Indian American attorney and community leader Rakhi Israni has entered the race for the US Congress, saying her campaign is driven by a desire to restore duty and decency in policymaking. Speaking about her decision, Israni said many communities feel excluded from decisions that directly affect their daily lives, particularly on issues such as affordability, healthcare, and overall quality of life.
Israni announced her candidacy last week after the seat in California’s 14th Congressional District became open. The district is currently represented by Congressman Eric Swalwell, who is running for governor. She described the decision as sudden but timely, saying the opportunity presented a chance to re-energize community participation and encourage people to take a more active role in shaping policies that affect them.
In an interview, Israni said she was motivated by frustration over what she sees as a decline in effective governance. She argued that public debate has become louder but less productive, with real problems remaining unresolved. According to her campaign, she raised more than 1 million dollars within the first day of announcing her run, signaling strong early support from donors across the country.
Describing her background, Israni said she is a mother of four, an attorney, an entrepreneur, and an educator. Her work on issues such as food insecurity, homelessness, housing shortages, and rising living costs convinced her that she could make a broader impact by serving at the federal level. She said her choices have consistently been guided by family values and a commitment to service.
The 14th District includes parts of the Bay Area, such as Fremont, Hayward, Pleasanton, Livermore, and Dublin. Israni noted that the district has a large Asian population, with Indian Americans making up one of the biggest groups of registered voters. She described it as an educated region with strong home ownership, where families are focused on long-term stability and opportunities for their children.
On policy priorities, Israni said improving quality of life would be central to her campaign. She highlighted rising living costs, access to healthcare, and basic economic security as key concerns. She also criticized Congress for focusing too much on social media attention rather than meaningful solutions, saying many people simply want to be heard.
On foreign policy, Israni said strengthening ties between the United States and India is important, particularly given the district’s proximity to Silicon Valley and its technology-driven economy. She also described herself as a “dharmic” candidate, explaining that her values are rooted in duty, service, and social responsibility rather than religion.
If elected, Israni would become the seventh Indian American member of the House of Representatives and only the second Indian American woman to serve in Congress, marking another milestone in the community’s growing role in US public life.
