Harmesh Kumar

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Harmesh Kumar

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

March 19, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Panjab University, 1980

Ph.D

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), 1991

Personal

Religion

Sikh

Profession

Psychologist

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

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Harmesh Kumar (Democratic Party) ran in a special election to the U.S. House to represent California's 20th Congressional District. He lost in the special primary on March 19, 2024.

Kumar also ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent California. He lost in the primary on March 5, 2024.

Kumar completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Harmesh Kumar earned a bachelor's degree from Panjab University in 1980 and a Ph.D. from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in 1991. His career experience includes working as psychologist.

Elections

2024

Regular

See also: United States Senate election in California, 2024

General election

General election for U.S. Senate California

Adam Schiff defeated Steve Garvey in the general election for U.S. Senate California on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Adam Schiff (D)	58.9	9,036,252
		Steve Garvey (R)	41.1	6,312,594

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 15,348,846
= 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.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. Senate California

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. Senate California on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Adam Schiff (D)	31.6	2,304,829
✔		Steve Garvey (R)	31.5	2,301,351
		Katie Porter (D)	15.3	1,118,429
		Barbara Lee (D)	9.8	717,129
		Eric Early (R)	3.3	242,055
		James P. Bradley (R)	1.4	98,778
		Christina Pascucci (D)	0.8	61,998
		Sharleta Bassett (R)	0.8	54,884
		Sarah Sun Liew (R)	0.5	38,718
	Submit photo	Laura Garza (No party preference)	0.5	34,529
		Jonathan Reiss (R)	0.5	34,400
		Sepi Gilani (D)	0.5	34,316
		Gail Lightfoot (L)	0.5	33,295
		Denice Gary-Pandol (R)	0.4	25,649
		James Macauley (R)	0.3	23,296
		Harmesh Kumar (D)	0.3	21,624
		David Peterson (D)	0.3	21,170
		Douglas Howard Pierce (D)	0.3	19,458
		Major Singh (No party preference)	0.2	17,092
		John Rose (D)	0.2	14,627
		Perry Pound (D)	0.2	14,195
		Raji Rab (D)	0.2	13,640
		Mark Ruzon (No party preference)	0.2	13,488
		Forrest Jones (American Independent Party of California)	0.2	13,140
	Submit photo	Stefan Simchowitz (R)	0.2	12,773
		Martin Veprauskas (R)	0.1	9,795
		Don Grundmann (No party preference)	0.1	6,641
		Michael Dilger (No party preference) (Write-in)	0.0	7
		Carlos Guillermo Tapia (R) (Write-in)	0.0	5
	Submit photo	John Dowell (No party preference) (Write-in)	0.0	3
		Danny Fabricant (R) (Write-in)	0.0	3

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,301,317
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Lexi Reese (D)
• Alexander Norbash (D)
• Renee Martinez (No party preference)
• Dominick Dorothy (D)
• Joshua Bocanegra (D)
• Barack Obama Mandela (R)
• Joe Sosinski (No party preference)
• James Shuster (R)
• Rommell Montenegro (D)
• Zakaria Kortam (R)
• John Pappenheim (R)
• Jacob Farmos (D)
• Roxanne Lawler (R)
• Jessica Resendez (D)
• Jeremy Fennell (D)
• Carson Franklin Jr. (D)
• Fepbrina Keivaulqe Autiameineire (Vienmerisce Veittemeignzce USA)
• Paul Anderson (G)
• Peter Liu (R)
• Dana Bobbitt (No party preference)
• Zafar Inam (D)
• Jehu Hand (R)
• Eduardo Berdugo (No party preference)
• Frank Ferreira (No party preference)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Kumar in this election.

