Political Scientist
Sara Sadhwani is an award-winning scholar, political commentator and professor of political science at Pomona College. Her research examines elections, representation and public opinion, with a focus on Asian American and Latino voting behavior, and has been widely published in leading academic journals. A trusted voice on local and national politics, her analysis has appeared in numerous outlets like The New York Times and on CNN.
Sadhwani earned her PhD in political science and international relations from USC Dornsife in 2019. USC’s Los Angeles location grounded her work in local politics. “Not only can you get a world-class education, but I became ensconced in the local politics of Los Angeles and Southern California, setting me up to stay in the area and make a meaningful impact in the local community,” she says.
Beyond academia, Sadhwani plays an active role in shaping governance in California. She served on the state’s Citizens Redistricting Commission and helped advance ethics reforms and the creation of an independent redistricting commission for the City of Los Angeles. Most recently, she played a key role in the passage of Measure G, the first major overhaul of Los Angeles County governance in more than a century.
She currently serves on the Los Angeles County Governance Reform Taskforce, helping implement reforms aimed at increasing transparency and accountability for nearly 10 million residents.