Anjali Kumar is originally from Boston, Massachusetts, but has lived in the Des Moines Metropolitan Area for over fifteen years. She is a current sophomore studying Political Science and Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Anjali first became interested in politics and public speaking through her experiences competing on the National Speech and Debate circuit, interning on an Iowa House of Representatives Campaign, and paging in the Iowa Senate. She previously held a role on the board of the College Democrats of Illinois and interned for the Democratic Party of Illinois’ Organizing Department last summer. In college, Anjali is involved in a pre-law fraternity, Illini Vote, student government, and a sorority.

Anjali was fortunate enough to be able to attend and assist with the 2024 Democratic National Convention and considers it one of the most influential moments of her life. She is most passionate about youth voter engagement, reducing education disparities between urban and rural areas, and the protection of reproductive healthcare rights, especially in her home state of Iowa. Having lived in many areas with vastly different dominating political ideologies, Anjali believes bipartisanship and cooperation are the only way forward. After graduation, she hopes to attend law school and live in the DC area to continue her work in political organizing. Young people are so often dismissed before we are ever properly heard, and Anjali’s biggest aspiration is to inspire youth to unapologetically advocate for their beliefs.