Ravinder Bhalla has created history and has stepped up as the first Sikh mayor of New Jersey's Hoboken city. He was endorsed by ex mayor, Dawn Zimmer.

Thank you Hoboken. I look forward to being your Mayor! #TeamBhalla #FinishedStrong pic.twitter.com/UKPuXkDWGX

— Ravinder S. Bhalla (@RaviBhalla) November 8, 2017

When Zimmer announced that she wouldn't be running in the election again, it did raise many eyebrows. Bhalla didn't have it easy out there. Soon after the campaign kicked off, it turned into a heated race. Ravinder Bhalla was subjected to a lot of communal hate and was even tagged as a 'terrorist', all in order to satisfy some unwanted political and religious propaganda. In fact, there were even flyers all around the city urging people to not vote for him.

Yesterday, a flyer w/ word “terrorist” above a pic of me was circulated in Hob. Of course this is troubling, but we won't let hate win. pic.twitter.com/Ri9xrYF4Al

— Ravinder S. Bhalla (@RaviBhalla) November 4, 2017

However, hate did not win this fight, but a will to serve his city and his country definitely did. 

“Thank you for having faith in me, for having faith in our community, faith in our state, and faith in our country; this is what America is all about. We've been through a bruising campaign... but now is the time we come together and see who we can work with to bring this city forward," he said. His win is a victory against bigotry. 

Congratulations! !! Mr Ravinder bhalla elected as Mayor of New jersi..Indias pride

— Dev kumar Vicky (@dev7Vicky) November 8, 2017

Soon after his win was announced, #TeamBhalla started trending and people have been pouring their love and support ever since.

130 years after Sikhs first came to our great country, a New Jersey-born lawyer & Councilman becomes the next mayor of Hoboken & the first directly elected turban-wearing #Sikh mayor of a major American city in U.S. history. So proud of @RaviBhalla! #TeamBhalla #FinishedStrong pic.twitter.com/c7RN1iDxqi

— Amandeep S. Sidhu (@amansidhu_dc) November 8, 2017

Ladies and Gentlemen, the next mayor of the great city of #Hoboken.... @RaviBhalla #teambhalla pic.twitter.com/HPZZUxs4t3

— Jason Freeman (@jfreemanNJ) November 8, 2017

Today Hoboken can become a shining example of standing up against hate and bigotry by voting for @RaviBhalla #TeamBhalla #Hoboken

— Shankar Chaudhuri (@tschaudhuri) November 7, 2017

Hokoben has made history and hopefully Ravinder Bhalla will 'chakk de phatte' and do a damn good job as the new mayor of Hoboken!