As the countdown to the election reaches its final week, a controversial video from years ago has emerged, depicting Tara Sreekrishnan vandalizing a car belonging to a Cupertino resident, prompting renewed scrutiny regarding her candidacy for state Assembly.
Tara Sreekrishnan, who is currently vying for the highly contentious Assembly District 26 seat, threw eggs at the car of a Cupertino resident after she felt the individual made disparaging remarks about her Indian American heritage—an incident she has expressed reluctance to revisit—approximately five years ago. A surveillance video from 2019, obtained by San José Spotlight, captures Sreekrishnan clad in a puffy jacket and sunglasses, launching eggs at the parked vehicle late at night, around 10:45 p.m. This egging spree occurred shortly after she lost her bid for a seat on the Cupertino City Council in 2018, a race that continues to draw attention, although she emphasized that the egging incident was unrelated to her electoral defeat.
Sreekrishnan later confirmed that her father compensated the resident $299 through PayPal due to the incident, which she characterized as a prank. She insisted that the payment was for a thorough cleaning of the vehicle, asserting that no real damage occurred. Furthermore, she noted that she had already apologized to the resident, whom she described as a family friend and host of a campaign event she held earlier in the year, expressing that this act was one of her gravest errors during a challenging phase of her life. While a Cupertino resident who released the footage chose to remain anonymous, Sreekrishnan also opted not to disclose the identity of the impacted individual.
Sreekrishnan reflected on her past actions, stating that everyone possesses moments they wish to amend and that this incident unequivocally tops her list. She remarked that she has taken full responsibility for her actions. In her words, “I think if more politicians could admit when they’re wrong and learn from their personal mistakes, our state would be an even better place to live,” as she conveyed to San José Spotlight.
In the race for Assembly District 26, Sreekrishnan is contending with Patrick Ahrens, a trustee from the Foothill-De Anza Community College District and the district director for Assemblymember Evan Low. Ahrens did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment. Assembly District 26 covers several cities, including Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Cupertino, as well as parts of North and West San Jose.
If successful in her election bid, Sreekrishnan intends to leverage her experience as deputy chief of staff and legislative director for state Senator Dave Cortese, along with her role as a trustee for the Santa Clara County Board of Education. Notably, her election would also mark a historical milestone, as she would become the first Hindu woman to serve in the state Assembly. Sreekrishnan has garnered endorsements from influential figures, including Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg, as well as being backed by the Fund Her PAC—a group committed to promoting female representation in political offices.
Political advocate Rhoda Fry, a Cupertino resident with more than four decades of experience in the community and a supporter of Ahrens, revealed that she has been aware of the egging incident for years. Fry recalled first meeting Sreekrishnan during their participation in an environmental group focused on the future of the Lehigh Cement Plant. Although Fry expressed disappointment in Sreekrishnan’s earlier contributions, she stated that her endorsement for Ahrens stands independently. “I just don’t think she’s fit for office,” she stated emphatically.
Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X, formerly known as Twitter.