Special

See also: California's 20th Congressional District special election, 2024

General election

Special general election for U.S. House California District 20

Vince Fong defeated Mike Boudreaux in the special general election for U.S. House California District 20 on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Vince Fong (R)	60.6	50,643
		Mike Boudreaux (R)	39.4	32,952

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 83,595
= 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

Special nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 20

The following candidates ran in the special primary for U.S. House California District 20 on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Vince Fong (R)	42.3	51,194
✔		Mike Boudreaux (R)	25.8	31,202
		Marisa Wood (D)	22.6	27,337
		Kyle Kirkland (R)	4.9	5,941
		Harmesh Kumar (D)	2.4	2,885
		Ben Dewell (No party preference)	0.9	1,074
	Submit photo	David Fluhart (No party preference)	0.7	878
		James Cardoza (No party preference)	0.2	298
		Anna Zoë Cohen (R)	0.2	289

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 121,098
= 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

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Kumar in this election.

2018

See also: California gubernatorial election, 2018

Kumar sought election to the office of governor of California in 2018. Kumar was not included in the certified list of candidates in the election.

2016

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2016

Elections for the California State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2016, for candidates filing with signatures. The deadline for candidates using a filing fee to qualify was March 11, 2016. Incumbent Susan Bonilla (D) did not seek re-election.

Tim Grayson defeated Mae Torlakson in the California State Assembly District 14 general election.

California State Assembly, District 14 General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Tim Grayson	61.53%	107,653
	Democratic	Mae Torlakson	38.47%	67,300
Total Votes				174,953
Source: California Secretary of State

Mae Torlakson and Tim Grayson defeated Debora Allen and Harmesh Kumar in the California State Assembly District 14 Blanket primary.

California State Assembly, District 14 Blanket Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mae Torlakson	32.35%	34,535
	Democratic	Tim Grayson	31.58%	33,712
	Republican	Debora Allen	26.06%	27,826
	Democratic	Harmesh Kumar	10.02%	10,694
Total Votes				106,767

Campaign themes

2024

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released July 30, 2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Harmesh Kumar completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kumar's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

As a clinical psychologist, I contemplate the potential of my medical background to contribute significantly towards addressing the escalating challenges of mental illness within our society. This pervasive issue is increasingly affecting various facets of our community. I have amassed nearly four decades of invaluable experience in my field. Throughout my career, I have been fueled by a deep-seated passion to serve those who have been overlooked and underserved. It pains me to witness the extensive suffering endured by individuals and families in our state. Regrettably, I believe that much of this suffering can be attributed to the emotional strains imposed upon our citizens by politicians and the perpetuation of a dysfunctional system that primarily serves the interests of its beneficiaries and the elite, rather than the ordinary people and small business owners who form the backbone of our society.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Promote real mental health to support the families, local communities, and reduce crime and recidivism
• Mitigate the alarming levels of gun violence
• Alleviate the pervasive issue of homelessness

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am personally passionate about education and healthcare policies but I also believe that they can be further improved upon. I believe that every individual should have access to quality education regardless of their background, and that affordable and accessible healthcare and mental healthcare is essential for the well-being of all citizens. These areas of public policy are particularly important to me, and I actively follow and support initiatives that aim to improve education and healthcare systems in our society. I will also continue to make improvements on these policies in due if I am elected.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

As a licensed clinical psychologist in California, I have amassed nearly four decades of invaluable experience in my field. Throughout my career, I have been fueled by a deep-seated passion to serve those who have been overlooked and underserved. It pains me to witness the extensive suffering endured by individuals and families in our state. Regrettably, I believe that much of this suffering can be attributed to the emotional strains imposed upon our citizens by politicians and the perpetuation of a dysfunctional system that primarily serves the interests of its beneficiaries and the elite, rather than the ordinary people and small business owners who form the backbone of our society.

These emotional pressures have given rise to social chaos, fueling a distressing cycle of anxiety, depression, gun violence, domestic strife, and homelessness. Recognizing the urgent need for change, I have made the decision to enter the political arena. My primary objective is to ensure that mental health services are accessible to all, a cause that I am determined to secure adequate funding for. By taking this crucial step, we can begin to mitigate the alarming levels of gun violence, alleviate the pervasive issue of homelessness, and prevent incidents of police brutality.

