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Enough Is Enough: Why Rakhi Israni Must Win in District 14
Retired space scientist Dr Subhash Garg says that not all outsiders succeed, but Rakhi Israni has what it takes to will the election.
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Subhash Garg - Wed, 20, May 2026
- 03:44 EDT
- 25
Rakhi Israni / Handout
Indian Americans are an embattled minority. Despite our superlative performance in any field you can name, our young people wait decades in immigration lines, our stores and temples are vandalized, our religion is distorted in textbooks, our very origins are fought over, and our few elected representatives have to bite their tongue.
Yet politicians of all stripes attack us at will with impunity.
One such politician is California Sen. Dr. Aisha Wahab. She is — or should be — notorious for her thinly veiled attack on Hindus, as senator, on the Senate floor. She stated matter-of-factly that “caste” causes rape, murder, even slavery, knowing that the public associates “caste” with Hindus. Her impassioned speech got the state Assembly and Senate to approve her bill. The law would have made anyone who might look Indian a target of xenophobia. Fortunately, Gov. Newsom vetoed it.
Enter successful, passionate nonprofit attorney Rakhi Israni. She is opposing Sen. Wahab in the Democratic primary for California Congressional District 14, to replace Rep. Eric Swalwell. Rakhi is not a career politician, thank God. She will not forget, ignore, misunderstand, or misrepresent Indian Americans, or worse, vote against us. In a democracy we must support our own people, and now is the time. Enough is enough.
Rakhi Israni’s impressive funding, about $2.1 million as of March 31, 2026, comes from individuals. Her support is indeed grassroots — and nationwide. She is not beholden to undisclosed fat cats who might want to get their money’s worth. This by itself is a compelling reason to make sure that she wins.
Wahab, on the other hand, attracted $2.9 million in her 2022 state Senate campaign from independent groups representing special interests. Similar funds were spent to oppose her, but her “grassroots” support was illusory. If she wins the primary, there will again be millions in special-interest funding — with strings attached. And yet if you look at her record, she attracts controversy and wastes effort on fake issues.
Israni needs every single one of our votes, for the establishment is against her. The San Jose Mercury News article by Kyle Martin, on April 17, 2026, tries to paint her as a MAGA sympathizer, basing his venom largely on a few tiny, long-past donations to Republicans. He openly mocks and doubts her Democratic credentials. This sort of character assassination should enrage us.
Rakhi is a mother of four teenagers, a nonprofit attorney, and a motivated educator whose company created thousands of jobs, and who has mentored thousands of K-12 kids. She is a can-do optimist who knows people’s problems and does something about them. If you want a talker and hand-waver, get someone else. Her training at the Police Academy led to a strong work ethic and commitment to service. See this interview to hear her story, and her campaign website for her platform and related links.
Not all outsiders succeed, but Rakhi Israni has what it takes. Unlike Aisha Wahab, she isn’t beholden to special interests, she is not aligned with vicious anti-Hindu DMK or Khalistani types, or captive to special interests. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi’s loss and Rep. Ro Khanna’s growing national prominence make her indispensable.
In the June 2 primary, let’s confound the pundits. Let’s make Rakhi win.
The author is a retired award-winning space scientist
(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad.)
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