Vichal is from Kearney, New Jersey. He attended Rutgers University. He has a Juris Doctor in law from Hofstra University.

Vichal Kumar Looks for Upset Win in NY-7 - Queens Ledger

Vichal Kumar is originally from New York. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rutgers University and a law degree from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. Vichal lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Vichal is a public defender. He works at The Bronx Defenders, where he has been for 20 years.

NY's 7th Congressional District candidate Vichal Kumar unveils ...

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Vichal currently works as the managing director for Partners for Justice. He previously worked as the managing attorney for the civil defense practice at the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, where he created their first comprehensive civil practice to represent members of the Northern Manhattan community. He also worked as a supervising attorney for The Bronx Defenders and as a litigation associate for Cullen and Dykman Limited Liability Partnership. Additionally, Vichal served as the president of the South Asian Bar Association of North America and the South Asian Bar Association of New York.

Vichal's campaign for US Representative for New York District 7 is his first run for public office.

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2026 New York General Election

2026 New York Primary Election

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Working Families

Supports full funding for employee ownership programs and a tax code that facilitates worker ownership for small business owners ready to retire.

Supports full federal funding for major transit projects with Project Labor Agreements and prevailing wage.

Supports federal funding to expand NYC Ferry service and invest in waterfront infrastructure.

Will fight to defend and rebuild the federal Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, focusing on capping highways rather than expanding them.

Supports the immediate creation of the Federal Artificial Intelligence Commission (FAIC) to serve as the central authority on AI.

Supports requiring AI companies to disclose data usage, energy and water consumption, and to self-report identified risks.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue economy: Supports providing aid in the form of job training and transitional preparation to mitigate AI-driven job loss, valuing previous experience and schooling.

Supports providing aid in the form of job training and transitional preparation to mitigate AI-driven job loss, valuing previous experience and schooling.

Supports a no-interest federal startup program for first-generation entrepreneurs, immigrant communities, and women and people of color to strengthen the small business economy.

Advocates for attaching anti-displacement and stable-rent conditions to federal small business funding and economic development resources.

Supports legitimate federal worker safety enforcement and opposes its punitive use against NYC.

- Supports full funding for employee ownership programs and a tax code that facilitates worker ownership for small business owners ready to retire.
- Fights for credit for wages.
- Supports full federal funding for major transit projects with Project Labor Agreements and prevailing wage.
- Supports federal funding to expand NYC Ferry service and invest in waterfront infrastructure.
- Will fight to defend and rebuild the federal Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, focusing on capping highways rather than expanding them.
- Supports the immediate creation of the Federal Artificial Intelligence Commission (FAIC) to serve as the central authority on AI.
- Supports requiring AI companies to disclose data usage, energy and water consumption, and to self-report identified risks.
- Supports providing aid in the form of job training and transitional preparation to mitigate AI-driven job loss, valuing previous experience and schooling.
- Supports a no-interest federal startup program for first-generation entrepreneurs, immigrant communities, and women and people of color to strengthen the small business economy.
- Advocates for attaching anti-displacement and stable-rent conditions to federal small business funding and economic development resources.
- Supports legitimate federal worker safety enforcement and opposes its punitive use against NYC.

Economy

Advocates for ending mass incarceration, providing better resources for public defenders, and ensuring fair legal representation for all individuals.

Aims to ensure consistent application and enforcement of regulations across Federal agencies regarding Artificial Intelligence.

- Advocates for ending mass incarceration, providing better resources for public defenders, and ensuring fair legal representation for all individuals.
- Aims to ensure consistent application and enforcement of regulations across Federal agencies regarding Artificial Intelligence.

Public Safety

Supports Medicare for All as a fundamental right, advocating for immediate reforms to expand government-subsidized health coverage, make prescription drugs affordable, and eliminate preexisting condition exclusions.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue healthcare: Advocates for the review and approval of AI deployment in healthcare, similar to the FDA's review process for drug safety.

