Wendy Carrillo (original) (raw)

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Salvadoran-American politician (born 1980)

Wendy Carrillo
Member of the California State Assembly
In officeDecember 16, 2017 – November 30, 2024
Preceded by Jimmy Gomez
Succeeded by Jessica Caloza
Constituency 51st district (2017–2022) 52nd district (2022–2024)
Personal details
Born (1980-08-10) August 10, 1980 (age 44)El Salvador
Nationality AmericanSalvadoran (formerly)
Political party Democratic
Residence(s) Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California
Alma mater California State University, Los Angeles (BA) University of Southern California (MA)
Occupation Labor activist

Wendy Maria Carrillo Dono (born August 10, 1980) is a Salvadoran-born American politician who served in the California State Assembly from 2017 to 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, she represented the 52nd State Assembly district, encompassing parts of northeastern Los Angeles and East Los Angeles.[1] She was sworn into office by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon on December 16, 2017, after winning the special election to succeed Congressman Jimmy Gomez.[2] Carrillo is the first Salvadoran immigrant and the first formerly illegal immigrant to be elected to the State Assembly.[3]

Early life and education

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Wendy Carrillo was born in El Salvador on August 10, 1980, the oldest of five daughters. Her mother immigrated to the United States when Carrillo was a child, as she felt it was unsafe to remain in El Salvador due to civil war. Carrillo's mother worked as a babysitter. From this, she was able to save enough money to bring Carrillo, along with Carrillo's grandmother and aunt, to the United States.[4] She moved to Los Angeles at age 5, and grew up in Boyle Heights and City Terrace. She received residency at age 13 after her father petitioned for her. At age 21, she applied to become a naturalized citizen and was granted citizenship.[4]

Carrillo attended Harrison Elementary, El Sereno Middle School and Roosevelt High. She is a graduate of both East Los Angeles College and Cal State Los Angeles. Carrillo earned a master's degree, with an emphasis in demography and politics, from the University of Southern California.[2]

For ten years, she was the host and executive producer of a community based radio program called "Knowledge is Power" on KPWR 106 FM. Carillo also worked as a writer and producer for Nuvo TV. She was also a regular contributor to Pivot's Take Part Live, Huff Post Live, The Young Turks' The Point and Al Jazeera America. In 2014, she was the co-founder of now defunct Reported.ly, which was a social media startup that aimed at covering issues of conflict, human rights and political movements.[5] She was also a communications manager for labor union called Local 271, the Los Angeles affiliate of Service Employees International Union.[6]

In 2017, Carrillo announced her intention to run to replace then Congressman Xavier Becerra following his appointment to Attorney General of California.[7] Carrillo ultimately received 5% and lost to then State Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez and attorney Robert Lee Ahn.[8] Gomez defeated Lee Ahn, receiving 60.1% of the vote and was formally sworn in on July 11, 2017.[9][10]

California State Assembly

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Carrillo speaking during L.A.'s first Indigenous Peoples' Day in 2018.

Following Gomez's resignation to be formally seated in the United States House of Representatives, Carrillo announced that she would run to replace Gomez in the California State Assembly. On October 3, 2017, Carrillo received 22.2% of the vote and secured a spot in the general election.[11] Carrillo faced Planned Parenthood – Los Angeles board member Luis Lopez. On December 5, 2017, Carrillo defeated Lopez, receiving 53.5% of the vote.[12]

In 2018, Carrillo faced libertarian adjunct professor Christopher Stare. Carrillo easily defeated Stare as expected, receiving 86.6% of the vote. In 2020, Carrillo ran unopposed in both the primary and general election.

On October 22, 2022, Los Angeles City Councilmember-elect Eunisses Hernandez alleged that a female canvasser for Congressman Jimmy Gomez and Carrillo made anti-Asian comments about their challengers, David Kim, who is Korean-American, and Mia Livas Porter, who is Filipina-American, respectively, while visiting Hernandez's home. In late October 2022, a Highland Park voter made similar allegations except this time it involved two female canvassers. In response, both Gomez's and Carrillo's campaigns offered an apology to their challengers and reached out to Hernandez via Twitter and separate phone conversations assuring that they had taken action to ensure the canvasser(s)-in-question were no longer part of the campaign.[3]

