Audrey Denney
Rooted in Service
Audrey Denney is an educator, nonprofit leader, and lifelong advocate for rural communities. She grew up on her family’s farm on California’s Central Coast, where her parents planted some of the first wine grapes in Paso Robles. Raised around cattle, horses, and hard work, Audrey learned early that integrity, resilience, and community are at the heart of the American spirit. After moving to Chico in 2003, Audrey worked her way through college at Chico State, then later earning master’s degrees in agricultural science and education and teaching students in the College of Agriculture. She later worked in rural El Salvador with a human rights organization, an experience that inspired her lifelong fight for justice and opportunity. For Audrey, public service isn’t politics — it’s personal. She’s dedicated her life to helping people grow stronger together and is ready to serve her community in Congress.
A Voice for Rural California
Audrey believes Northern California deserves a representative who serves their constituents, not corporate and special interests. Working in food security and as a teacher, she’s seen firsthand how hard life can be for Californians when life is too expensive and families are struggling to put food on the table. Audrey is running for Congress to ensure Northern Californians can have the dignity, security, and opportunity they deserve. She’s never stopped fighting for families, small businesses, and rural communities left behind by Washington’s dysfunction.
As a lifelong advocate for farmers, Audrey knows the challenges rural Californians face every day, especially during the Trump administration. In Congress, she will work to combat forest fires, create good-paying jobs in wildfire prevention and renewable energy, and ensure Northern California remains a place where people can live, work, and thrive. And she’ll fight to ensure that every American has access to affordable health care, mental health resources, and addiction recovery services.
A Critical Flip Opportunity for CA-01
Audrey is running for California’s 1st Congressional District in both a special election to fill the vacancy left for this Congress by the death of Congressman Doug LaMalfa and the regular 2026 elections to fill the seat for the next Congress. Northern Californians deserve a representative who will fight to protect earned benefits like Social Security, Medicare, and veterans benefits that Republicans have cut. Audrey will deliver for Northern California by strengthening its economy, fighting for affordable health care, and giving every resident a voice in their government. EMILYs List is proud to support her in this critical flip opportunity to take back the U.S. House of Representatives.