Advocates for the review and approval of AI deployment in healthcare, similar to the FDA's review process for drug safety.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue healthcare:  
Supports the establishment of a Federal AI Commission with authority to enforce compliance and penalties related to healthcare AI regulations.

Supports the establishment of a Federal AI Commission with authority to enforce compliance and penalties related to healthcare AI regulations.

- Supports Medicare for All as a fundamental right, advocating for immediate reforms to expand government-subsidized health coverage, make prescription drugs affordable, and eliminate preexisting condition exclusions.
- Advocates for the review and approval of AI deployment in healthcare, similar to the FDA's review process for drug safety.
- Supports the establishment of a Federal AI Commission with authority to enforce compliance and penalties related to healthcare AI regulations.

Healthcare

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue energy-and-environment: Believes unchecked and unregulated data center construction and operation can cause catastrophic and lasting damage to local environmental and public health.

Believes unchecked and unregulated data center construction and operation can cause catastrophic and lasting damage to local environmental and public health.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue energy-and-environment: Believes the construction of large-scale data centers threatens the grid system, water treatment infrastructure, and public health, and calls for immediate action to protect working-class communities from rising utility costs.

Believes the construction of large-scale data centers threatens the grid system, water treatment infrastructure, and public health, and calls for immediate action to protect working-class communities from rising utility costs.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue energy-and-environment: Supports setting standards for data center siting, including environmental reviews, protections for local consumers, and community input.

Supports setting standards for data center siting, including environmental reviews, protections for local consumers, and community input.

Believes environmental degradation from grid strain and water depletion is damaging communities.

- Believes unchecked and unregulated data center construction and operation can cause catastrophic and lasting damage to local environmental and public health.
- Believes the construction of large-scale data centers threatens the grid system, water treatment infrastructure, and public health, and calls for immediate action to protect working-class communities from rising utility costs.
- Supports setting standards for data center siting, including environmental reviews, protections for local consumers, and community input.
- Believes environmental degradation from grid strain and water depletion is damaging communities.

Energy & the Environment

Believes foreign engagement should be rooted in equity, justice, and protection for all people, both at home and abroad.

- Believes foreign engagement should be rooted in equity, justice, and protection for all people, both at home and abroad.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Believes that his experience navigating politically hostile environments has prepared him for Congress, focusing on achieving results for community resources.

- Believes that his experience navigating politically hostile environments has prepared him for Congress, focusing on achieving results for community resources.

Voting & Elections

Supports federal apprenticeship funding for small businesses and priority pathways for historically marginalized groups, including NYCHA residents, the formerly incarcerated, and CUNY students.

- Supports federal apprenticeship funding for small businesses and priority pathways for historically marginalized groups, including NYCHA residents, the formerly incarcerated, and CUNY students.

Education

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Vichal Kumar

Advocates for federal BRT funding linked to PLAs, prevailing wage, and apprenticeship pipelines for NYCHA residents and CUNY students.

Supports the establishment of the FAIC with authority to issue fines, require fixes, and refer violations of Federal AI rules to the DOJ.

Supports the establishment of the Federal Artificial Intelligence Council (FAIC) to coordinate across federal agencies for consistent application and enforcement of AI regulations.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue economy: Supports requiring AI companies to disclose data usage, energy and water consumption, and self-report identified risks.

Supports setting standards for data center siting, including environmental reviews, consumer protections, and community input.

Believes the construction of large-scale data centers in New York threatens the power grid and water treatment infrastructure, driving up utility costs and posing risks to local environments and public health, necessitating immediate action to protect working-class communities from the affordability crisis.

Advocates for federal BRT funding linked to PLAs, prevailing wage, and apprenticeship programs for NYCHA residents and CUNY students.

Believes that AI deployment in high-risk areas, such as hiring and healthcare, should require government review and approval similar to FDA drug safety regulations.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue public-safety:  
Supports the establishment of the Federal AI Investigation Commission (FAIC) with the authority to issue fines, require fixes, and refer violations of Federal AI rules to the Department of Justice.

Supports the immediate creation of the Federal Artificial Intelligence Commission (FAIC) to act as the central authority on AI.

