Vivek Prakriya‘s academic research has explored the intersection of machine learning and quantum field theory, including work that used AI to identify subatomic particles.
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A native of Redmond, Wash., Prakriya is seeking a seat on the City Council in his hometown east of Seattle, hoping to leverage his technology skills to solve problems across infrastructure, transportation, and affordable housing.
At 20 years old, Prakriya would be among the youngest people ever to hold elected office in Washington state. But he’s already kind of used to blazing such a path — he entered the University of Washington after middle school and, now in his fifth year, he’s pursued degrees in computer science, mathematics and physics.
He was also the founding engineer at a startup called Data2 before interning this past summer at Amazon, where he worked on agentic AI workflows in the payments division.
“I have so many ideas for technologies I want to bring to the city,” Prakriya said. “Government just moves slower than startups.”
Prakriya is a product of Redmond public schools. In the city that is home to Microsoft, he still lives in the house his parents bought when they started at the company. His father Mahesh just retired after almost 29 years and his mother Tara, who first started in 1997, is currently vice president of Microsoft’s Surface division.
Prakriya got the bug for city government last year, when he was curious about what the council did and he started going to meetings. He was so enthralled, he came back week after week, and started reading city documents, like the budget and the comprehensive plan.
He took a position on the City of Redmond’s Human Services Commission in April, and he has ideas for implementing artificial intelligence tools to improve processes, such as creating a chatbot where people can type inquiries in their native language and get access to the resources that they need in that language.
Prakriya also thinks tech can be used to improve the city’s permitting process or to help Redmond reach its housing goals. As a math-driven person, he finds it difficult to make decisions without data.
“I want to be on council to set that vision, to advocate for ideas like this,” he said. “That’s the key reason why I’m running.”
In the Aug. 5 primary election, Prakriya won 49% of the vote for Council Position No. 2. He’ll face incumbent councilmember Steve Fields, who won 32% of the primary vote, in the general election on Nov. 4.
Prakriya has secured endorsements from a number of political veterans, including Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), former Washington Gov. and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, Redmond Mayor Angela Birney, Redmond City Council President Vanessa Kritzer, and a host of state senators and representatives.
Serving on the council is a part-time position, and Prakriya is certain he’ll pursue a full-time career in tech, perhaps at Amazon or the startup where he’s had experience. He’s focused on winning the race in front of him before he’ll discuss a future in politics.
When not working, in school or campaigning, Prakriya is an avid skier who took up the sport at age 2. He’s a longtime Seattle Seahawks fan who was there for the legendary playoff comeback win against the Green Bay Packers when he was 10. And as a musician, he was in a Beatles cover band called The Erasers that won a battle of the bands competition in Redmond.
Asked how residents of the city react when a fresh-faced kid knocks on their door to discuss his run for City Council, Prakriya laughed.
“I grew a beard, so I look a little bit older,” he said.
