Before running for public office, Chivukula was appointed by
Governor of New Jersey James Florio to the New Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners. He served on that body as a public member from 1994 to 1997.
Franklin Township In 1997, Chivukula was elected to represent the Fifth Ward on the
Franklin Township Council. He was re-elected to a second term in 2001. In 1998, he served as deputy mayor of the township. He served as mayor in 2000. He was a delegate to the
Democratic National Convention in
1996,
2000,
2008, and
2012 and was an alternate delegate in
2004. Chivukula was one of
New Jersey's presidential electors casting the state's
Electoral College votes after the
2004 presidential election; New Jersey's electors cast their ballots on December 13, 2004, in the State House Annex in
Trenton, where all 15 votes were cast for
Democratic Party candidate
John Kerry.
2012 and 2014 congressional campaigns In 2012, Chivukula ran for United States House of Representatives against Republican incumbent
Leonard Lance in
New Jersey's 7th congressional district. He was defeated in the heavily Republican district by a vote of 175,662 to 123,057. In 2014, Chivukula ran for the House again, standing for the open seat created by
Rush Holt Jr.'s retirement. He finished second behind assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman and state senator
Linda R. Greenstein.
Board of Public Utilities On September 18, 2014, Chivukula was nominated by Governor
Chris Christie to a seat on the
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, to replace retiring commissioner
Jeanne Fox. ==Election history==