Supports requiring AI developers to disclose data usage, energy consumption, and self-report identified risks to enhance transparency.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue public-safety:  
Supports setting national standards for data center siting, including environmental reviews and protections for local consumers.

Supports requiring review and approval for AI deployment in high-risk areas, similar to FDA drug safety reviews.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue healthcare: Supports transparency in healthcare, advocating for companies to disclose data usage, energy consumption, and identified risks related to AI in healthcare.

Supports setting national standards for data center siting, including environmental reviews and protections for local consumers.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue healthcare: Supports coordinating across Federal agencies to ensure consistent application and enforcement of regulations related to healthcare and artificial intelligence.

Supports coordinating across Federal agencies to ensure consistent application and enforcement of regulations related to healthcare and artificial intelligence.

Supports the establishment of a Federal AI Investigation and Accountability Commission (FAIC) with the authority to issue fines and refer violations of federal AI rules to the Department of Justice.

Supports setting national standards for data center siting, including environmental reviews, protections for local consumers, and community input.

Supports requiring transparency from AI developers regarding data usage, energy and water consumption, and self-reporting of risks.

Supports coordinating across federal agencies to ensure consistent application and enforcement of regulations related to artificial intelligence.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue Foreign Policy and Immigration: Advocates for licensing and auditing AI deployment in high-risk areas, requiring review and approval similar to the FDA's drug safety process.

Advocates for licensing and auditing AI deployment in high-risk areas, requiring review and approval similar to the FDA's drug safety process.

Supports federal funding for BRT tied to PLAs, prevailing wage, and apprenticeship pipelines for NYCHA residents and CUNY students.

Supports federal funding for BRT tied to Project Labor Agreements, prevailing wage, and apprenticeship pipelines for NYCHA residents and CUNY students.

Supports defending and rebuilding the federal Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program to cap highways instead of expanding them.

Supports defending and rebuilding the federal Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, focusing on capping highways rather than expanding them.

Supports federal funding for apprenticeship pipelines tied to Project Labor Agreements and prevailing wage for NYCHA residents and CUNY students.

Vichal is from Kearney, New Jersey. He attended Rutgers University. He has a Juris Doctor degree in law from Hofstra University.

Supports federal funding for major transit projects, ensuring they are built with Project Labor Agreements and prevailing wage.

Supports the proposed Ridgewood Busway under the M train, believing it will improve service and plans to advocate for federal funding linked to project labor agreements, prevailing wages, and apprenticeship opportunities for New York City Housing Authority residents and City University of New York students.

Supports creating safe bike lanes and redesigning intersections to reduce fatalities among delivery workers, commuters, and children.

Supports expanding NYC ferry service and investing in waterfront infrastructure by advocating for federal Passenger Ferry Grant Program funding.

Supports providing a federal wage tax credit for small businesses, similar to existing federal tax credits for small business health insurance.

Supports federal apprenticeship funding for small businesses and prioritizing historically marginalized groups, including NYCHA residents, the formerly incarcerated, and CUNY students, for opportunities in trades, hospitality, food service, and small business management.

Supports a no-interest federal startup program for first-generation entrepreneurs, immigrant communities, women, and people of color.

Supports federal banking reform that recognizes Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs), expanding funding for Community Development Financial Institutions, and ending practices that exclude immigrant founders from credit.

Opposes mergers and acquisitions between large companies that would reduce competition.

Supports attaching anti-displacement and stable-rent conditions to federal small business funding and economic development dollars.

Supports the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act to enhance labor rights.

Supports full federal funding for major transit projects, ensuring they are built with Project Labor Agreements and prevailing wages.

Supports federal funding for bus rapid transit (BRT) projects linked to project labor agreements (PLAs), prevailing wages, and apprenticeship opportunities for New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents and City University of New York (CUNY) students.

Supports expanding NYC ferry service and investing in waterfront infrastructure.

Supports tax credits for small businesses that pay employees higher wages.

Supports completely dismantling U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Supports providing better resources for public defenders.

