Rupal Chaudhari was not interested in politics until politics took an interest in her. On Jan. 25, 2021, she and her husband Sanjay learned abruptly from a local newspaper about the City of Austin’s plans to purchase for $9.5 million a hotel in the same parking lot as their hotels for use as a homeless shelter.The shelter would house a mere 50 residents under the initial plan, located near schools and businesses but far away from any necessary social services. In an effort to increase responsiveness and transparency in local government for residents, they began MOVE Candlewood (Make Our Voices Equal in Austin), dedicated to fighting for better options for Austin’s unhoused population.Numerous protests and events, hundreds of engagements with city and county officials, and thousands of supporters later, Rupal decided to take things to the next level by running for Travis County Judge in 2022. Though she did not become the next chief administrator of the county, her campaign outraised the highly favored incumbent, shocking the Austin political scene and challenging the local power monopoly. She drew media attention to the city/county 9-1-1 staffing crisis among other public policy successes made possible by a high-profile campaign.Rupal holds a degree in Accounting and Economics and a degree from Company Secretaries of India, as well as a Master’s degree from St. Mary’s Law School. Making productive use of all three degrees, she is a licensed attorney specializing in immigration and manages the finances for the family’s business holdings including hotels and a leading electronics component distribution business.A U.S. resident since 2007 and a citizen since 2010, she and her husband live near Volente where they raise twins Aaditya, their son, and Amairah, their daughter.