15 Facts About Wendy Carrillo

Wendy Carrillo was sworn into office by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon on December 16,2017, after winning the special election to succeed Congressman Jimmy Gomez.

Wendy Carrillo was born in El Salvador on August 10,1980, the oldest of five daughters.

Wendy Carrillo's 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.

Wendy Carrillo moved to Los Angeles at age 5, and grew up in Boyle Heights and City Terrace.

Wendy Carrillo received residency at age 13 after her father petitioned for her.

Wendy Carrillo attended Harrison Elementary, El Sereno Middle School and Roosevelt High.

Wendy Carrillo is a graduate of both East Los Angeles College and Cal State Los Angeles.

Wendy Carrillo earned a master's degree, with an emphasis in demography and politics, from the University of Southern California.

Wendy Carrillo was a regular contributor to Pivot's Take Part Live, Huff Post Live, The Young Turks' The Point and Al Jazeera America.

Wendy Carrillo was a communications manager for labor union called Local 271, the Los Angeles affiliate of Service Employees International Union.

In 2017, Wendy Carrillo announced her intention to run to replace then Congressman Xavier Becerra following his appointment to Attorney General of California.

In 2020, Wendy 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 Wendy 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.

Wendy Carrillo is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.

In November 2023, Wendy 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.