Ash Kalra
- Assembly: 2016-present
Bio
Ash Kalra, 54, was the first Indian American to be elected to the Assembly when he assumed office in 2016. Previously he was on the San Jose City Council. He was a deputy public defender for Santa Clara County. He’s been a law professor at Lincoln Law School of San Jose. He has a bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Barbara and a law degree from Georgetown University. As former chair of the progressive caucus, he advocated for single-payer healthcare and the rights of those who’ve faced systemic racism in the justice system. He’s a vegan and the chair of the Assembly Select Committee On Alternative Protein Innovation.
Ideology
Bill Activity
For this session year, this legislator initiated 36 bills: 20 passed, 9 failed, and 7 are currently pending.
Alignment Meter
See all-time percentage of this legislator’s alignment with any organization based on total votes.
No Results
Digital Democracy contains no financial data in relation to this organization. Digital Democracy contains no contribution data in relation to this organization.
Influence
There are three categories of donations to legislators after they are elected that encourage a working relationship between the donor and the legislator. The three categories are: 1-Gifts, 2-Travel, 3-Behests.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| CA Democratic Party | $60.99 | Aug 24, 2021 | lunch |
| CA Tribal Business Alliance | $53.22 | Jul 14, 2021 | food, beverages and entertainment |
| Rendon for Assembly 2020 | $24.64 | Jan 28, 2021 | Photo book pictures of Organizational session & swearing in |
| Asm. Reyes | $7.5 | Mar 4, 2021 | mask |
Gifts
Legislators are not allowed to accept gifts of more than $10 per month from registered lobbyists. Gifts from any other single source are limited to $590 in a calendar year.
Gift Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 66th highest for the amount of personal gifts received.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Foundation | $182 | Jan 26, 2023 | Jacket |
| Rendon for Assembly 2022 | $135 | Jan 4, 2023 | Food and Drinks |
| Speaker 2023 Inaugural Fund | $109.86 | Jun 29, 2023 | Reception, Food |
| Speaker 2023 Inaugural Fund | $97.14 | Jun 30, 2023 | Inauguration Reception |
| Speaker 2023 Inaugural Fund | $85.94 | Jun 30, 2023 | Engraved Box |
| Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Foundation | $83 | Feb 15, 2023 | Food and Drinks |
| California Democratic Party | $80.93 | Jan 1, 2023 | Policy Summit |
| California Democratic Party | $72.83 | Aug 29, 2023 | Lunch, Food |
| Equality California | $70.92 | Feb 2, 2023 | Food and Drinks |
| California Professional Firefighters | $68.78 | May 2, 2023 | Food and Drinks |
| California Democratic Party | $66.63 | Jan 12, 2023 | Policy Summit |
| California Democratic Party | $66.14 | Apr 29, 2023 | Lunch, Food |
| Speaker 2023 Inaugural Fund | $44.6 | Jun 30, 2023 | Reception, Food |
| Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Foundation | $25 | Jan 30, 2023 | Kumquats, oranges |
| California Environmental Voters | $20.91 | Mar 15, 2023 | Food, Drinks |
| California Environmental Voters | $20.42 | May 17, 2023 | Food, Drinks |
| Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Foundation | $2.88 | Mar 23, 2023 | Flowers |
Gifts
Legislators are not allowed to accept gifts of more than $10 per month from registered lobbyists. Gifts from any other single source are limited to $590 in a calendar year.
Gift Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 102nd highest for the amount of personal gifts received.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Repsol Energy Company | $171 | Jul 10, 2024 | Meal |
| California Democratic Party | $164.54 | Nov 7, 2024 | Caucus Lunch |
| Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians | $160.47 | Aug 16, 2024 | Dinner |
| SAG-AFTRA | $145 | Feb 24, 2024 | SAG-AFTRA Awards Event |
| Josh Newman for Senate 2024 | $131 | Apr 15, 2024 | Dinner |
| California Tribal Business Alliance | $109.61 | Jan 11, 2024 | food, beverage and entertainment |
| California Federation of Teachers | $105.64 | Jan 17, 2024 | food and beverage |
| Rick Zbur for Assembly 2024 | $100.47 | Aug 27, 2024 | Food and Drink Reception |
| South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council | $100 | Mar 18, 2024 | Dinner |
| United States-Spain Council | $97 | Jul 9, 2024 | Meal |
| Rivas for Assembly 2024 | $87.12 | Jan 3, 2024 | Reception |
| California Democratic Party | $70.74 | Mar 19, 2024 | Caucus Lunch |
| California Democratic Party | $66.55 | Jan 17, 2024 | Policy Retreat Day 2 |
| California Product Stewardship Council | $66 | Aug 28, 2024 | SB 707 Author Gifts |
| Buffy Wicks for Assembly | $60.47 | Jul 10, 2024 | Dinner |
| California Democratic Party | $27.03 | Jan 16, 2024 | Policy Retreat Day 1 |
| United States-Spain Council | $21 | Jul 9, 2024 | Museum Tickets |
Gifts
Legislators are not allowed to accept gifts of more than $10 per month from registered lobbyists. Gifts from any other single source are limited to $590 in a calendar year.
