California 96.68%
District of Columbia 2.24%
Illinois 0.54%
New York 0.54%
My name is Ankur Patel, and I am running for California State Assembly District 45. I am the child of two immigrant parents who moved to the West Valley, where I was born and raised. Throughout my childhood, my parents taught me the power of education, the importance of community, and the value of hard work.
When I was eleven years old my father ran for Congress. While he cherished the opportunities America provided our family, he knew there was a clear imbalance between the people with power and those of us without. His campaign wasn’t built on raising money from corporations, insurance companies, or lobbyists who would influence his decisions and priorities. He was a simple man who rode the bus to public places, shopping malls, and gas stations to talk to everyday people about what they thought government should look like.
But corruption has become institutionalized through lobbying, campaign contributions, and backroom deals between political insiders and corporations.
My father didn’t win when he ran for Congress, but the experience taught me a lot. A candidate shouldn’t run for office because they believe they have a few good ideas, the backing of big dollars, or they see a political opportunity. A candidate should run for office when they believe they can represent the vision of their community.
