2026 Kentucky General Election

Nima attended Atherton High School. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Louisville. She has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Louisville. She has a juris doctor degree from the David A. Clarke School of Law at the University of the District of Columbia. She lives with her partner, Raegan Maddox, in the St. Joseph’s neighborhood.

Nima Kulkarni - Emerge Kentucky

Nima Kulkarni is originally from India. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship from the University of Louisville and a law degree from the David A. Clarke School of Law at the University of the District of Columbia. Nima has volunteered on the boards of the Community Foundation of Louisville, the Louisville Public Media, the Kentucky Science Center, and the Fund for Arts. She also founded the New Americans Initiative. Nima lives with her partner, Raegan, in the St. Joseph’s neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky.

Nima is the founder of the Indus Law Firm and previously worked there as an attorney. 

Nima Kulkarni - Ballotpedia

Nima currently serves as a state representative in the Kentucky House of Representatives, District 40. She was first elected in 2018 and is serving her 4th term. 

Supports finding new sources of revenue, healthcare access, a living wage, environmentally sustainable policies, and addressing immigration issues.

Supports finding new sources of revenue for the state.

Supports decriminalizing and fairly regulating adult cannabis use, extending unemployment benefits to victims of domestic violence, and creating a more equitable relationship between landlords and tenants.

Supports extending unemployment benefits to victims of domestic violence

Supports creating more equal footing between landlords and tenants.

Supports economic initiatives that promote leadership and collaboration, as evidenced by participation in the U.S.-Japan Council’s Asian American Leadership Delegation program.

Supports economic initiatives that promote leadership and collaboration.

Supports legislation to reinstate the prevailing wage.

Supports repealing right-to-work laws, which prohibit requiring workers to join a union in order to work.

Supports strengthening collective bargaining.

Supports policies that attract international talent to Kentucky.

- Supports finding new sources of revenue for the state.
- Supports extending unemployment benefits to victims of domestic violence
- Supports creating more equal footing between landlords and tenants.
- Supports economic initiatives that promote leadership and collaboration.
- Supports labor unions.
- Supports legislation to reinstate the prevailing wage.
- Supports repealing right-to-work laws, which prohibit requiring workers to join a union in order to work.
- Supports strengthening collective bargaining.
- Supports policies that attract international talent to Kentucky.

Economy

The Hon. Nima Kulkarni - APAICS

Advocates for social justice and community unity, particularly in response to hate crimes against Asian Americans.

Supports decriminalizing and fairly regulating adult cannabis use.

Aims to achieve greater transparency, accountability, and trust between the community and law enforcement through comprehensive police reform legislation.

Supports a fair and equitable judicial process for all Kentuckians and has stopped harmful anti-immigrant legislation.

Supports a fair and equitable judicial process for all Kentuckians.

- Advocates for social justice and community unity, particularly in response to hate crimes against Asian Americans.
- Supports decriminalizing and fairly regulating adult cannabis use.
- Aims to achieve greater transparency, accountability, and trust between the community and law enforcement through comprehensive police reform legislation.
- Supports a fair and equitable judicial process for all Kentuckians.

Public Safety

Advocates for maternal and infant health initiatives as part of her economic strategy.

Supports capping the price of life-saving medications, such as insulin.

Promises to ensure those will preexisting conditions continue to receive insurance.

Supports legislation to end surprise medical billing.

Supports improving access to mental health care.

- Advocates for maternal and infant health initiatives as part of her economic strategy.
- Supports capping the price of life-saving medications, such as insulin.
- Promises to ensure those will preexisting conditions continue to receive insurance.
- Supports legislation to end surprise medical billing.
- Supports improving access to mental health care.

Healthcare

Promises to protect teacher pay and retirement.

Supports increasing funding to public schools.

- Promises to protect teacher pay and retirement.
- Supports increasing funding to public schools.

Education

Sponsored House Bill (HB) 338 that "requires the Energy and Environment Cabinet to create regulations to monitor and regulate Forever Chemicals (PFAS) in our drinking water.

Sponsored House Bill (HB) 235 that created a Healthy Soils Program to support soil conservation and provide assistance to farmers, with priority for veteran, beginning, and socially disadvantaged farmers.

- Sponsored House Bill (HB) 338 that "requires the Energy and Environment Cabinet to create regulations to monitor and regulate Forever Chemicals (PFAS) in our drinking water.
- Sponsored House Bill (HB) 235 that created a Healthy Soils Program to support soil conservation and provide assistance to farmers, with priority for veteran, beginning, and socially disadvantaged farmers.

Energy & the Environment

Supports reforming voter disenfranchisement and sentencing laws.

- Supports reforming voter disenfranchisement and sentencing laws.

Voting & Elections

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Nima Kulkarni

Buket Urgen

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Kentucky State House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Kentucky General Assembly.
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. 
- There are 100 members of the Kentucky House of Representatives, each representing a single district. Representatives must be at least 24 years old and reside in the state for at least two years before their election. 
- State Representatives are elected to two-year terms. They only serve in the role part-time. 
- In addition to a $203 per day salary, state representatives also receive mileage reimbursements and a daily expense stipend of $182. 

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Kentucky House of Representatives

Kentucky State Representative, District 40

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