Penultimate district wide email
Career politicians speak from both sides of their mouth. Rishi Kumar brings authenticity!
With one day left in the primary campaign, my campaign team and I are thrilled! Here’s why:
I’m polling at #1—proof that grassroots campaigns work.
I’m still the only candidate in this race with a record of dropping crime, taxes, and utility rates.
We’ve spent $1.7 million on voter outreach—the most efficient campaign in this race.
We haven’t accepted a single dollar from PACs or special interest groups.
We’ve knocked on over 150,000 doors in the district, and we’ve listened to our neighbors. We’re ready to fight for you when we get to Washington next year.
"Career Politician" has emerged as the most critical term in the 2024 primary election, reflecting widespread frustration with the political status quo. In the real world, poor performance NEVER leads to a promotion, and it should be the same in politics.
PG&E and other special interests have pumped almost $7 million into this congressional race. These groups want to buy your vote and send their puppet-of-choice to Washington. I haven’t taken a single dollar from them because I work only for you! Can career politicians say the same?
I’m NOT a career politician. Here’s a snapshot of my record:
I dropped burglaries by a historic 50% in Saratoga—the highest drop of any city in Santa Clara or San Mateo County. I was honored to be reelected with the highest vote count in city history.
I fight for the people, not powerful special interests. I’ve successfully pushed back against San Jose Water Company rate hikes, and I have a plan to turn both PG&E and SJWC into public utilities that work for us.
Rather than rubber-stamping a new parcel tax, I voted “no” and pushed for government optimization.
We should NOT send ineffective, co-opted, career politicians to Washington. They’re simply not up to it. Here are some examples:
Career politicians say they’re tough on crime, but they all pushed hard for Proposition 47—a state measure that has increased crime in every corner of the state.
Career politicians have protected PG&E for years, and not one of them lifted a finger to challenge San Jose Water Company’s many proposed rate hikes. It’s no surprise that our utility bills are among the highest in the country. But now these career politicians promise us they’ll “fight the utility companies.” How exactly? And when?
It’s time to return ethics to politics and focus on results. Enough talk—let’s work together for the future we want.
Watch Rishi Kumar's interview on KPIX CBS San Francisco || KNTV NBC Bay Area
Read Rishi's Slumdog Engineer personal journey
All ballots must be dropped off by tomorrow, Tuesday, March 5 at 8pm. If you only like a few of the choices on your ballot, fill just those out, sign your ballot, and put it in the mail. There is no wrong way for you to vote. If you lost your ballot, you can fill out a provisional ballot at any voting center.
Would you honor me with your vote? Please reply and let me know.
Sincerely,
🇺🇸Rishi Kumar🇺🇸
U.S. House of Representative, District 16 candidate
Let's look at Rishi's run by the numbers:
Polling #1 - here
A historic 42.2% of the vote count in November 2022
$1.7 million spent in voter outreach without a dime fromPG&E, PACs or special interest groups
Knocked on over 150,000 doors in the district
Over 2000 student interns
126,751 votes in this very Congressional district
Top-2 twice in the primary elections!
100% grassroots campaign - zero campaign consultants
PRIMARY ELECTION 2024
Election date: March 5, 2024: Thanks to many of you, our campaign triumphed in California's 2022 primary election, defeating six other formidable candidates to advance to the general election. Rishi is ready to win again in 2024 with your support!
"Politicians should wear sponsor jackets like Nascar drivers, then we know who owns them”
- Robin Williams
Rishi is NOT a career politician. In his own words:
I'm an engineer and C-suite executive, not a career politician. I am the only candidate in this race who has dropped crime, taxes, and utility rates.
I've rejected tax hikes and pushed for government optimization. Unlike career politicians, I understand the burden of high taxes and utility bills. I stopped SJWC rate hikes and a new parcel tax, pushing instead for government efficiency.
I challenged PG&E's rampant rate increases and plans to undermine California's rooftop solar program. Help me continue this effort here.
In response to concerned seniors, I successfully pushed back ten San Jose Water Company rate increases, saving a million residents money on their utility bill.
CASE STUDY: CRIME & TENT CITIES in SAN JOSE have skyrocketed under this career politicians watch that The Left Hook documented well. Here are some highlights:
ETHICAL BREACH: In 2023, a judge ruled that he violated the state’s Public Records Act, and the city paid $500,000 in fines.
HOMELESSNESS: In 2022, more than 250 unhoused persons tragically died on the streets of San Jose. The city spent $116 million (all public funds) to reduce homelessness, but the number of unhoused people soared.
CRIME: Between 2014-2022, violent crime in San Jose skyrocketed. Theft and rape tripled during that time! The SJPD spent a staggering $45 million on overtime each year between 2014-2022. During this time, its response times remained dismal. Many in San Jose said they felt powerless and abandoned by the city.
CRISIS RESPONSE: The city’s botched response to the 2017 flood displaced 14,000 residents and caused $100 million in damages. San José’s chaotic response to the George Floyd protests in 2020 resulted in numerous civil lawsuits.
