California Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo Nominated for EMILYs List’s Rising Star Award

For Immediate Release
February 11, 2019

California Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo Nominated for EMILYs List’s Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, announced that California Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo is a nominee for the sixth annual Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award.

“Wendy Carrillo is a highly effective legislator whose leadership skills have been evident since she took office,” said Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILYs List. “She’s authored legislation addressing issues including greater workforce protections against discrimination and harassment, job creation, access to higher education, and more. Having come to the U.S. as an undocumented child, Wendy knows firsthand the obstacles that immigrants face. Wendy is a tireless fighter for progress whom EMILYs List is pleased to have her as a nominee for the Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award.”

Wendy Carrillo has represented District 51 in California’s state Assembly since her election in 2017. Originally from El Salvador, Wendy came to the United States as an undocumented child and obtained citizenship in her early 20s. As an award-winning journalist, co-founder of a social news media startup that promoted human rights, and former Service Employees International Union employee, Wendy understands the value of high-quality education and is a staunch advocate for debt-free college, women’s rights, and health care for all. EMILYs List endorsed Wendy in her last campaign.

Named in honor of the dedicated and courageous Gabrielle Giffords, the Rising Star Award celebrates an extraordinary woman serving in state or local office. The award honors a woman who demonstrates the sort of commitment to community, dedication to women and families, and determination and civility that have been the highlights of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ career, in and out of office. Previous Rising Star Award recipients include Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams in 2014, Boston City Councilwoman Ayanna Pressley in 2015, Colorado House Speaker Crisanta Duran in 2016, Philadelphia City Councilwoman Helen Gym in 2017, and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx in 2018.

The Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award winner will be chosen with community input.

Wendy Carrillo is nominated alongside:

Jennifer Carroll Foy, Virginia Delegate
Margaret Good, Florida state Representative
Sandra Jauregui, Nevada Assemblywoman
Arvina Martin, Madison (Wisconsin) City Councilwoman
Yuh-Line Niou, New York Assemblywoman

EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $600 million to elect pro-choice Democratic women candidates. With a grassroots community of over five million members, EMILY's List helps Democratic women win competitive campaigns – across the country and up and down the ballot – by recruiting and training candidates, supporting strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect 150 women to the House, 26 to the Senate, 16 governors, and nearly 1,100 women to state and local office. Nearly 40 percent of the candidates EMILYs List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. During the historic 2017-2018 cycle, EMILYs List raised a record-breaking $110 million dollars and launched a record independent expenditure campaign. We helped elect 34 new women to the House, including 24 red-to-blue victories; enough seats to have delivered the U.S. House majority alone. Since the 2016 election, more than 40,000 women have reached out to EMILY's List about running for office laying the groundwork for the next decade of candidates for local, state and national offices.