Virginia House Delegate Kannan Srinivasan, representing House District 26, is a candidate for the Virginia State Senate District 32 seat, which became vacant after State Senator Suhas Subramanyam’s election to the U.S. House of Representatives. In an exclusive interview with South Asian Herald on December 31, 2024, in Brambleton, Delegate Srinivasan reflected on his achievements as a Delegate and outlined his key priorities for the State Senate.
You have been serving as a Virginia House Delegate since January 2024, and now you’re running in this special election for Virginia State Senate. What motivated you to pursue this position?
I’m very humbled that I’m the first Indian American immigrant elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. I’ve been serving in Health and Human Services Committee, Privileges and Elections Committee, and the Speakers Select Committee on Rural Health, and on several boards and commissions in the General Assembly. Healthcare is my main priority, apart from gun safety, and helping local and Virginia economies. I have always wanted to serve, and I have been very active in Loudoun County Economic Development Board, and Loudoun Fiscal Impact Committee. So, when State Senator and now Congressman-elect Suhas Subramaniam, won the congressional seat, this seat became vacant. So, my desire to serve Virginians and Loudouners is the main driver for me to run for this office.
Could you share some of your key achievements during your tenure as a State Delegate?
I passed eight bills, mostly bipartisan bills. I am known for a brand of politics in Richmond for reaching across the aisle, building consensus and deep relationships. My focus has been on improving health care, making it affordable. On gun safety, I passed a bill to ban Auto Sears, which was signed into law. On healthcare, I passed a bill on tele mental health services, and I also passed a bill on foreign medical graduates who can come to Virginia to serve in rural Virginia and can get licenses. And I also passed two bills on fentanyl opioid crisis to bring a recovery school in Virginia. There will be a one recovery Academy in Loudoun, and also a statewide study for fentanyl opioid crisis. I’ve also worked on data center, bringing more transparency to the energy and to ensure that Virginia’s economy is robust and that our taxes remain low, and our cost of living is addressed through affordable housing.
As a freshman delegate, how was your experience working with colleagues across the aisle, including both Democrats and Republicans?
As I said, I am known for a brand of politics that reaches across the aisle, so I really enjoy working with both Democrats and Republicans. I am a bipartisan legislator. In fact, in the coming session, I plan to introduce a couple of bills with fellow Republicans as co-patrons. So, I have built very strong relationships.
What are the big issues you’re most passionate about addressing as a State Senator?
Women’s right to choose is a big one. I’m a member of Privileges and Elections Committee, and I was humbled to vote for advancing the women’s right to choose constitutional amendment. We have three constitutional amendments in Virginia that we are working on. One is women’s right to choose. Second is restoring voting rights – we are the only state in the country where restoring voting rights has to be done through the Governor. And then the third one is marriage equality. These are my top priorities. Gun Safety is another big one. I am for common sense gun safety reforms, and I have some good bills on that. Another one would be public education. Both my parents were school teachers in India. I am very passionate about paying teachers top dollars. We are still underfunding K-12 education and higher education. I will support continuing to invest in education, student safety, and promoting excellence in education. Tolls are a big priority for me, and I will be working to reduce tolls.
How is your campaign progressing, and what is the sentiment among voters?
So, it’s a very short cycle, because it’s a special election. People are very concerned with the incoming administration and the uncertainty associated with the policies. But, people are excited and are energized to come out and vote. Early voting has been going on for about two weeks now. Even last Saturday, in the rain, there were more than 1000 people voted in three voting locations. On January 4th again, there is early voting in three locations from 9am-5pm. The Election Day is on Tuesday, January 7th. So we are working hard to earn every vote. We are reaching out on all platforms. Every day, we are working to make sure that our message is getting across.
Are you optimistic about winning the January 7th election? What are your thoughts on your Republican opponent?
They’re working hard. We are not taking anything for granted. So, if we do, if we keep doing our hard work, I am confident that people will see the value on our side and the positions that we have, which is common sense gun safety, and protecting women’s right to choose. We cannot dilute our rights. Our children and grandchildren cannot have less rights than what we have. Cost of living is a big issue that we will tackle, whether it’s tolls, whether it’s housing cost. I’m a finance professional, and I always think of, how do we make it easier for working families to have a quality life and pay for education and build a good family in Loudoun. My opponent has been against abortion rights, which is very disappointing, and I would humbly say that a majority of Loudouners, majority of Virginians, majority of Americans do not want their rights to be diluted.
Can you talk about some of the endorsements you have received so far?
I have been endorsed by US Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton and Congressman-elect Suhas Subramanyam, State Senator Russet Perry, and several Virginia and Loudoun elected officials.
You have endorsed JJ Singh, who is running for your current Delegate seat. Why?
I have endorsed JJ Singh for my house seat. JJ is a very accomplished public servant. He was born brought up in Fairfax. His parents came from Punjab in 1970s to America. He attended UVA and then attended Harvard for both MBA and MPA. He served with US Senator Chris Coons in Delaware as an Economic Policy Advisor. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia and then worked in the Obama administration too for a year. He has a successful small business and a wonderful family. He cares about our priorities. He cares about gun safety. He cares about jobs. Being a businessman himself, and I was very proud to endorse him, and we both are on the ballot on January 7th.
How have your personal journey and professional experiences prepared you for challenges of political life?
My wife Jayashree and I are committed to public service because of our lived experiences. I was hit by a truck in 1993 in Norfolk and my wife had a rare surgery. Those experiences have shaped our conviction to you to help improve healthcare and to give back. Jayashree’s grandfather was a freedom fighter, worked alongside of Mahatma Gandhi and got elected to a town council in down south in India. And he is our inspiration. I used to work for Chef José Andrés, the humanitarian chef – he’s another great inspiration for me to give back. So, my personal life journey being an immigrant here and building my life brick by brick, has shaped my values, and inspired me to give back. Coming from the largest democracy to the oldest democracy, I think it accords us the approach to give back to the community.
(This interview has been edited for length, brevity and clarity.)
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