Gift Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 61st highest for the amount of personal gifts received.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Justice California | $1,928.3 | Feb 2, 2023 | Attended Policy Summit |
| California Environmental Voters | $787 | Apr 27, 2023 | Attended annual Climate Summit |
Sponsored Travel
Legislators are allowed to have their expenses paid for domestic and international travel that is related to their work including, for example, trips to conferences or to tour places facing issues similar to California. There is no limit on the amount of travel expenses a legislator can accept. The trips are often funded by companies or organizations with interest in state policy.
Travel Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 34th highest for the amount of sponsored travel received.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Foundation | $737.11 | Jan 4, 2024 | Bay Area Caucus Summit in Sausalito, CA: Attended Bay Area Caucus Summit |
| Consumer Attorneys of California | $247.72 | Nov 16, 2024 | Awards Dinner in San Francisco, CA: |
Sponsored Travel
Legislators are allowed to have their expenses paid for domestic and international travel that is related to their work including, for example, trips to conferences or to tour places facing issues similar to California. There is no limit on the amount of travel expenses a legislator can accept. The trips are often funded by companies or organizations with interest in state policy.
Travel Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 83rd highest for the amount of sponsored travel received.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Knight Foundation | $5,000 | Jun 20, 2018 | The 2019 San Jose Veggie Fest is a festival aimed at promoting sustainability and encouraging plant based diets. All funds go to paying for the logistics of the event (e.g. park fee, stage, sound, tables, chairs, etc.) |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a legislator to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a legislator requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
Behests Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 29th highest for the amount of behests received.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon Valley Community Foundation | $5,000 | Jan 31, 2019 | The 2019 San Jose Veggie Fest is a festival aimed at promoting sustainability and encouraging plant based diets. All funds go to paying for the logistics of the event (e.g. park fee, stage, sound, tables, chairs, etc.) |
| Local 393 Plumbers Union | $5,000 | Feb 28, 2019 | The 2019 San Jose Veggie Fest is a festival aimed at promoting sustainability and encouraging plant based diets. All funds go to paying for the logistics of the event (e.g. park fee, stage, sound, tables, chairs, etc.) |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a legislator to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a legislator requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
Behests Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 33rd highest for the amount of behests received.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Local UA 393 | $5,000 | Sep 3, 2020 | VeggieFest is an annual event to celebrate a plant-based diet and local community groups. |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a legislator to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a legislator requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
Behests Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 45th highest for the amount of behests received.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooley LLP | $33,321 | Jul 15, 2021 | Amicus curiae brief to inform the court on the legislative intent of AB 2542 (Kalra, 2020). |
| United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council | $7,508 | Apr 12, 2021 | Anniversary Event for non-profit organization dedicated to promoting safe workplaces |
| Association of California School Administrators | $5,000 | Sep 16, 2021 | Event Sponsorships for the Asian Pacific Islander Capitol Association's (APICA) annual fundraising event. APICA is a 501c3 nonprofit, funding Capitol interns |
| CAL FIRE Local 2881 | $5,000 | Sep 16, 2021 | Event Sponsorships for the Asian Pacific Islander Capitol Association's (APICA) annual fundraising event. APICA is a 501c3 nonprofit, funding Capitol interns. |
| Pacific Gas & Electric | $5,000 | Nov 1, 2021 | Even Sponsorships for the Asian Pacific Islander Association's (APICA) annual fundraising event. APICA is a 501c3 nonprofit, funding Capitol interns |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a legislator to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a legislator requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
Behests Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 21st highest for the amount of behests received.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| California Nurses Association Political Action Committee | $7,000 | Aug 22, 2023 | San Jose VeggieFest, annual event to celebrate a plant-based living |
| Plumbers. Steamfitters & Refrigeration Fitters UA Local 393 | $7,000 | Jul 22, 2023 | San Jose VeggieFest, annual event to celebrate a plant-based living |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a legislator to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a legislator requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
Behests Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 46th highest for the amount of behests received.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Olson Remcho, LLP | $39,056 | Mar 22, 2024 | Amicus brief in Office of the State Public Defender v. Bonta (Case No. S284496) |
| Olson Remcho, LLP | $32,058 | Apr 30, 2024 | Amicus brief in Office of the State Public Defender v. Bonta (Case No. S284496) |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a legislator to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a legislator requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
Behests Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 25th highest for the amount of behests received.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | $39,330 | Sep 30, 2025 | Amicus brief relating to the Racial Justice Act |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | $33,923 | Aug 6, 2025 | Amicus brief relating to the Racial Justice Act |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | $28,474 | Aug 19, 2025 | Amicus brief relating to the Racial Justice Act |
| River Cats Foundation, Inc. | $24,268 | Dec 19, 2025 | Legislative All-Star Game proceeds |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP | $24,243 | Aug 31, 2025 | Amicus brief relating to the Racial Justice Act |
| Consumer Attorneys of California | $5,000 | Aug 6, 2025 | Bi-Partisan Legislative All-Star Game |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. | $5,000 | Dec 10, 2025 | Holiday charity drive distributing food, warm clothing, toys, etc. |
| Meta Platforms, Inc. | $5,000 | Dec 20, 2025 | Holiday charity drive distributing food, warm clothing, toys, etc. |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a legislator to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a legislator requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
Behests Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 24th highest for the amount of behests received.
Featured Comments
Below are links to the video and transcript of recent, substantive comments by this legislator in committee hearings or floor sessions.
Previous Election (2024):