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Darshana Patel
2024 - Present
2026
0
Darshana Patel (Democratic Party) is a member of the California State Assembly, representing District 76. She assumed office on December 2, 2024. Her current term ends on December 7, 2026.
Patel (Democratic Party) ran for election to the California State Assembly to represent District 76. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Patel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Patel was born on July 1, 1974, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Occidental College with a bachelor's degree in 1996. She went on to obtain her Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine in 2002. Her career experience includes working as a professional biotechnology researcher and a civic nonprofit executive.[1][2]
Patel has been affiliated with the following organizations:[2]
- California Democratic Party
- California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs
- California School Boards Association
- Asian Pacific Islander School Board Members Association
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Fleet Science Center Board Advisory Council
- San Diego County Democratic Party
- San Diego County School Boards Association
- San Diego Police Department Police Captain's Advisory Board
- Poway Unified School District Board of Education
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: California State Assembly elections, 2024
General election
General election for California State Assembly District 76
Darshana Patel defeated Kristie Bruce-Lane in the general election for California State Assembly District 76 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Darshana Patel (D)  | 54.0 | 113,242 |
 | Kristie Bruce-Lane (R) | 46.0 | 96,358 | |
| Total votes: 209,600 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 76
Kristie Bruce-Lane and Darshana Patel defeated Joseph Rocha in the primary for California State Assembly District 76 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kristie Bruce-Lane (R) | 49.5 | 49,316 |
| ✔ | | Darshana Patel (D) | 34.2 | 34,066 |
 | Joseph Rocha (D) | 16.4 | 16,312 | |
| Total votes: 99,694 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Patel received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Patel's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here.
2020
See also: Poway Unified School District, California, elections (2020)
General election
General election for Poway Unified Board of Education Trustee Area A
Incumbent Darshana Patel defeated Tim Dougherty in the general election for Poway Unified Board of Education Trustee Area A on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Darshana Patel (Nonpartisan) | 61.2 | 13,972 |
 | Tim Dougherty (Nonpartisan) | 38.8 | 8,870 | |
| Total votes: 22,842 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
To view Patel's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.
2016
Two of the five seats on the Poway Unified School District Board of Education were up for at-large general election on November 8, 2016. In her bid for re-election, incumbent Kimberley Beatty ran against challengers Nick Anastasopoulos, Debra Cooper, Jimmy Karam, John Moriarty, Terry Norwood, Darshana Patel, Stanley Rodkin, and Carol Ware.[3] Beatty won re-election, and Patel won the other seat on the ballot.[4]
Results
| Poway Unified School District, At-large General Election, 4-year terms, 2016 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Darshana Patel |
20.79% | 26,713 |
| Kimberley Beatty Incumbent |
19.21% | 24,681 |
| Debra Cooper | 16.68% | 21,436 |
| Carol Ware | 10.66% | 13,694 |
| Jimmy Karam | 9.73% | 12,504 |
| John Moriarty | 6.03% | 7,747 |
| Terry Norwood | 5.67% | 7,289 |
| Nick Anastasopoulos | 5.63% | 7,235 |
| Stanley Rodkin | 5.61% | 7,213 |
| Total Votes | 128,512 | |
| Source: San Diego County Registrar of Voters, "Presidential General Election - Tuesday, November 8, 2016," accessed December 9, 2016 | ||
Funding
Patel reported $9,461.00 in contributions and $6,786.43 in expenditures to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, which left her campaign with $2,674.57 on hand as of October 22, 2016.[5]
Endorsements
Patel was endorsed by the following organizations:[6][7][8]
- Coalition for Effective School Board Leadership
- Poway Federation of Teachers
- Poway School Employees Association
- San Diego County Democratic Party
- Westview High School Democratic Club
- San Diego Young Muslim Democrats
- Evolve
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Darshana Patel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Patel's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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We’re fighting for a fair economy - with shared values of opportunity, equity and representative democracy. I will prioritize finding solutions to generational challenges like climate change, housing affordability, fully funding public education TK-14, expanding healthcare access, and protecting women’s reproductive rights.
I have served on our local civic boards, as an elected official, a state Delegate, and as a State Commissioner. These diverse roles have allowed me to better understand the needs of my broader community and I have seen how our state policies directly impact our local governments, services they provide, and people they serve. I’m the candidate with deep community relationships and governance experience who will work with community members to represent their values and priorities.
