Bobby Jindal

Jindal is also the first Indian-American to become governor. He also is Louisiana’s first non-white governor since Reconstruction and won re-election to the office.

He and his wife have three children.

His stand (entering the race)

Pitching himself as a “doer” in a field of talkers, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal declared his candidacy for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination Wednesday, June 24, and set about trying to distinguish himself from better-known rivals.

It’s a longshot effort, and Jindal’s prospects will depend in large measure on his continued courtship of evangelical Christian voters. But several other contenders also are determined to win over that group.

“We have a bunch of great talkers running for president, ” Jindal said at his opening rally. “We’ve had enough of talkers. It’s time for a doer. I’m not running for president to be somebody. I’m running for president to do something.”

The Oxford-educated son of Indian immigrants, can point to a political career filled with many achievements in a short time: a position as state health secretary when he was merely age 24, election to Congress at 32 and election as governor four years later.

But the GOP lineup does not lack seasoned politicians, some with much more star power. Jindal quickly struck at one of them, accusing former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush of wanting Republicans to “hide our conservative ideals.”

“But the truth is if we go down that road again, we will lose again, ” Jindal said.

Jindal announced his campaign online earlier in the day before his appearance in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner, La. Video clips on his website showed Jindal and his wife, Supriya, talking to their three children about the campaign to come.

Aides discussed Jindal’s plans to focus on social conservatives, as he has done for months in extensive travels, and highlight his reputation as a leader steeped in policy.

Jindal intends to present himself as “the youngest candidate with the longest resume, ” citing an extensive background in public policy and government, strategist Curt Anderson said.

In his speech, the Louisiana governor sought to position himself as an outsider: “I am running for president without permission from headquarters in Washington, D.C.”

Unpopular at home, Jindal waited until the state legislative session had ended and lawmakers found a way to close a $1.6 billion budget gap before he scheduled his presidential announcement. But he has been building his campaign for months with trips to key presidential voting states, particularly Iowa, where he has focused on Christian conservatives.

Raised a Hindu but a convert to Catholicism as a teenager, Jindal is competing for the evangelical vote with several contenders, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

While Jindal will continue to focus on “religious liberty, ” Anderson said, he aims to prove a candidate can be “both smart and Christian.” And in recent weeks, Jindal has worked to showcase more of the policy wonk reputation that got him elected governor, rather than just focusing on cultural issues.

He has drawn distinctions from other GOP contenders by noting he has published “detailed plans” on health care, defense, education and energy policy.

He has suggested governors are better equipped to become president because they have run state governments, balanced budgets and implemented policy. That’s an argument, however, that other White House hopefuls can also make: Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey and John Kasich of Ohio.

His support

He has been seen as a policy wunderkind in the Republican Party. His thoughtful stances are shared via the consevative policy group America Next. Before his official announcement, he had already told CNN, “I spent the last year and a half putting together details policies on energy, health care, education, foreign policy. I’m the only potential candidate with a detailed plan to repeal and replace Obamacare.”

He has proposed a health care plan as part of his prominent proposals. “Five years after being enacted into law, Obamacare’s massive government overreach and higher taxes continue to wreak havoc on the American economy and health care system. The unpopular, unworkable, and misguided law should be repealed in its entirety.”

The once-rising star is the first Indian-American to be considered a serious candidate for the White House, but as the Washington Post points out, he shuns that label and believes that every American should strive to live a non-hyphenated experience.

Striking a theme popular with social conservatives, he stresses the importance of his faith. “I know that some believe I talk too much about my faith, but I will not be silenced,” Jindal said. “I will not be silenced in order to meet their expectations of political correctness. They don’t seem to accept the idea that you can be both intellectual and Christian.”

Jindal, 44, released a book in October, “American Will,” which he said is meant as a “call to arms” for conservatives and an effort to revive his struggling campaign. The book retells the story of his conversion from Hinduism to Catholicism as a teenager and describes the religious beliefs he’s made a cornerstone of his campaign.

His critics

Jindal doesn’t get glowing reviews of his governance at home, as both Republicans and Democrats blame the governor’s financial policies for causing repeated budget crises and suggest those policies are driven by political ambitions.

As the governor made his announcement speech in June, anti-Jindal protesters amassed outside. Christopher Williams, a University of New Orleans student who called for the protest on a Facebook page, said participants had a variety of beefs with Jindal, such as his tax policy, education cuts and opposition to gay marriage. “One thing that the governor has been able to do is unite people against him, ” Williams said.