Dr James Gomez is a distinguished Singaporean political scientist, human rights advocate, and seasoned political figure. Currently serving as the Deputy Head of Policy for the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), he is a key member of the party's Central Executive Committee. In April 2025, he was announced as part of the SDP's five-member slate contesting Sembawang GRC in the upcoming general election.
Dr. Gomez's political journey began in 2006 when he contested in the general elections. He later founded Singaporeans for Democracy in 2010, a non-governmental organization aimed at advocating for political and social reform in Singapore . He re-entered electoral politics with the SDP in 2011 and contested again in 2020. Notably, in 2012, he nominated Chia Thye Poh, Singapore’s longest-serving political detainee, for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Beyond politics, Dr. Gomez is the founder and Regional Director of Asia Centre, a Bangkok-based think tank focusing on democracy and human rights in Asia . His academic contributions include authoring "Self-Censorship: Singapore's Shame" and receiving accolades such as being named one of Asia's 50 most powerful communicators by AsiaWeek in 2001.
Age: 60
Occupation: Political Scientist, Regional Director of the Asia Centre – a regional civil society research institute in consultative statues with the United Nations Economic and Social Council
Member of SDP since: 2010
Previous constituencies contested in SDP: Sembawang GRC (2011); Holland-Bukit Timah GRC (2020)