As the daughter of immigrants who struggled to realize the American Dream, I know the challenges that families can face during hard times. I want to make sure that every person has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.- No one should have to choose which basic necessities to meet every day. Our communities have faced rising prices for everything from housing and healthcare to college and transportation. In the State Assembly, I will work to bring down the cost of living in our region and help working families make ends meet.
- As a School Board President, a mom of three public school students, and a proud product of public education, I am deeply committed to ensuring that every child receives a great education and the skills they need for college, life, and a career. I support increasing funding for our K-12 schools and public colleges and universities. I believe that public education is the cornerstone of a prosperous and equitable society, and I will work to empower California’s students, educators, and parents.
- Our region suffers from drought and wildfires that are worsening every year. The climate is changing rapidly, and we have to act with urgency to protect our planet for future generations. I will advocate for bold policies that prioritize diversified renewable energy, investment in sustainable infrastructure, long-term water capture and storage capacity, and conservation to lead California’s transition towards a greener and more resilient future.
Additionally, I will push to expand healthcare access including mental and behavioral health, support affordable and middle income housing so that we can reduce homelessness and build a highly qualified workforce, and ensure we continue to keep our communities safe through effective climate change policies, supporting first responders, and advanced technologies.
Our region and State need an elected official who is trusted, experienced, and qualified. My contributions have been recognized throughout the San Diego region by being awarded the San Diego County School Boards Association First Term Board Member of the Year in 2019. I was most recently recognized as both a 2022 City of San Diego Woman of Distinction and a 2022 API Leader of Influence by San Diego Business Journal.
Assigned to the role of a usher on a bustling Friday night, my manager humorously referred to it as a "baptism by fire." Surprisingly, not only did I manage to keep pace with the demanding role, but I demonstrated an ability to excel. The motivation behind taking on this job extended beyond personal financial relief—it aimed to cover expenses associated with my involvement in the High School Mock Trial Team and Tennis Team, thereby alleviating some of the additional financial burdens. I kept this job until I started college two years later, rising from usher to concessions, to box office cashier.
The Hobbit (J.R.R.Tolkien) - for sparking a lifelong love of reading and providing insights on collaboration, teamwork, resilience, and politics.
Thinking Fast and Slow (Daniel Kahneman) - for giving me some insight into how others process information and developing a deeper understanding for critical thought.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2020
Darshana Patel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Patel's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My top priorities: • Equity and access in educational programs for all students • Social-emotional wellness for our students • Advocacy for adequate public-school funding
Since being elected to the PUSD Board in 2016, I've led and supported meaningful change in the district: adopting best practices in finance and governance policies, increasing community engagement, and expanding education opportunities. I've served as Clerk, VP, and President of our Board, and currently serve as Delegate to the California School Boards Association. I am trusted, dedicated, and experienced.
The unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the anti-racism movement require proven leadership by an elected official with a track record of understanding complex issues, listening to families and students, and making informed decisions under difficult circumstances. I've been recognized by the San Diego County School Boards Association with the First Term School Board Member of the Year Award for my leadership and advocacy.
Key endorsements: • Poway Federation of Teachers • Poway School Employees Association • San Diego County Democratic Party
I would be honored to earn your vote to continue serving our students and community.- I am trusted by students, parents, staff, and community: In every role I stepped into, I fulfilled my responsibilities, pushed organizations to higher standards and had the strength to voice my concerns. My background as a research scientist brings valuable STEM expertise to the Board. I am committed to ethically fulfilling my board responsibilities and will continue to work collaboratively and effectively with students, staff, administration, and the community.
- I am a dedicated community leader: I have served on The Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council, Park Village Elementary PTA, and PUSD Advisory Committee. In addition to being an elected member of the PUSD Board of Education, I serve on the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board (member of the Land Use Committee), SDPD Police Captain's Advisory Board Member - Northeastern Division, and as an Advisor on the Park Village Elementary School Foundation. I understand the role of a school board member and have a demonstrated passion for engaging the community.
- I am experienced in Board Leadership: During my first term as trustee, I served as the Clerk, Vice President, and President of the Board. I currently serve on the California School Boards Association as a regional delegate and Vice Chair of Legislation. My impact as a leader and advocate has been recognized by the San Diego School Boards Association though the First Term Board Member of the Year Award. My extensive experience working on civic boards makes me an objective problem-solver who can effectively manage resources.
With adequate funding, and minimum funding of IDEA, school districts could bring down student counselor ratios to help with social-emotional wellness, fund VAPA, CTE, and STEM programs, improve food and nutrition, and update curriculum materials.
