Candidate Name: Kiran Sreepada
What office are you running for?
U.S. House of Representatives, Tennessee 7th
With which party are you running for office?
Democratic Party
Election Date
August 6 (primary) and November 3, 2020 (general)
Why are you running for office?
I want a better future for our children and a government that represents the best of all of us. This means that we have to change the way we approach our policies and our rhetoric to make sure that our government works best. Our current representatives do not reflect that attitude and I want to change that.
What is the biggest issue facing your community and how do you propose helping?
The rural-urban divide. The rural communities disproportionately have lower access to healthcare, good schools, decent infrastructure, and economic growth. Because of this the divide also carries through to the perception we have of each other and the way we talk about our political representatives and neighbors. I want to help bridge this gap and do so in two ways. First, we need to support policies that fulfill the role of government – to help everyone have access to the same rights and opportunities across this country. This means enhancing access to healthcare, improving our infrastructure across all areas, investing in our children’s education, and enacting economic policies that don’t just benefit Wall Street but help farmers and manufacturers who have been hurt. Second, I will campaign and legislate in a way that we can all be proud of. I will make sure that I live up to our highest moral and ethical values and carry on in a respectful, constructive, and innovative manner. Our political opponents are not enemies or bad people, they are people who differ from us on policy. We need to make sure that we remember that as we inspire a new generation of voters and political activists so they also carry on in a way that makes us all proud.
How do we fix the partisan divide in our country and start working together again?
Change begins with us. The more we act in a civil and respectful manner, the more our neighbors, leaders, and government will also adopt those ideals. We must be the change we want to see and that will put us on a path to having a more productive and respectful political climate. We plan to be a force for change in this arena by going to every county and town in this district. I want to meet as many people as possible to talk to them and show them that we are not so different from one another and that we share the same concerns. Our path forward depends on us coming together and the first step is to talk to one another.
Who is your hero?
Anyone who decides to be a force for change and acts.
What are your hobbies?
Netflix, reading, swimming, home projects, grilling.
What is the most recent book you read?
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari
Do you have any kids/pets/talking houseplants?
Two kids – a 5-year old and 20-month old. Pets maybe after we stop having to buy diapers.
How can our readers get involved in your campaign?
Go to kiranforcongress.com where you can get involved by volunteering and donating. I see all the emails that come through and will respond to you. This whole campaign is based on the support from our friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens. This is not a campaign run by the rich or the political class. We need every day citizen-activists to get involved and help us enact policies that help our country and repair the fabric of our society.
Candidate Social Media:
Website | Twitter | Facebook
Post created from answers submitted by candidate to our Meet the Candidate survey.
