Ethan Agarwal

Ethan Agarwal earned a high school diploma from Harker School, a bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University in 2006, and a graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School in 2011. His career experience includes working as a small business owner.[1]

U.S. House California District 17

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m Ethan Agarwal, an entrepreneur, husband, father, and candidate for Congress in California’s 17th District. I’m running because I believe Silicon Valley deserves a representative who is focused on the people, families, workers, and innovators of this district — not national political ambitions.

I’ve spent the last decade building companies, creating jobs, solving hard problems, and bringing new ideas into the real world. That experience has shaped how I see public service. I believe government should be practical, accountable, and focused on results. Too often, Washington rewards ideology over common sense and career politicians over problem-solvers. I’m running to bring a different perspective: one rooted in innovation, economic opportunity, public safety, strong communities, and the belief that America works best when people are free to build, create, and pursue a better life.

As a proud member of the AAPI community, I also know how important representation is — not just symbolic representation, but real leadership that listens to our communities and fights for our values. Our district is one of the most diverse, dynamic, and economically important in the country. It deserves a member of Congress who understands the promise of Silicon Valley, the aspirations of immigrant families, and the challenges facing working families, small businesses, and the next generation.

I’m not running to preserve the status quo. I’m running to challenge it, to bring fresh thinking .

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Ethan will clean up Washington and restore trust in government.

Members of Congress should serve the public, not use their positions to enrich themselves or gain an unfair financial advantage. Ethan will fight to ban individual stock trading by members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children, refuse corporate PAC money, and push for stronger transparency and ethics rules. Voters should remember that Ethan is running because he believes public service should be grounded in accountability, integrity, and results — not self-dealing, political gamesmanship, or personal profit. He will bring independence and a reform mindset to Congress, and he will work to make government worthy of the people’s trust again.Ethan is a practical problem-solver focused on affordability.

As an entrepreneur, Ethan has spent his career building companies, creating jobs, and solving hard problems in the real world. In Congress, he will bring that same results-driven approach to the issues families face every day: lowering health care costs, reducing prescription drug prices, addressing housing affordability, supporting good-paying jobs, and expanding economic opportunity. Ethan is not a career politician; he is running to bring fresh thinking, common sense, and practical solutions to Washington at a time when families need results, not more partisan talking points or excuses.Ethan will put the South Bay first.

CA-17 is one of the most innovative, diverse, and economically important districts in the country, and it deserves a representative who is focused on local families, workers, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators — not national political ambitions. As the son of immigrants and a proud member of the AAPI community, Ethan understands the values, aspirations, and challenges of this district. He will listen, show up, defend innovation, stand up to extremism, and fight for a government that actually works for the people it represents. Voters should know Ethan will always put this district first and make sure Silicon Valley has a strong voice in Congress.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about policies that make daily life more affordable, healthy, and connected. For CA-17, that starts with infrastructure and transportation: fixing regional transit, protecting BART, reducing congestion, and making it easier for people to get to work, school, and home. I am also committed to reducing childhood poverty by expanding opportunity for families, strengthening public education, and ensuring every child has a fair shot at a secure future. Finally, health care affordability is personal and urgent. Families should not be crushed by prescription drug prices or denied care because of cost. In Congress, I will fight to lower health care costs, expand access, and deliver practical results for South Bay families.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

• Mike Honda, Former U.S. Congressman (CA-17)

• Karen Hardy, Santa Clara City Councilmember (District 3)

• Americans 4 Hindus

• Bay Area Jewish Coalition Action (Hosted event)

Governor of California

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