- I am a dedicated community leader: I have served on The Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council, Park Village Elementary PTA, and PUSD Advisory Committee. In addition to being an elected member of the PUSD Board of Education, I serve on the Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board (member of the Land Use Committee), SDPD Police Captain's Advisory Board Member - Northeastern Division, and as an Advisor on the Park Village Elementary School Foundation. I understand the role of a school board member and have a demonstrated passion for engaging the community.
- I am experienced in Board Leadership: During my first term as trustee, I earned my Masters in Board Governance, served as the Clerk, Vice President, and President of the Board. I currently serve on the California School Boards Association as a regional delegate and Vice Chair of Legislation. My impact as a leader and advocate has been recognized by the San Diego School Boards Association though the First Term Board Member of the Year Award. My extensive experience working on civic boards makes me an objective problem-solver who effectively manages resources.
1) Set direction through policies
2) Establish an effective structure
3) Provide support to district initiatives
4) Ensure accountability
5) Advocate for our school community
The authority to act on behalf of the school district is given to the board as a whole governance team, and not to each individual member. The Superintendent is the only employee of the Board and the Board, as a whole, can take action on behalf of the community through directing the Superintendent.
As an individual board member, I provide updates at public PTSA meetings, attend school district community committee meetings, visit school sites, attend school events, serve as a delegate to the California School Boards Association in order to advocate for public education, plus share district initiatives, recognition, and information through social media. I respect different perspectives, participate in professional development, and keep student learning and well-being as my primary focus.
As a member of the governance team, I ensure we govern within our adopted by-laws, policies, and procedures. I am prepared for board meetings, behave in an ethical manner, and make decisions through the lens of student equity.
Through my position as a member of the Poway Unified School District Board of Education, I am a delegate to the California School Boards Association, Region 17. In my Region 17, San Diego County School Boards Association (CSBA), I serve as the Vice President of Legislation. In all three roles I actively lobby State elected officials for increases in base level of school funding. When Proposition 98 was passed in 1988, it established public school funding guarantees which were then further regulated through the adoption of the Local Control Funding Formula enacted by the second administration of Gov. Jerry Brown. While these measures improved funding for under-served communities, it did not create a funding model that would keep up with rising costs of pensions, health insurance costs, or special education needs. California, while being the 5th largest economy in the world, is still 38th in per pupil funding nationwide. In addition to my work with CSBA, I participate in a lobbying group called the California Suburban School Districts where we advocate for COLA, increased base funding, as well as other types of public education supports.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2016
Ballotpedia survey responses
Darshana Patel participated in Ballotpedia's 2016 survey of school board candidates. In response to the question "What do you hope to achieve if elected to the school board?" the candidate stated on July 31, 2016:
| “ | I am a civic-minded scientist, parent and community leader dedicated to educational excellence in PUSD. Since my three young daughters attend PUSD schools, I am fully invested in high-quality education for many years to come. • Excellence – Prioritize education, staff and finance: Our district has historically performed well based on mutual respect for all aspects of the education system. PUSD not only provides high quality education for our children but also is a responsible employer to several thousand residents. We need to work cooperatively to maintain this successful model of education. • Resources – Balance STEM, arts and whole child: Due to our current financial landscape, we must more effectively use our available resources to balance the education needs of our students. I will use a sensible approach in addressing education resource issues under board purview. • Advocacy – Seek funding, participation and collaboration: As a member of the board, I will explore funding options, keep open lines of communication and work with community groups. My years of community and school volunteerism have given me the right experience to focus on putting education first. Now is the time to elect a board member who is qualified, objective, collaborative and ethical to ensure the greatest success for our children. Read more at www.patel4pusd.wordpress.com[9][10] | ” |
Ranking the issues
The candidate was asked to rank the following issues based on how they should be prioritized by the school board, with 1 being the most important and 7 being the least important. Each ranking could only be used once.
| Education policy |
|---|
 |
Click here to learn more about education policy in California. |
| Education on the ballot |
| Issue importance ranking | |
|---|---|
| Candidate's ranking | Issue |
| Closing the achievement gap | |
| Balancing or maintaining the district's budget | |
| Expanding arts education | |
| Improving education for special needs students | |
| Improving post-secondary readiness | |
| Improving relations with teachers | |
| Expanding school choice options | |
| “ | In PUSD, I have ranked teacher relations and post-secondary training lower only because we currently good relationship with our teachers and have success in college and career readiness goals in our LCAP. While there is always room for improvement in these areas, for PUSD, balancing our budget while expanding arts and prioritizing closing of the achievement gap is crucial for our continued success.[10] | ” |
| —Darshana Patel (July 31, 2016) | ||
Positions on the issues
The candidate was asked to answer nine questions from Ballotpedia regarding significant issues in education and the school district. The questions are highlighted in blue and followed by the candidate's responses. Some questions provided multiple choices, which are noted after those questions. The candidate was also provided space to elaborate on their answers to the multiple choice questions.
