Sarahana Shrestha | |
|---|---|
_NYS_Sarahana_Shrestha.jpg) | |
| Member of theNew York State Assembly from the103rd district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Kevin Cahill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sarahana Shrestha (1981-03-05)March 5, 1981 (age 44)[1] Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic Socialists of America Working Families Party |
| Education | New York Institute of Technology (BS) |
| Signature |  |
Sarahana Shrestha (born March 5, 1981) is a Nepalese-American democratic socialist politician and activist. She is a member of theNew York State Assembly, representing theNew York's 103rd State Assembly district in the mid-Hudson Valley.[2] She was first elected in November 2022.
Shrestha was born inKathmandu,Nepal, and moved to the United States in 2001 to study computer science at theNew York Institute of Technology.[3] She became an American citizen in 2019.[4] She became interested in socialist politics as a college student.[5]
Shrestha is affiliated with Public Power NY, a coalition of clean energy advocacy organizations.[6] She has also worked as a graphic designer and is the co-chair of theDemocratic Socialists of America'sUlster County chapter.[7] Shrestha focused her campaign on climate andrenewable energy policy.[8][9]
In 2021, she and her husband worked on Phil Erner's campaign for theUlster County legislature.[10]
In 2022, Shrestha announced she would run against incumbentstate assemblymemberKevin Cahill. She was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America,Working Families Party, andU.S. representativeAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez.[11] Shrestha was elected in November 2022 and assumed office on January 1, 2023.[12][13]
In 2024, she was challenged by Gabi Madden, a former staffer ofstate senatorJames Skoufis who was endorsed by him andKingston mayor Steve Noble.[10] She handily defeated Madden in the Democratic primary election.[1]
Shrestha advocates for turning theCentral Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. into the Hudson Valley Power Authority, apublic utility company.[10]
