Neel Kashkari Wants to Be a New Kind of Republican

Neel Kashkari, 40, Republican candidate for governor of California, sits in the front passenger seat of a rented Nissan Versa, head tilted forward, eyes on his BlackBerry, squinting from the morning sun that streams through the windshield. He’s cocooned, windows rolled up, awaiting word from his press secretary, Jessica Hsiang Ng, that the students, teachers, and administrators of the Central City Value High School, a Los Angeles charter school, are ready for him. When the time comes to start campaigning, he’ll do his best to listen, empathize, and connect as a politician on the campaign trail must. Until then he’ll remain isolated, in his bubble. He’s calculated there’s very little to be gained from unscripted interaction.

At 10 a.m., Kashkari emerges, blue shirt tucked into khakis, brown shoes, his shaved, bullet-shaped head rising on a thin neck from a starched collar. He crosses the parking lot, enters the school, and then his smile appears. The corners of his mouth turn up, and he’s delighted to meet with the awaiting students and teachers. Karen, a senior, plans to attend California State University at Northridge. Brittany, a sophomore, shows him an art classroom. At every turn, he looks completely engrossed.