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Rakhi Israni responds to donation criticism in CD-14
akhi Israni defends her Democratic record, addresses donation criticism and says civic participation remains central to her CA-14 bid.
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Staff Reporter - Mon, 25, May 2026
- 16:06 EDT
- 23
Rakhi Israni / Handout
Washington: Rakhi Israni, a first-time Democratic congressional candidate from California’s 14th Congressional District, has pushed back against scrutiny surrounding her past political donations, saying her decades-long support for the Democratic Party should not be overshadowed by what she described as a “handful” of contributions.
A non-profit lawyer and educator by profession, Israni said she has spent years encouraging civic participation and helping strengthen Democratic engagement within underrepresented communities.
Decades of Democratic Engagement
Israni said she has identified as a Democrat since the age of 18 and has actively supported Democratic causes and candidates for decades.
“I've tried to be politically engaged as much as I can, as a mother, as someone actively involved in humanitarian causes. I've done what I thought was right to hopefully strengthen the community,” she said.
“I haven't been politically savvy, for sure, but I've tried to be engaged and be active,” she added, while emphasizing that she has “overwhelmingly” contributed to Democratic candidates and organizations over the years.
According to Israni, her long-standing support for the Democratic Party should be viewed in the broader context of her civic and humanitarian work.
Addressing Questions Around Donations
Responding directly to criticism over past donations, Israni said a small number of contributions made years ago did not reflect her current political beliefs or values.
“In a few instances, I financially contributed to candidates who later took positions that I strongly oppose, including one whose views I find abhorrent and incompatible with my own,” she said.
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She argued that focusing only on isolated donations creates a misleading picture of her overall political engagement and record.
Israni also addressed allegations raised by opponents regarding the funding behind her congressional campaign.
“Even though I am a first-time candidate, I appreciate the momentum and excitement that got generated for my campaign. Hundreds of donors contributed and we raised close to a million dollars from the public and across the Bay Area,” she said.
Further Israni added, “The idea that people wanted a voice and were contributing to my campaign was encouraging. I matched personally whatever was contributed. So, in total we raised about $2 million.”
Building Political Participation in the Bay Area
Israni said her broader goal has always been to encourage greater civic participation, especially within communities that are often underrepresented in mainstream political spaces.
She noted that she founded the Bay Area Hindu Democratic Club to help bring more voters from the community into the Democratic Party and increase political awareness and engagement.
According to Israni, she has continued supporting Democratic organizations and initiatives, including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, and ActBlue.
“I have always encouraged people to be more involved in whatever they want, to pay attention, to vote, to contribute. And I hope that people are judged for their actions as opposed to assumptions made. In the past decade I have given a lot to the Democratic Party,” Israni said.
While the special election to replace former Congressman Eric Swalwell is scheduled for August 18, the Democratic primary is set for June 16. The primary for the permanent seat will be held on June 2.
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