Thus, I implore the esteemed voters of California to join me in effecting the transformative change we so desperately need. Together, we can lay the foundation for a society where mental health services are readily available to all, catalyzing a cascade of positive outcomes that will not only heal our collective wounds but also uplift the lives of every citizen in our great state.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities for someone elected to the U.S. Senate seat include legislation, representation of constituents, oversight of the executive branch, involvement in the budget process, treaty ratification, advice and consent on presidential appointments, participation in impeachment trials, and providing constituent services. Senators draft, propose, and vote on laws, advocate for their state or district, oversee government agencies, allocate funds through budget and appropriations, ratify treaties, confirm presidential appointees, conduct impeachment trials, and assist constituents with federal matters.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to serve the people that are not being served right now

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

In 1993, after completing my post doctoral training under Dr. Ruff, associate professor at UCSF and director of neurobehavioral services at Saint Mary's Hospital San Francisco, I founded the first non profit mental health agency named Neurobehavioral and Psychological Institute (now called the Hume center https://www.humecenter.org/ ) to served the underserved. It is still serving a larger community in San Francisco Bay Area. I served there until 2004.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Let it be by The Beetles

What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?

It sets the policies for the national and international level by selecting judges, ambassadors, and chiefs of Army, Air Force, and Navy. The senate seat is also sets the agenda for any and all immigration policies. The Senate has the sole power to conduct impeachment trials, essentially serving as jury and judge. I will be honored to be a part of this process.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Long-time politicians may become entrenched in their positions and be less open to new ideas or approaches. This can lead to increased partisanship and difficulty in finding common ground. Some argue that career politicians may lose touch with the everyday concerns of their constituents, potentially leading to a lack of representation. Seasoned politicians might be resistant to adopting innovative solutions or fresh perspectives, potentially hindering progress on certain issues.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of a senator does not solely depend on their previous experience in government or politics. Other factors such as personal qualities, commitment to public service, ability to listen to constituents, and willingness to collaborate with colleagues also play crucial roles in determining a senator's success.

What do you think of the filibuster?

I think the filibuster is a parliamentary procedure in the United States Senate that allows a senator, or a group of senators, to delay or block a vote on a bill by continuously speaking or by making lengthy speeches. The filibuster is not a formal rule written into the Constitution but is based on Senate precedents and rules.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

NA

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.

Campaign website

Kumar’s campaign website stated the following:

“	Mental Illness and Gun Violence Having personally treated thousands of patients with mental disorders for almost 40 years, Dr. Kumar knows mental illness and what must be done to reduce its incidence in our society. Based on his personal findings, as well as those of other experts in the field, he has formulated a plan he feels will help curb mental illness in the nation. Dr. Kumar feels many of our nation's problems are rooted in the continual growth of mental illness that effect people of all ages, genders, racial backgrounds, educational levels, and socioeconomic status in all areas of society. Mental illness, when left untreated or improperly managed, can potentially contribute to an increased risk of gun violence. Certain mental illnesses may impact one's thoughts, emotions, and behavior in ways that could potentially lead to violent acts. Conditions such as severe depression, untreated psychosis, or specific personality disorders can sometimes impair an individual's judgment, perception of reality, impulse control, or ability to cope with stressors effectively. Mental Illness In Our Society Today In our country today millions of people suffer from many forms of mental disorders such as: anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal thoughts or actions, schizophrenia, as well as problems of substance abuse-the consumption of alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms to numb painful mental health symptoms. Unfortunately, most of this chaos is created by our politicians. They have been influenced by the lobbyists and their money. It only helps only them not ordinary citizens. According to the American Psychiatric Association there are over 450 different definitions of mental disorders. Affirming Dr. Kumar's findings are alarming facts reported in the "2023 The State of Mental Health In America" by MHA- Mental Health America, the nation's leading community-based non-profit mental health organization. -- 21% of adults (over 50 million Americans} are experiencing problems with mental illness. 55% of them (over 28 million individuals} receive no treatment for their illness. --15% of adults had a substance use disorder in the past year. 93.5% of them did not receive treatment. --16% of youth report suffering at least one major depressive episode in the past year. 60% of youth with major depression do not receive mental health treatment. While the number of people who suffer mental illness is of serious concern, even more alarming is the fact that some people who've committed atrocious incidents were later diagnosed as having mental disorders. In that respect, mental illness can be far more dangerous than cancer, heart attacks, diabetes, and other illnesses that bring about suffering, and even death, to the unfortunates afflicted by such diseases. But, while the overwhelming majority of the mentally ill pose no danger, a person with a mental disorder can hurt more than just him or herself. Based on all the aforementioned findings and statistics, we all know that mental health is not limited to the individuals who is suffering but it also emotionally impacts their loved ones, their families, their local communities and small businesses around them. Dr. Kumar asserts that there is a pressing need for the government to prioritize and allocate increased resources towards individuals afflicted with mental disorders. The Total Candidate As a man who once worked for WHO (the World Health Organization}, Dr. Kumar has years of working for the betterment of our California community. That is a major reason why he has considerable knowledge on so many other issues that need attention. Having been an immigrant, he knows firsthand our country's immigration system, what immigrants face trying to find their niche in society, and how the system can be improved. He has personal experience in many problem areas that have been mostly overlooked by the government; including the plight of the homeless and the need for affordable housing. Dr. Kumar feels, "We are all Americans so we must unite to improve our country regardless of our individual backgrounds! We must work together to improve our quality of life by caring for one another so that our future generations can compete in the world! Since I first arrived, I have done all of that in my journey.” He is not the usual U.S. Senate candidate. But he is smart, savvy, determined, honest and truthful. Dr. Kumar for California's U.S. Senator! Take the time to get to know him and help him make the country the best its ever been.	”
—Harmesh Kumar’s campaign website (2024)

