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Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) is once again running for reelection as she looks to face off against real estate appraiser Joe Rubay (R-Alamo) for the fourth time since 2020.
However, this time a third challenger — San Ramon resident and entrepreneur Chirag Kathrani — also threw his hat in the race, creating the first three-way race for the 16th Assembly District seat in over a decade.
That means there will be a true contest in the June 2 primary election to be one of the two candidates to advance to the automatic runoff in the November general election. The seat represents the communities of Alamo, Danville, Dublin, Lafayette, Livermore, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasanton, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek.
Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Bauer-Kahan is a Bay Area native who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University Law Center before working as an attorney, environmental advocate, community volunteer and law professor, according to her campaign website.
As an attorney, Bauer-Kahan specialized in “ensuring major corporations complied with environmental laws and regulations by leading internal investigations to improve their environmental practices, while maintaining profitability”.
“She also oversaw and grew her office’s pro bono legal programs to include work in the critical arenas of civil rights, immigration, homelessness and domestic violence,” according to her website.
Then, in 2018, she was elected to the assembly member seat for the first time and has held that position since. During her tenure, Bauer-Kahan said she has been “laser-focused” addressing important issues and delivering vital resources for the communities she serves.
“She has consistently worked across the ideological spectrum and stood up to powerful interests to get things done for local families – without sacrificing our core values,” her campaign website states. “She has also secured millions of dollars to fund important local projects in AD 16, which includes the communities of Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore.”
Now, she is seeking a fifth consecutive term.
Some of her priorities heading into this latest campaign include protecting children from digital exploitation and harm; stabilizing California’s homeowners insurance market; investing more in her district’s local schools; and continuing to protect reproductive rights.
To learn more about Bauer-Kahan and her campaign, visit www.rebeccabauerkahan.com.
Chirag Kathrani
Even though this is Kathrani’s first time running for the State Assembly, it’s not his first time campaigning for an elected office seat.
According to his campaign website, Kathrani is a longtime entrepreneur and business owner who has led several companies over the past 20 years. Some of the more recent companies he founded are Lead4Earth, a sustainability nonprofit, and the Open Governance Initiative, a government watchdog website that uses technology and artificial intelligence to “bring transparency to government operations”.
The longtime San Ramon resident said these sorts of initiatives demonstrate his “commitment to environmental sustainability, youth empowerment, and government transparency”.
Back in 2024, Kathrani threw his name in the race for the San Ramon mayor race after learning that current mayor Mark Armstrong was running unopposed. And even though he did not win, he stated in his website that he hopes his track record will be enough to sway voters to choose him as their next representative in Sacramento.
As the only candidate listed on the ballot with no party preference, Kathrani will be looking to represent people without any party interests, according to his website.
“As an Independent, he can focus on practical solutions and community needs without being bound by partisan politics,” his website states. “He believes in practical, data-driven approaches that serve all residents of District 16, regardless of political affiliation.”
Some of his priorities, if elected, include focusing on affordable housing solutions, supporting small businesses, environmental sustainability, funding education, and government transparency.
To learn more about Kathrani and his campaign, visit www.chiragforcommunity.com.
Joe Rubay
Even though he has lost against Bauer-Kahan for the last three election cycles, that hasn’t stopped Rubay from running for the 16th District seat for a fourth time.
“I am running to break the one party super majority and plan to run every two years until I win the seat and then I will run every two years to retain the seat until I am termed out in 12 years,” Rubay told the Pleasanton Weekly.
Rubay is a longtime Contra Costa county resident, businessman and community leader who graduated from California State University, East Bay before becoming a real estate appraiser who has owned and operated his own appraisal business for more than 30 years.
He has also served as the chair of the Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee — he currently serves as vice chair — and as a member of the Contra Costa County Fair Board. Rubay has also worked on numerous campaigns including former California Gov. Pete Wilson’s during the 90s.
“I have a long resume of community service and will represent the residents of Tri-Valley with common sense and an energy to find solutions to our district’s problems in public Service, education and fiscal accountability,” Rubay said.
He said some of his top priorities are public safety, which includes adding more funding to Proposition 36 which allows felony charges and increased sentences for certain drug and theft offenses; keeping social issues out of schools; and financial responsibility at the state level.
To learn more about Rubay and his campaign, visit www.rubay4assembly.com.