In June 2023, during a protest led by UNITE HERE Local 11, the Los Angeles Police Department arrested Carrillo after she refused to disperse.[13]

In April 2023, she announced her decision to run for the Los Angeles City Council district 14 against the incumbent Kevin de León, instead of running for reelection to the State Assembly.[14][15] Carillo lost the election held on March 5, 2024, garnering only 15% of the vote.[16]

Carrillo is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.[17]

In November 2023, Carrillo was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after crashing into two parked cars and testing over double the state’s legal alcohol limit.[18][19]

Electoral history of Wendy Carrillo | Year | Office | Party | Primary | General | Result | Swing | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | --------------- | ----- | -------- | ------- | | -------- | | Total | % | P. | Total | % | P. | | | | | | | | | 2017 sp | State Assembly | | Democratic | 5,058 | 22.2% | 1st | 11,110 | 53.5% | 1st | Won | | Hold | | 2018 | 42,547 | 100.00% | 1st | 102,276 | 86.6% | 1st | Won | | Hold | | | | | 2020 | 73,578 | 100.00% | 1st | 127,026 | 100.00% | 1st | Won | | Hold | | | | | 2022 | 43,040 | 49.2% | 1st | 65,039 | 56.9% | 1st | Won | | Hold | | | | | 2024 | City Council | | Nonpartisan | 5,321 | 15.14% | 4th | Does not appear | Lost | | N/A | | |

  1. ^ Livingston, Javier Panzar, Ellis Simani, Michael (December 6, 2017). "Labor activist Wendy Carrillo will be L.A.'s newest Assembly member". Los Angeles Times.{{[cite web](/wiki/Template:Cite%5Fweb "Template:Cite web")}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b "About Wendy – Wendy Carrillo for Assembly". Wendy Carrillo for Assembly. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Huang, Josie (November 4, 2022). "Canvasser Controversy Erupts In LA Congressional Race For District 34". LAist. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Hoffman, Ally Bogard and Allie. "On Resilience: How Wendy Carrillo Went From Fleeing War To Running For US Congress". Forbes. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  5. ^ "Wendy Carrillo joins startup reported.ly". Media Moves. December 17, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  6. ^ Livingston, Javier Panzar, Ellis Simani, Michael (December 6, 2017). "Labor activist Wendy Carrillo will be L.A.'s newest Assembly member – Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 25, 2018.{{[cite web](/wiki/Template:Cite%5Fweb "Template:Cite web")}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Wire, Sarah D. (January 3, 2017). "Wendy Carrillo, whose mother brought her to the country from El Salvador illegally, enters race for Becerra seat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  8. ^ Mai-Duc, Christine. "It's official: Robert Lee Ahn will face Jimmy Gomez in June runoff for L.A. congressional seat". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  9. ^ Bowman, Bridget (June 7, 2017). "Jimmy Gomez Wins California Special Election for Becerra's Seat". Roll Call. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  10. ^ Cheney, Kyle (June 28, 2017). "Gomez to be sworn in to House on July 11". POLITICO. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  11. ^ Wick, Julia. "Wendy Carrillo And Luis López Will Likely Advance To Runoff For Jimmy Gomez's Old Assembly Seat". LAist. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  12. ^ Panzar, Javier (April 13, 2018). "Luis López concedes to Wendy Carrillo in Assembly District 51 special election". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  13. ^ Wick, Julia; Childs, Jeremy; Martinez, Christian (June 22, 2023). "L.A. City Council members, California assemblywoman arrested as hotel workers protest". Los Angeles Times.
  14. ^ Boyle Heights Beat (April 28, 2023). "Wendy Carrillo says she's running for CD 14". Boyle Heights Beat. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  15. ^ Arellano, Gustavo (April 27, 2023). "Column: Wendy Carrillo explains why she's running against her former ally, Kevin de León". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  16. ^ Presidential Primary Election, March 5, 2024
  17. ^ "Legislative Progressive Caucus". assembly.ca.gov. California State Assembly. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  18. ^ Zahniser, David; Winton, Richard; Pineda, Dorany; Wiley, Hannah (November 3, 2023). "'Double the legal limit': Assemblymember, L.A. council candidate arrested on suspected DUI". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 15, 2023.
  19. ^ "assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo arrested on suspected DUI". CBSNews. November 3, 2023.