| Should new charter schools be approved in your district? (Not all school boards are empowered to approve charter schools. In those cases, the candidate was directed to answer the question as if the school board were able to do so.) |
|---|
| No. Poway Unified School District is a high performing school district with an excellent diversity of program and curriculum offerings and does not need charter schools. Furthermore, charter schools take away essential funding needed for us to provide the high-quality programs we are able to provide, despite having only
90% of the revenue of average equivalent unified school districts in the area. |
| Which statement best describes the ideal relationship between the state government and the school board? The state should always defer to school board decisions, defer to school board decisions in most cases, be involved in the district routinely or only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement. |
| The state should defer to school board decisions in most cases. Since the state government does provide taxpayer funding to school districts, they maintain a fiduciary resposibility to ensure funds are being managed appropriately and legally. However, school districts should have the freedom to customize programs to suit the needs of their specific population demographic, with tailored programs to ensure closing of the achievement gap. |
| Are standardized tests an accurate metric of student achievement? |
| No. While standardized tests may not be an accurate metric for student achievement, it is a necessary part of a complete package for evaluating student success and learning. When standardized tests are taking together with grades, well-being, and other methods we can better understand whether our curriculum and environment are set up for student success. |
| What is your stance on the Common Core State Standards Initiative? |
| Common Core State Standards is a move in the right directions towards prioritizing essential problem solving skills while establishing some transferable standards nationwide. The initiative allows for individual states and districts to customize implementation in a way that fits their needs. |
| How should the district handle underperforming teachers? Terminate their contract before any damage is done to students, offer additional training options, put them on a probationary period while they seek to improve or set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district? |
| Offer additional training options. Set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district. A teacher that is underperforing should be provided with some mentoring and further training to allow improvements. If, after these interventions, the teacher continues to underperform or is no longer a good fit in that teaching position, options should be discussed for cross-training in another position or, when necessary, transition out of the district. |
| Should teachers receive merit pay? |
| Yes. As a responsible employer, school districts should provide incentives to encourage continued teaching excellence and innovation in the classroom. |
| Should the state give money to private schools through a voucher system or scholarship program? |
| No. We are able to provide high-quality public education because there is a sufficient funding base. When voucher systems and scholarships drain funds from the budgets available for public education, its sets the system up to spiral into failure. When public schools are properly funded and managed, they can provide high quality education that will close the achievement gap. |
| How should expulsion be used in the district? |
| Only when there are no other options available and when the student is endangering others at school. |
| What's the most important factor for success in the classroom: student-teacher ratio, the curriculum, teachers, parent involvement or school administration? |
| Student-teacher ratio This is not a simple question that can be answered with one choice. A low student-teacher ration allows the curriculum to be taught effectively. PTA has shown that parent involvement can be equivalent to about $1000 additional to the ADA revenue. A school administration that fosters mutual respect for staff and community builds a trusting environment. It all ties in together. |
Campaign finance summary
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Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of California scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate California State Assembly District 76 |
Officeholder California State Assembly District 76 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 9, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 26, 2024
- ↑ San Diego County Registrar of Voters, "Candidate List: 2016 General Election," accessed August 29, 2016
- ↑ San Diego County, "Presidential General Election Tuesday, November 8, 2016," accessed November 9, 2016
- ↑ San Diego County Registrar of Voters, "CampaignDocs eRetrieval: Search by Candidate's Last Name," accessed November 4, 2016
- ↑ Coalition for Effective School Board Leadership, "Our Candidates," accessed August 29, 2016
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Darshana Patel," September 20, 2016
- ↑ Evolve, "Endorsements: November 8, 2016 General Election," accessed October 13, 2016
- ↑ Ballotpedia School Board Candidate Survey, 2016, "Darshana Patel's responses," July 31, 2016
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Brian Maienschein (D) |
California State Assembly District 76 2024-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Poway Unified Board of Education Trustee Area A 2020-2024 |
Succeeded by Tim Dougherty |
| Preceded by - |
Poway Unified Board of Education 2016-2020 |
Succeeded by - |
