Ash Kalra

Ash Kalra (born January 21, 1972) is a Canadian-American politician who has served as a member of the California State Assembly since 2016. A member of the Democratic Party, Kalra previously served on the San Jose City Council from 2008 to 2016.

Kalra represents the 25th Assembly District, which encompasses parts of eastern San Jose, and chairs the California Legislative Progressive Caucus and the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee. A first-generation immigrant, he is the first Hindu and Indian American to serve in the California State Legislature.

Early life and education

Kalra was born in Toronto to Punjabi parents from India. His family immigrated to the United States in 1978 and settled in San Jose, California, where Kalra has lived ever since.

Kalra attended San Jose public schools and is a graduate of Oak Grove High School. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in communications in 1993, and later Georgetown University, from which he graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1996.

Legal career

As a law student, Kalra taught at inner city schools in Washington, D.C. He returned to San Jose after law school and became a law professor at San Jose State University and Lincoln Law School.

In addition to teaching, Kalra was a deputy public defender for Santa Clara County for 11 years. He represented clients in felony and misdemeanor trials and spent most of his time in drug treatment court to help his clients get into rehabilitation programs.

Political career

Kalra was elected to the San Jose City Council in 2008 and served two terms on the city council. He represented District 2, which encompassed South San Jose.

Kalra was first elected to the California State Assembly in 2016, succeeding term-limited Democrat Nora Campos and defeating fellow Democrat and San Jose city councilmember Madison Nguyen. He is the first Hindu and Indian American to serve in the California State Legislature.

Kalra currently chairs the California Legislative Progressive Caucus as well as the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee and the Assembly Select Committee on the Future of Work and Workers.

Kalra supported Bernie Sanders's 2020 presidential campaign. He was mentioned as a possible replacement for Xavier Becerra as Attorney General of California following Becerra's appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services, but fellow Bay Area assemblymember Rob Bonta was appointed instead.

Kalra authored the California Racial Justice Act of 2020. In 2023, Kalra authored legislation that would prohibit the towing or immobilizing vehicles due to unpaid parking tickets. The San Jose Department of Transportation spokesperson said that the legislation would make parking enforcement in San Jose more difficult.

Kalra is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.

Personal life

Kalra lives in San Jose. He practices Hinduism and is a vegan.

In 2011, Kalra was arrested for and pleaded no contest to driving under the influence of alcohol. He was sentenced to serve community service hours and receive counseling.

Electoral history

San Jose City Council

California State Assembly

External links