Amar Mukunda, a gun violence prevention advocate, entrepreneur, and U.S. Army Reserve combat engineer, has announced his candidacy for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 39. He is running in the Democratic primary to represent Gaithersburg, Germantown, Clarksburg, Montgomery Village, and Washington Grove.
Mukunda, whose campaign slogan is “Faith. Family. Fortitude,” said his decision to run is rooted in his work with vulnerable youth and families.
“I’ve worked hard to help youth in our community deal with homelessness, addiction, justice involvement, and domestic violence,” Mukunda told The American Bazaar via email. “At its best, the political system can be the most powerful ally to the vulnerable—but too often it listens only to strong voices: donors, corporations, and even unions or other well-meaning interest groups. Real leadership means elevating the voices of young people and middle-class families. People who are too busy just trying to survive to be able to work the political system. My inspiration is the chance to serve our youth and our working families.”
From 2019 to 2023, Mukunda served as assistant director of Roca Maryland, one of the state’s largest community-based violence prevention programs. There, he worked directly with young men involved in shootings and homicides, leading a team that provided addiction counseling, conflict mediation, education, and vocational training.
On how he would tackle gun violence if elected, Mukunda pointed to the need for both policy changes and community support. “Gun violence prevention requires a complete ecosystem,” he said. “Maryland needs smarter gun laws, more sophisticated enforcement, and most importantly stronger interstate partnerships to track illegal guns. But the most powerful piece—and the one that has the least political focus—is deep prevention.”
He mentioned that nowadays too many kids need mental health support but face barriers in schools that still rely on a reactive model. By identifying needs and providing support early instead of waiting for children to ask for help, Mukunda noted that gun violence prevention is possible, making communities safer and more prosperous. “And we need stronger vocational training so students who know the academic track isn’t for them stay in school instead of ending up on the wrong path,” he added.
Mukunda’s personal story also shapes his candidacy. After his parents’ company went bankrupt in the aftermath of the post-9/11 market crash, his family lost their home and moved seven times before he graduated high school. Despite those challenges, he went on to study computer science at Amherst College, received a Fulbright Scholarship, and earned a master’s degree in energy and infrastructure engineering from Stanford University.
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Although he has lived and worked in several parts of the United States and abroad, Mukunda emphasized his deep ties to Maryland. “I was born here in Montgomery County and attended public schools here from 1st to 12th grade. So this is where my strongest roots are,” he said. “Maryland, especially Gaithersburg/Germantown, is where most of my family is, it’s such a big hub for our South Asian community, and it is where I spent so much of my childhood. So this is one of the places I will always call home,” he told The American Bazaar.
He added, “I love the diversity of our community, and what excites me about running in District 39 is the chance to represent all of it. To me, that means focusing on the everyday issues we all share—cost of living, public safety, and a slowing economy—while also listening closely to the unique needs of each neighborhood, whether that’s a long-overdue [recreational] center in Montgomery Village or Clarksburg, or extending the red line to Gaithersburg and Germantown.”
Mukunda said his campaign will not take lobbyist money and will prioritize affordability, youth and safety, innovation and jobs. That includes proposals to lower household costs such as car insurance premiums and childcare expenses, expand in-school mental health services, and create Clean Energy Opportunity Zones to drive business growth.
District 39 is one of Maryland’s most diverse areas, and Mukunda said he hopes to bring “fresh energy, integrity, and bold ideas” to Annapolis.