Democratic congressional candidate from Oregon Brad Avakian, Armenian by origin, is using his roots to raise funds for his election campaign, AP writes.

The Associated Press says Avakian is using his Armenian roots to get money from the Armenian communities throughout U.S., stressing he previously criticized such move by former Rep. Chinese-American David Wu.

“The Armenian community across the country is very interested in having people in Congress who will be champions for their issues,” he said in an interview with AP.

Avakian’s website says he is a third generation Armenian-American. His great-grandfather, Zakar Avakian, and his grandfather, Avak Avakian, were born and raised in Mush in what is today in Eastern Turkey. Zakar and Avak escaped Mush in 1896 immigrating to Egypt and then to U.S. settling in the large Armenian community in Fresno, California.

If elected Avakian would be the third Armenian-American currently serving in Congress together with Reps. Anna Eshoo (Assyrian and Armenian American) and Jackie Speier (mother –Armenian American), both California Democrats.