On February 24, 2022, Venkat announced his campaign for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 30th district, which contains Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, Emsworth, Franklin Park, Kilbuck Township, McCandless, and Ohio Township, as well as parts of Hampton Township. The 30th district was an open seat in 2022, since Republican incumbent Rep. Lori Mizgorski, who due to redistricting no longer resided in the district, opted instead to run for the state senate against incumbent Lindsey Williams. Election analysts predicted that the general election would be competitive and presented a pickup opportunity for the Democratic Party.In his announcement, Venkat said that he was motivated to run to address issues that often intersected with his work as an emergency physician, especially those that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic; he identified strengthening emergency medical services and other first responder services, expanding access to affordable healthcare, and upgrading infrastructure as some of his priorities.NEWS, Giammarise, Kate, Boden, Sarah, November 9, 2022, Democrat Arvind Venkat claims victory in state House District 30, WESA (FM), WESA,www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2022-11-09/arvind-venkat-wins-state-house-district-30, November 29, 2022, Venkat also voiced his support for voting rights protections, gun control, and efforts to combat climate change.In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and threatened abortion rights in many states where the Republican Party controlled one or more branches of state government,NEWS, Ali, Safia Samee, July 26, 2022, Doctors are stepping into political arenas across the country over reproductive rights, NBC News,www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/doctors-are-stepping-political-arenas-country-reproductive-rights-rcna39955, November 29, 2022, Venkat spoke in favor of protecting abortion rights in Pennsylvania; he highlighted his perspective as a candidate with a medical background, recounting an experience where he treated a patient who needed emergency care following a covert, self-induced abortion.Venkat was unopposed in the Democratic primary. He faced Republican former Allegheny County councilmember Cindy Kirk in the general election, prevailing by a margin of over 10 percentage points.

Committee assignments

Venkat is a member of the following committees of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives:

Aging and Older Adult Services
Health
Human Services
Insurance
Professional Licensure

Tenure

{{expand section|date = November 2022}}Upon taking office, Venkat became the first state representative of Indian-American descent in state history,NEWS, Yorgey, Tori, November 9, 2022, Winners make history in 2022 midterm election, WTAE-TV, WTAE,www.wtae.com/article/pennsylvania-election-summer-lee-austin-davis-latasha-d-mayes-arvind-venkat/41912384, November 29, 2022, as well as the first licensed physician in the state legislature in 60 years.

Personal life

Venkat resides in McCandless, Pennsylvania with his wife Veena and their three children.

Electoral history

{{election box begin no change

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 30>30th district, 2022}}

Democratic primary election{{election box winning candidate with party link no change| party = Democratic Party (United States)| candidate = Arvind Venkat| votes = 7,959| percentage = 100.00%}}{{election box total no change| votes = 7,959| percentage = 100.00%}}

General election{{election box winning candidate with party link no change| party = Democratic Party (United States)| candidate = Arvind Venkat| votes = 18,757| percentage = 55.34%}}{{election box candidate with party link no change| party = Republican Party (United States)| candidate = Cindy Kirk| votes = 15,136| percentage = 44.66%}}{{election box total no change| votes = 33,893| percentage = 100.00%}}{{election box gain with party link no change| winner = Democratic Party (United States)| loser = Republican Party (United States)}}{{election box end}}

References

External links

Campaign website

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