Ritu Jha–
Indian American Rishi Kumar, who is running in the crowded US Congress ballot for California’s District 16, says he is confident of his victory because of his grassroots campaign in a constituency that stretches from East San Jose to Pacifica and includes the cities of Palo Alto, Mountain View and Menlo Park. His high-tech, Silicon Valley background could well work in three of the most recognized urban tech agglomerations in the world.
The District 16 congressional seat is up for grabs on account of incumbent 81-year-old Anna Eshoo, a 16-term Representative, retiring next year.
Kumar, an engineer by profession, has served as a city of Saratoga as its councilmember and has run several times — unsuccessfully — against Eshoo, who has announced that she would not seek re-election in 2024. Eshoo, who was first elected to Congress in 1992 in the Silicon Valley Democratic stronghold, is also a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and served for a decade on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors before going to Washington.
Kumar told indica, “I’ve always been a grassroots kind of guy. Corporate sponsors and PACs (Political Action Committee) have no place in my campaign, and I’ve never taken their money. We’ve got something more powerful: a commitment to genuine change powered by voters.”
In the 2022 election, Eshoo received 139,235 votes whereas Kumar did well by getting 101, 772 votes. He says his message is resonating within the district, and the campaign contributions are growing. “Applications to join our leadership team are up, and more families are asking to host backyard “Meet Rishi’ meetings. We’ve also seen a surge in requests for lawn signs and a spike in our high school and college students’ internship applications. Compared to earlier when many were not as welcoming to have lawn signs.”
Kumar said he and he his wife Seema have always worked together, and “now we’ve been joined by over 1200 volunteers, all of whom pledge their time and energy to our clean-money campaign.” “We’ve knocked on hundreds and thousands of doors.”
In the 2022 election, Kumar garnered an impressive 42.3% of votes in this district, challenging an incumbent of three decades. His success spanned numerous cities and precincts here, marking a historic moment as no other challenger in this seat’s history had ever received
such widespread support.
“My broad support base mirrors my substantial tech background as a C-suite executive in Silicon Valley. Equally important, I am not a career politician. This support also highlights the efficacy of my campaign strategy, from thoughtful planning and vigorous fundraising to gaining multiple endorsements and communicating impactful messages,” he said. “My comprehensive understanding of our community’s needs has been pivotal in this journey. With 20 years in the Software & AI industry, I’ve witnessed first-hand how recent technological advancements are reshaping our future. The departure of tech workers and investors from Silicon Valley, coupled with challenges faced by workers in all sectors, underscores the urgent need for knowledgeable and proactive leadership in our congressional district.”
He told indica his goals in Congress extend beyond tech literacy; and he aspires to bring Silicon Valley’s proactive, pragmatic ethos to Capitol Hill. “Silicon Valley demands leadership grounded in a thorough understanding of its pioneering spirit and leaders committed to the welfare and economic growth of our community. I advocate for a new political era driven by the people’s voices, not lobbyists’ influence. My campaign is for the people, championed by the people.”
What were the big issues Congresswoman Eshoo was unable to resolve? Kumar said, “As Silicon Valley’s first tech-savvy representative, my priority will be to bolster our economy, repatriate American jobs to reinforce our supply chain integrity, and ensure that our region remains the global hub of innovation. My initial focus in the first 100 days will be centered on these goals.”
He believes with his insider’s knowledge, he is uniquely positioned to guide Silicon Valley towards a thriving future.
Kumar says at this critical point, California, particularly Silicon Valley, faces a crossroad. “As a key economic driver for both the state and the nation, the current trend of innovators and investors leaving raises serious concerns about our future. The entrenched attitudes of career politicians, resistant to change, threaten our state’s vibrancy and growth. For too long, they’ve taken Silicon Valley’s robust economy for granted, failing to introduce innovative policies and fresh perspectives essential for our continued growth.”
He said, “We’re grappling with critical issues like crime, housing, traffic, and water scarcity, yet there’s a lack of a clear, forward-looking vision. Paradoxically, while California aims to fight climate change, our legislators pass laws that undermine the solar industry in favor of utility companies, signaling a misguided direction.”
He believes the policies need to address more than just surface-level issues; they must confront the complexities of housing, environmental
sustainability, bridging the digital divide, and fostering equitable economic growth. “As we move ahead, it’s crucial to choose leaders who are visionaries, not just career politicians – leaders who personify and advocate for the innovative spirit of Silicon Valley. The future of California and our nation depends on visionary leadership,” said Kumar, who will be facing eight more people on March 5 primary — Evan Bell (D), Joby Bernstein (D), Sam Liccardo (D), Evan Low (D), Peter Dixon (D), Julie Lythcott-Haims (D), Peter Ohtaki (R), Karl Ryan (R), and Nickesh Viswanathan (Ind).
He said his work as City of Saratoga councilmember, where consistently rejected land-developer money, made it easier for him to respond to the people’s challenges without any undue influences. “I believe in making fearless people-centric choices to address the top challenges of my community. As an elected leader, I challenged an investor-owned water utility company and am still pushing back on their rampant rate increases. My efforts have been successful. We rejected 10 rate increase proposals. We fight for the people and not the special interest groups,” Kumar said.”I will fight for the issues important to our families and our neighbors, not the special interest groups who have misaligned agendas align. We need to level the playing field for people-centric policies that our country desperately needs to address America’s downhill slide.”
