SACRAMENTO, CA – Dr. Jasmeet Bains was sworn in as the Assemblymember for District 35 today in the State Capitol. The newly elected Assemblymember will be representing the area that stretches from Arvin to Delano and includes much of East Bakersfield.
“I am humbled to be the first Indian-origin Sikh woman to be elected to the State Assembly, and I am ready to deliver for the community that raised me,” stated Bains. “As a doctor, I have been fighting to improve health outcomes for vulnerable communities while increasing opportunities for all who call our Valley home and I will continue that work in the Legislature.”
Dr. Bains’ other priorities include access to healthcare, building strong communities, and expanding quality education.
The daughter of immigrant parents from India, Dr. Bains grew up in in the Valley. She watched her father build a business, starting as an auto mechanic and ultimately owning successful car dealerships. After attending medical school in Illinois, Dr. Bains returned home to Kern County to complete a residency at Clinica Sierra Vista, choosing to work in underserved healthcare settings to increase access to healthcare. She most recently served as Medical Director at Bakersfield Recovery Services overseeing substance abuse, addiction, and mental health rehabilitation.
When the pandemic hit, Dr. Bains was on the front lines, establishing field hospital sites to treat COVID patients. She was shocked to see the U.S. healthcare system fail to provide basic medical necessities, spurring her motivation to run for Assembly after witnessing the disparities in health access during the pandemic.
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