Delegate Barve has been in legislative leadership for much of his career, serving as House Majority Leader from 2003-2014 and now as Chairman of the House Environment and Transportation Committee. In 1990 his won election to the House of Delegates on first try for public office and is nationally known as the first Indian American to serve in a state legislature in American History. Barve has been re-elected by his constituents six times.

Barve is no stranger to Frederick County. As Majority Leader he criss-crossed the state repeatedly in support of legislative efforts in health care, education and the environment. Barve marched in the Woodsboro Memorial Day Parade this past summer, has been the guest on WTHU's Eye on the Community program twice in recent months and has attended countless Frederick County functions. He is endorsed locally by his colleague in the House of Delegates, Carol Krimm.

Barve is known in Annapolis for tackling big issues, bringing people together and getting things done. Upon his ascension to committee chairmanship, the Baltimore Sun characterized Barve as a "staunch by practical liberal". Barve's Congressional Campaign has been endorsed by the Maryland House Speakers spanning the last quarter century: Mike Busch, Casper Taylor and Clayton Mitchell. Speaker Busch said of him: "Kumar Barve has spent his entire career working in some of the toughest political atmospheres to do what is right for the citizens of this state".

As Majority Leader, Barve was the floor leader for the Democratic Party and a senior member of the fiscal leadership in the House. He helped guide policies that resulted in balanced budgets and the maintenance of the state’s Triple-A bond rating.

Barve’s groundbreaking legislative career has been highlighted by achievements in health care, technology and the environment. He was a primary architect of Maryland’s 1993 landmark reform of health insurance and was the prime sponsor of a later law that allowed patients to use physicians outside of their HMO network. As Chairman of a Technology Subcommittee, Barve’s work led to the creation of Maryland’s highly successful Technology Development Corporation, the state’s technology tuition assistance program and the early "e-commerce’ Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act which served as a guidepost for consumer protection in the then nascent world of online transactions. As Environmental Chairman, Barve’s efforts resulted in a state moratorium on fracking and a revision to the state’s stormwater management law.

Barve, an accountant, also serves as the Chief Financial Officer of an environmental management company. He grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and attended Montgomery County Public Schools. He resides in Rockville, Maryland with his wife, Maureen Quinn, who serves as a Commissioner on the Maryland Worker’s Compensation Commission.