State Assembly District 26 Candidates Weigh In on Local, California Issues

The Weekly submitted the following questions to candidates for state Assembly District 26, Patrick Ahrens and Tara Sreekrishnan, both running to replace Assembly Member Alex Lee, who is running for a U.S. congressional seat. Below are the answers The Weekly received from the candidates, and we present them verbatim and in alphabetical order.

What are the biggest concerns in the assembly district?

Ahrens: Housing affordability and public safety are the most pressing issues in our district. Housing costs have skyrocketed, making it difficult for families to afford rent or purchase homes. I am committed to increasing affordable housing by working with nonprofit developers and incentivizing private builders.

As Board President of the Foothill-De Anza College District, I helped secure $200 million for affordable housing for students, staff, and faculty, demonstrating my commitment. Additionally, I’ll push for tenant protections and permanent supportive housing. On public safety, I will support reforms that build trust between law enforcement and communities while investing in mental health and social services.

Sreekrishnan: Our District is facing many challenges right now, between the home insurance mess, our budget deficit, and our aging infrastructure, we need experienced leaders in the Legislature who know how to solve problems. As a State Legislative Director, I helped get 15 state bills signed into law last year alone and helped lead California’s landmark homelessness audit to get tax dollars spent better on truly improving the tragedy on our streets.

As an Assemblywoman, I’m ready to hit the ground running, and I want to continue working on the issues I’m most passionate about – supporting K-12 education, responding to the climate crisis, and supporting California’s middle class. I’ve fought cancer, big polluters, and billionaire special interests. Now, I’m ready to take on rising costs, fight for better safety,

How can state action address these concerns?

Ahrens: State action can support housing affordability by expanding programs like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and streamlining zoning and permitting processes to accelerate affordable housing projects. Throughout my career, I’ve secured millions of taxpayer dollars to fund critical initiatives, including $200 million for affordable housing at Foothill-De Anza College. I’ll continue delivering these resources for our district.

Instead of playing the blame game, we need to get to work—that’s our job, and it’s what our constituents expect. In public safety, state investments in police training, transparency, and mental health services will reduce crime and help build safer communities.

Sreekrishnan: As a County School Board Member, I’ve seen the challenges our schools face. I will fight to ensure every child has access to high-quality learning, expand mental health support, and invest in teacher development to give students the best start in life.

As a cancer survivor, who overcame an initial misdiagnosis, I know how crucial quality, affordable healthcare is. I’ll work to improve our healthcare system so it meets the needs of all Californians, especially women, and will fight for healthcare equity and reproductive rights. As a nonprofit founder, I’ve engaged hundreds of students in the environmental sciences. I’ll continue to push for bold climate action, expand environmental education, and create green career opportunities for the next generation.

What experience and achievements during your work as a legislative aide and serving on other public bodies demonstrate your priorities?

Ahrens: I’m not waiting to be elected to the Assembly to address these critical issues—I’ve already been delivering results. Over the past decade, I’ve worked closely in the state legislature and served as Board President of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, where I led the successful passage of a $200 million housing bond to provide affordable housing for students, staff, and faculty.

I also helped establish a community health center, showing my commitment to mental health and education equity. I am the only candidate with a proven track record who is ready to continue solving these challenges from day one in the Assembly.

Sreekrishnan: I’ve taken on the big fights that matter to our families and have always stood up to powerful special interests, including during this campaign. I bring professional experience at the school district, city, county, and state level. As a State Legislative Director, I fought to protect our kids from the fentanyl crisis, for more affordable housing, and to improve healthcare access for everyone.

On the Santa Clara County School Board, I raised teacher pay, closed the digital divide, and championed student wellness. I also co-founded a nonprofit to drive bold climate action, helped shut down this County’s largest polluter and expanded environmental education programs across local public schools. I’m committed to real, lasting change on housing, healthcare, education, and climate—because these issues are at the heart of what makes our community strong.

What is the proper balance between state legislation about housing and the rights of cities and residents to control land use?

Ahrens: The proper balance between state and local governments requires collaboration, not division. We need an Assemblymember who will bring stakeholders together, not exacerbate the tension over local control. While state policies are important for addressing the housing crisis, they must work in harmony with local needs. Cities and residents should have a voice in zoning and design decisions to ensure growth fits the character of our communities.

My endorsements from every local mayor in our district show that I am trusted to unite our district while also setting expectations and delivering on our housing goals, and I’m committed to proving that through collaboration, we can make meaningful progress and solve these issues creatively, just like I have done on the college board.

Sreekrishanan: Having worked at the city, county, and state government levels, I know that collaboration and partnership across these tiers is essential to addressing California’s housing crisis effectively, ensuring Silicon Valley has housing options for a diverse range of residents, from teachers and first responders to small business owners. Cities should have flexibility to shape that growth, but they must also share in the responsibility to build housing that meets our region’s needs.

To achieve this balance, we should link housing goals with transportation funding, incentivizing cities to create walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods that support climate goals. I believe the state must provide resources to local governments for housing progress, including through state tax credits for affordable housing and by empowering cities to innovate with policies like ADUs and mixed-use zoning that promote livable, inclusive communities. This way, we don’t just build more homes – we build neighborhoods where families can have access to jobs, schools, and sustainable transit.

Based on your family’s experience, what public action and programs would have made a difference for your family?

Ahrens: Affordable housing programs, such as permanent supportive housing, could have prevented homelessness for my family. Expanding access to long-term housing solutions, paired with services like mental health care, would have offered us stability. Food security programs like CalFresh helped, but broader access to healthy food and destigmatizing these programs would have been impactful.

Additionally, job training and workforce development programs could have provided my family with tools for lasting economic stability. My lived experience gives me the urgency and perspective needed to advocate for policies that uplift vulnerable families and provide lasting solutions. I know the programs that work and those that don’t. Count on me to speak truth to power when it comes to combating poverty and holding government accountable.

Sreekrishnan: When my parents arrived in the United States as immigrants from India, they stepped off the plane with 3,000 rupees—worth less than $50 at the time—and began building a life here in this District from scratch. My parents worked incredibly hard—my mother as a local school librarian in Cupertino Union School District and my father as an engineer—to build a stable life for me and my brother.

But like so many immigrant families, they ran into barriers that made accessing quality healthcare challenging, and finding affordable housing in Silicon Valley was almost impossible. For most of my childhood, they had to go into debt just to cover basic needs, stretching their resources thin to make sure we had a roof over our heads and medical care when we needed it. Programs that connect families with bilingual healthcare providers and expand affordable housing options would have made a huge difference in our lives. These are the programs I’m committed to supporting, so all families have access to opportunity and the American Dream.

California Assembly District 26 includes Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, and parts of San José. Again Patrick Ahrens and Tara Sreekrishnan are the two candidates running for the office. The Ahrens campaign website can be found here. The Sreekrishnan campaign website can be found here. 

Election Day is Nov. 5, 2024. For a list of all the open offices and who is running for them in the City of Santa Clara, visit the city’s website.

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