Who Is Darshana Patel? Research Scientist Runs For California State Assembly

Indian-American Darshana Patel announced her bid to run for the California State Assembly District 76. The 48-year-old is seeking the North County seat that will be vacated after 2024.

The community leader and Democrat was quoted saying, "As the daughter of immigrants who struggled to realise the American Dream, I know the challenges that families can face during hard times."

Darshana Patel, who moved to California when she was a teenager decided to use her experience as an elected school board member, civic leader, and scientist to make a difference.

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Who Is Darshana Patel?

• Indian-American research scientist Darshana Patel announced that she would run for the California State Assembly in 2024.
• Patel is seeking the North County seat that will be vacated after Brian Maienschein is termed out.
• Another Democrat, veteran, and lawyer Joseph Rocha also announced his candidacy.
• Patel's campaign earned early endorsements from Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna.
• In her campaign announcement, Patel said she wants to invest in public education, protect the environment, improve healthcare access, and keep communities safe.
• Patel was elected to the Poway Unified board when the district was struggling due to financial mismanagement and criminal embezzlement and helped restore fiscal responsibility.
• Due to her work at the Poway Unified board, she was reelected in 2020.
• In addition to her work as a research scientist and work on the school board, she served on the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs.
• Patel also served as president of the San Diego County School Boards Association.
• Darshana Patel lives with her husband and their three daughters in San Diego.
• The research scientist has a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry from Occidental College and a PhD in Biophysics from the University of California, Irvine.
• Recently, Patel was awarded the 2023 Occidental College Alumni Seal Award's Alumna of the Year.
• Patel previously held executive positions on the Park Village Elementary Parent Teacher Association, Education Foundation Board, Rancho Penasquitos Planning Board, and Rancho Penasquitos Town Council.