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Harmesh Kumar did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Harmesh Kumar campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House California District 20	Lost primary	$0	N/A**
2024*	U.S. Senate California	Lost primary	$16,528	$12,845
Grand total			$16,528	$12,845
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

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U.S. Senate California

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Footnotes

[show]

California's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Alex Padilla (D)

Adam Schiff (D)

Representatives

District 1

Doug LaMalfa (R)

District 2

Jared Huffman (D)

District 3

Kevin Kiley (R)

District 4

Mike Thompson (D)

District 5

Tom McClintock (R)

District 6

Ami Bera (D)

District 7

Doris Matsui (D)

District 8

John Garamendi (D)

District 9

Josh Harder (D)

District 10

Mark DeSaulnier (D)

District 11

Nancy Pelosi (D)

District 12

Lateefah Simon (D)

District 13

Adam Gray (D)

District 14

Eric Swalwell (D)

District 15

Kevin Mullin (D)

District 16

Sam Liccardo (D)

District 17

Ro Khanna (D)

District 18

Zoe Lofgren (D)

District 19

Jimmy Panetta (D)

District 20

Vince Fong (R)

District 21

Jim Costa (D)

District 22

David Valadao (R)

District 23

Jay Obernolte (R)

District 24

Salud Carbajal (D)

District 25

Raul Ruiz (D)

District 26

Julia Brownley (D)

District 27

George Whitesides (D)

District 28

Judy Chu (D)

District 29

Luz Rivas (D)

District 30

Laura Friedman (D)

District 31

Gil Cisneros (D)

District 32

Brad Sherman (D)

District 33

Pete Aguilar (D)

District 34

Jimmy Gomez (D)

District 35

Norma Torres (D)

District 36

Ted Lieu (D)

District 37

Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D)

District 38

Linda Sánchez (D)

District 39

Mark Takano (D)

District 40

Young Kim (R)

District 41

Ken Calvert (R)

District 42

Robert Garcia (D)

District 43

Maxine Waters (D)

District 44

Nanette Barragán (D)

District 45

Derek Tran (D)

District 46

Lou Correa (D)

District 47

Dave Min (D)

District 48

Darrell Issa (R)

District 49

Mike Levin (D)

District 50

Scott Peters (D)

District 51

Sara Jacobs (D)

District 52

Juan Vargas (D)

Democratic Party (45)

Republican Party (9)