Tram Nguyen nominated for prestigious Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award from EMILYs List
Boston Herald: Tram Nguyen nominated for prestigious Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award from EMILY's List
By: Erin Tiernan
State Rep. Tram Nguyen could be the second up-and-coming Massachusetts politician to win the prestigious Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award from EMILYs List and needs voter’s help to push her across the finish line.
“Tram Nguyen is a fearless advocate who has fought for marginalized communities since the beginning of her career,” Emily Cain, executive director of EMILYs List. “As the first Vietnamese American woman to serve in the Massachusetts legislature, Tram not only made history in her election but also flipped her seat by defeating an anti-choice Republican incumbent.”
Named in honor of the former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, the Rising Star Award annually celebrates an extraordinary woman serving in state or local office, according to EMILYs List. The organization is the nation’s largest group working to elect Democratic pro-choice women candidates.
The award honors a woman who demonstrates a commitment to community, women and families, and determination and civility that have been highlights Gifford’s career in and out of office.
This year’s award winner will be chosen with community input. People can vote online here at emilyslist.org.
Previous Rising Star Award recipients include U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley in 2015 while she was serving on the Boston City Council and former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams in 2014.
After immigrating to the United State with her family at 5-years old Nguyen, an Andover Democrat, earned a bachelor’s from Tufts University and graduated from Northeastern University School of Law before she became the first Vietnamese American woman to serve in the Massachusetts State Legislature, where she represents the 18th Essex District.
“Tram has proven she is a force and the EMILYs List community is thrilled to nominate her for the 2021 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award,” Cain said.
Tram Nguyen is in the running with other nominees New York State Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz; Washington State Rep. Debra Lekanoff; Harris County, Texas Judge Lina Hidalgo; Georgia State Rep. Park Cannon; Pennsylvania State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara.
