political experience came when he helped pass out flyers for a local Republican running for state assembly. Not long after, at just 10 years old, he stood before the Petaluma City Council to speak about speeding drivers near his elementary school. The city listened and lowered the speed limit. The signs still stand today as a small reminder that one person’s voice can make a difference.
A young Bajun and his fiancée.
A Life of Service and Learning
While studying at Santa Rosa Junior College, Bajun began an internship with then-Congresswoman Barbara Boxer. His passion for public service grew as he became president of the Young Democrats and served on the Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee. But his path took an unexpected turn when he was selected as an exchange student to the Kingdom of Nepal. There, he studied international service and development under professors from Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, then spent months living and working in a rural village a life-changing experience that deepened his respect for community and resilience.
Returning home, Bajun faced the financial reality of completing college and chose a different path joining the United States Army alongside his longtime fiancée. Together, they trained at Fort Dix, New Jersey, before attending the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, where they both became fluent in Russian and earned their Top-Secret clearances. Bajun went on to serve in electronic warfare units in Texas and Louisiana, where their son was born.
After his initial service, Bajun returned home to Petaluma, where he stayed active in local politics and the National Guard while providing for his growing family. He joined the Pile Drivers Union, Local 34, and learned the skilled trades a lesson, he says, in “the dignity of hard work and the importance of feeding your family first.
Bajun (center) with his comrades.
Decades of Dedication
Bajun eventually returned to active duty as a U.S. Army recruiter in Petaluma, San Rafael, and at the Presidio of San Francisco. “I absolutely loved working with students and in the community,” he recalls. “Helping young people find purpose and opportunity was one of the best parts of my career.
That sense of purpose deepened after the attacks of September 11th, 2001. When the 19th Special Forces Group called needing an experienced soldier, Bajun answered. Just months later, he found himself on a ridge in Afghanistan during a rocket attack one of many missions that would define his decades of service.
Over his 20-year military career, Bajun served across the world from Iraq to Afghanistan and earned a direct commission as an officer after 17 years enlisted. His assignments took him to leadership roles far beyond his rank, including as Liaison Officer to the Political Section of the U.S. Embassy
in Baghdad. His final deployment was especially meaningful: serving as a police advisor in Afghanistan while his son, now an Army linguist, was deployed nearby.
From the Military to Community Leadership
After retiring from the military, Bajun continued his lifelong commitment to community and public service, managing political campaigns and mentoring others in leadership. His career also took him overseas again, working with international teams and visiting more than 50 countries.
In 2020, Bajun moved to Valley, Washington, to help his son renovate an old farmhouse and barn. He quickly fell in love with the land, the people, and the strong sense of community in Eastern Washington.
Bajun in rural Eastern Washington
Bajun planned to enjoy the quiet life he had earned. But when the government began attacking the very citizens he swore to protect, he couldn't stay on the sidelines. As he watched civil liberties come under threat, community voices being pushed aside, and political leaders feeding division, Bajun realized Eastern Washington needed advocates who would stand up not stand by, especially after he witnessed a Representative acting as a "Rubber Stamp" for the establishment instead of a defender of the Constitution.
The turning point came when he witnessed his own son being arrested by the FBI for nonviolently protesting against ICE in Spokane. That moment drove home just how easily power can be abused and how urgently ordinary people need someone willing to fight for fairness, accountability, and constitutional rights. “I didn’t plan on running for Congress,” he says, “but I’ve spent my life standing up for what’s right and I’m not stopping now.”
Bajun and his son at Palouse Falls
A Voice for Eastern Washington
Today, Bajun R. Mavalwalla is running for Congress to bring accountability, compassion, and common sense back to Washington’s 5th District. Drawing on a lifetime of service from the Army to the classroom to his community he’s committed to protecting the Bill of Rights, defending working families, and ensuring that Eastern Washington’s values are heard loud and clear in the halls of Congress.
Let's Take Our Country Back!
Want to volunteer or learn more?
Please call or text the Bajun for Congress office: (509) 289-5596.
By sending us a text message, you consent to receive campaign text messages from Bajun for Congress, including updates, event invitations, volunteer opportunities, and donation requests. Message frequency may vary. Message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help. Reply STOP to opt out. By opting in, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
Join me and my campaign on any one of our various social media platforms:
BlueSky FaceBook Instagram Reddit Tik Tok X/Twitter YouTube