Rishi wins top spot at AD28 CA Democratic Party caucus elections

SARATOGA, CA: In the recent Caucus elections conducted by the California Democratic Party to elect Delegates and Executive Board (E-Board) members of the party, City of Saratoga Councilmember Rishi Kumar was running for Delegate and E-Board from Assembly District (AD) 28. The Assembly District Election Meetings (ADEMS) are held every two years. This year the AD28 election was held in the city of Campbell.

IMG 8615Rishi resoundingly won the top spot for E-Board and finished as the top Delegate with the most votes amongst all the male candidates running for Delegate. There were a total of 33 men and women who were running to be Delegates. This will be Rishi’s 3rd term as E-Board and 4th term as Delegate for Assembly District 28.
Rishi first ran for Delegate and E-Board in 2013 and as a rookie candidate won the top spot for both Delegate and E-Board – his first victory in any election. Since then he has also won seats in two general elections in 2014 and 2018 on the Saratoga City Council. In the recent 2018 Saratoga city council election held November 2018, Rishi got the top spot and the most votes in comparison to any candidate in the 60 years election history of Saratoga.

Rishi was excited! “What a turnout today! A total of 1,037 passionately zealous voters showed up. Democracy is working for sure, in fact, alive and kicking. I was very excited to see the engagement in our 28th Assembly District especially all the passionate

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community activists who were educating, asking the hard questions and wanting to elect the right kind of Democratic candidates with a people first attitude”
Rishi ran as a slate with four other candidates who all won including Anusha Kondiparti, Rahul Vasanth, Ram Gopal and Uma Krishnan. Anusha, Rahul and Uma were running for the very first time. Anusha was the top vote getter amongst women. Assembly District Delegates to the Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) are responsible for planning and attending informational meetings throughout the region and working with other DSCC delegates throughout California to represent their community.

Rishi’s campaign message to his district community was about standing with the people first and foremost, working for the people, not being swayed by the special interest groups, staying fiercely independent and doing the right thing for the people. His success story in Saratoga, taking on the fight for the toughest challenges like safety and water that no one else wanted to engage with, wanting to do the right thing for his constituents, ultimately leading to a top place finish in the 2018 General Elections, was something that likely resonated with the Delegate voters of AD28
California AD 28 comprises the following cities: Saratoga, Cupertino, Campbell, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, San Jose (area roughly south of 280 and west of 87). The governing body of the California Democratic Party is the Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC), made up of approximately 2,900 members.

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Fourteen Assembly District (AD) delegates are elected in caucuses that are held in each and every one of 80 Assembly Districts in January of every odd-numbered year. Rishi Kumar was elected as the Delegate for the 2019-2020 term based on this election and will attend the annual State Convention. This year’s state convention is in San Francisco between May 31st- June 2nd. During state Conventions held in odd-numbered years after presidential elections, these members of the DSCC elect the Officers of the California Democratic Party. Officers serve four-year terms.

While the entire DSCC meets only once a year to conduct business at the State Convention, the Executive Board of the DSCC (E-Board) meets two more times each year to conduct business that arises during the intervals between conventions. There are approximately 320 E-Board members. At E-Board meetings, the standing committees and caucuses meet and conduct their business. In even-numbered presidential election years, the members of the E-Board elect the 19 DNC members that represent California on the Democratic National Committee in Washington, DC.

Rishi was surprised. “I am in a bit of awe and shock! We were running against some very remarkable people of AD28. Our Assembly District is in good hands with so many amazing candidates who ran; community, leaders who showed up to evaluate these candidates and discuss issues near and dear to their hearts. There were so many activists who converged to vote, holding Silicon Valley’s interest first and foremost and that of our glorious state of California, essentially holding our leaders accountable. What a day for Silicon Valley! I am looking forward to doing a lot of good for our California Democratic Party as the E-Board and Delegate. What an honor!”