Amar Mukunda, an Indian American gun-violence and addiction prevention advocate running for Maryland State Senate from District 39, has won an endorsement from Sierra Club, an influential U.S. environmental organization.
Mukunda is running in the Democratic primary on June 23 to represent the heavily suburban district covering Germantown, Montgomery Village, Clarksburg, and portions of North Potomac, Boyds, and Rockville in Montgomery County.
He is one of 32 candidates for state senator, 77 candidates for state delegate, and 41 candidates for offices in 8 of Maryland’s counties endorsed by the club backing candidates who support clean air, clean water, wildlife and wild places, and action to address climate change.
“At a time when the Federal Government is taking steps back when it comes to the environment, we have an opportunity to elect candidates who will ensure that Maryland continues to be a standard bearer when it comes to environmental policy,” said Carlo Sanchez, chair of the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter. “The 2026 election will elect state and county officials who will shape Maryland’s direction for at least the next decade.”
Expressing strong support for Mukunda in District 39, and Raaheela Ahmed in district 23, the Club stated it “believes that two candidates will be stronger advocates on environmental legislation than the current state senators in those districts.”
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Mukunda has a master’s degree in Energy and Infrastructure Engineering from Stanford University. As an entrepreneur he created two companies. As a conflict mediator he initiates interfaith dialogues, and he helped build Roca into a large community-based gun violence and addiction prevention program, the club noted.
Mukunda’s solution to traffic congestion on I-270 is to urge dramatic investments in public transportation such as Metro and rail.
He also champions creation of clean energy opportunity zones to accelerate decarbonization and create a new base of local employment.
Son of immigrants from Pakistan and India, Mukunda grew up to serve as a combat engineer in the US Army Reserve. Raised in Montgomery County, Mukunda helped run Maryland’s largest gun-violence prevention program, according to his campaign site.
“He’s fighting to lower the cost of living, get our youth back on track, and finally get UpCounty moving,” it says. Mukunda promises to “work toward four simple goals: Reclaim our Democracy; Make the American Dream Affordable; Guarantee Gun-Free, World-Class Schools; and Meet the Challenges of Our Time — AI & Climate.”