Darshana Patel was sworn in as the new Assembly member for California’s 76th District on December 2, marking a key milestone in her political journey. The Indian-American research scientist and former Poway Unified School District board member was elected in a tight race against Republican Kristie Bruce-Lane in the Nov. 5 election.
Patel, representing a district with a history of stronger Republican voting power, expressed her excitement in a Facebook post, stating that she was sworn in as the Assembly member for AD 76 and is ready to serve the community and champion the issues that matter most. She emphasized that, together, they would create a future that everyone could take pride in.
The 76th District, now includes areas such as San Marcos, Escondido, and Rancho Bernardo, following California’s 2021 district redrawing.
Originally from a family of immigrants, Patel moved to California as a teenager. After her mother’s sudden passing at age 14, she was inspired to pursue a career in the medical and health research fields. She holds a B.A. in Biochemistry from Occidental College and a Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University of California, Irvine.
Before entering politics, Patel worked in biotechnology research and made efforts to give back to her community. She ran for the Poway Unified School District in 2016, successfully helping restore effective governance and fiscal responsibility after the district faced financial mismanagement and embezzlement.
Re-elected in 2020, Patel now aims to leverage her experience to shape policies that will positively impact the people of California’s 76th District. She resides in San Diego with her husband and three daughters.
