Indian American Professor Enters California Governor Race

Indian American professor Satish Rao has entered California’s crowded race for governor, casting himself as a reform candidate focused on cutting bureaucracy, curbing regulation, and improving public education.

Rao, who has taught at a California university for nearly three decades and is currently on sabbatical, says the state is burdened by administrative inefficiency and excessive rules that drive up costs while failing to improve outcomes. His campaign calls for reducing administrative spending, tightening oversight of the state’s roughly $300 billion budget, and directing more resources toward core public services.

Education is central to his platform. Rao argues that too much funding is consumed by non instructional costs instead of classroom teaching, and he has called for greater emphasis on literacy, teachers, and measurable academic results.

He is also proposing more aggressive use of the governor’s veto power to slow the flow of new laws and a broad review of regulations affecting housing, infrastructure, and the cost of living.

Rao joins an open contest to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom, in a field that includes Xavier Becerra, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, and Matt Mahan ahead of California’s June 2 primary.