Believes his experience as a public defender has given him a unique perspective on the challenges faced by individuals in the criminal justice system.

Believes in the importance of listening to the voices of those who are often overlooked in the political process.

Supports universal healthcare and plans to expand government subsidized health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Said, "Left unchecked and unregulated, data center construction and operation have the potential to cause catastrophic and lasting damage to local environmental and public health."

Believes large-scale data centers in New York harm the environment, public health, and working-class communities by straining infrastructure and increasing utility costs.

Supports foreign policy rooted in equity, justice, and protection for all people.

Supports closing the gap between policy and practice.

As of June 18, 2026, Vichal Kumar’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Vichal Kumar is from Kearny, New Jersey. He has a bachelor 27s degree from Rutgers University and a law degree from Hofstra University.

Vichal is a civil rights attorney and public defender. He is currently the managing director of Partners for Justice, a network that supports public defender offices across the country. He previously worked as a managing attorney at the Civil Defense Practice at Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem. He also began his legal career at The Bronx Defenders while attending Hofstra Law at night. He has also worked for the federal government, where he appealed a capital punishment conviction, and for nonprofits, such as the Immigrant Defense Project.

Vichal Kumar, Managing Attorney, Civil Defense Practice

Vichal's campaign for New York's 7th Congressional District is his first time running for public office.

Advocates for a no-interest federal startup program aimed at first-generation entrepreneurs, immigrant communities, and women and people of color to support the small business economy.

Supports extending full Section 1042 deferral to all small business forms, expanding SBA loan programs, and creating a federal technical assistance program for retiring business owners.

Fights for federal Roth IRA and SEP-IRA contribution expansions, and a portable federal retirement program for self-employed and gig workers.

Supports a federal public option for small business owners and self-employed individuals, as well as Medicare buy-in for older self-employed workers who cannot afford private insurance.

Will fight to defend and rebuild the federal Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, focusing on capping highways instead of expanding them.

Supports blocking corporate consolidation under the Clayton Act and federal antitrust law.

Aims to push for a federal cap on app commission fees and oppose preemption attempts that undermine local achievements.

Supports the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act and advocates for a worker classification standard that accurately reflects delivery work.

Supports enforcing antitrust laws to block corporate consolidation.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue public-safety:  
Calls for the dismantling of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stating it operates outside the law without accountability and must be removed from hospitals and communities.

Vichal Kumar is a Democrat running for Congress to replace Rep. Nydia Velázquez.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue healthcare:  
Outlines a proactive framework for regulating AI, including a ban on federal agents using facial recognition software and a 3-year moratorium on new data centers in New York.

Supports that reproductive decisions belong to individuals, not politicians.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue healthcare:  
Supports the establishment of a Federal Artificial Intelligence Commission (FAIC) to enhance healthcare services.

Believes federal law should require a qualified person, not an algorithm, to make final decisions on care denials, ensuring patients have a clear right to appeal.

Believes the construction of large-scale data centers in New York threatens to overwhelm the grid system and water treatment infrastructure, leading to higher utility costs for consumers.

Believes immediate action is necessary to protect working-class NY-7 communities from the growing affordability crisis related to energy and the environment.

For Candidate Vichal Kumar on Issue energy-and-environment: Believes data centers pose a grave threat to local environments and public health.

Believes in foreign engagement rooted in equity, justice, and protection for all people, both at home and abroad.

Candidate Vichal Kumar is a Democrat running for Rep. Nydia Velázquez’s seat in Congress.

Believes that his experience navigating politically hostile environments has prepared him for Congress and emphasizes the importance of securing resources for community investment.

Supports full federal funding for education projects and initiatives to enhance public transit infrastructure.

Opposes efforts to divert resources from public education through voucher programs.

Supports a federal cap on app commission fees and opposes preemption attempts that undermine local achievements.

Advocates for attaching anti-displacement and stable-rent conditions to federal small business funding and economic development dollars.

Supports fighting for credit for wages in education.

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- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. New York currently has 26 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a US Citizen for at least seven years before their election and a New York resident. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.

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