Why is Rishi running?

I am excited and honored to be running for United States Congress from the 18th Congressional District of California, the heart of Silicon Valley and my home. I am a hi-tech software executive, mechanical engineer by trade, married with two sons. I came to the United States as an immigrant, a 22-year-old graduate student, never dreaming that one day I would run for Congress. While working as an engineer for IBM, I found my calling as a community activist.

I am running for congress because I am tired of the constant cycle of career politicians failing to understand Silicon Valley’s innovation economy or its changing economic and social needs. For many years, I have observed a broken political system and have witnessed elected leaders who cater to lobbyists and pass policies that favor special interest groups. My professional experience in Silicon Valley’s software industry as a business and technology leader allows me to understand what it takes for Silicon Valley to succeed and for the gains to spread to our middle class and working-class families.

We need elected leaders who have the backbone and moral compass to make decisions of national importance, rather than looking to the establishment or the lobbyists to make their decision. We need effective leaders who will fight for our interests, not for special interests. We need leaders who are accessible and accountable and who will bring energy and innovative ideas to the tough challenges that lie ahead for America. This is what I pledge to do. I have a track record of fighting for my community. As a Saratoga City Councilmember, I organized a neighborhood watch program, identifying new neighborhood leaders and holding over a hundred neighborhood meetings. We brought down burglaries by 47%. I stood up against San Jose Water Company to impact seven water rate increases that reduced the water bill for a million people — 235,000 households — in Silicon Valley.

I hold to people-centric values. I am proud to be one of the few candidates running for Congress — the only candidate in this race — who has pledged to never accept any special interest group money or PAC money. We have a clear vision, a plan and the energy to address our COVID-19 challenges, reduce the cost of healthcare and grow our economy.

Representative Anna Eshoo, the current representative of California’s 18th District is the chair of the House Health Subcommittee, and yet she is also the #1 recipient of Pharma money in the United States Congress. Instead of fighting for us, she has passed legislation that increases the price of healthcare and pharmaceuticals for the American people. I have pledged to never accept PAC money or Special Interest Group money and operate with integrity.

In an op-ed piece published in the San Jose Mercury News, Congresswoman Eshoo took credit for pandemic preparedness that didn’t exist. “Fortunately, we have the tools to prepare for this threat and for the next one. For nearly 15 years, I’ve led the charge in Congress to develop preparedness plans for pandemics and other public health emergencies.” But America wasn’t prepared, and it brought us down to our knees. This is why I propose that we develop a National Pandemic Preparedness Program to avoid a disaster of such scale happening again. Doing so would be a critical first step to prevent the situation we’re currently experiencing.

With the current economic disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a new vision for the future of America and Silicon Valley is needed. Congress must address the challenges of healthcare, economic need, deep-seated racial disparities, climate change, housing, traffic, education, and neighborhood safety. We must bring a fearless problem-solving agenda to public service. America needs a new energy, new representatives who are not responding to lobbyists and special interest groups, but to the people. America needs not career politicians who are just seeking a paycheck, but real leaders who are invested in addressing real world problems.

Silicon Valley must lead the charge with its cutting-edge technology and prepare the next generation to succeed in a 21st century economy. We cannot continue having technologically illiterate elected leaders in Congress. Elon Musk recently tweeted, “The gerontocracy is out of touch with the people.” I strongly agree. The very future of American success and prosperity is at stake. The stakes are too high to fall behind. America cannot wait! I am ready to serve and I will serve well.