Wendy Carrillo

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. She was sworn into office by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon on December 16, 2017, after winning the special election to succeed Congressman Jimmy Gomez. Carrillo is the first Salvadoran immigrant and the first formerly illegal immigrant to be elected to the State Assembly.

Early life and education 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. 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. She was also a communications manager for labor union called Local 271, the Los Angeles affiliate of Service Employees International Union. Carrillo ultimately received 5% and lost to then State Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez and attorney Robert Lee Ahn.

California State Assembly 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. Carrillo faced Planned Parenthood – Los Angeles board member Luis Lopez. On December 5, 2017, Carrillo defeated Lopez, receiving 53.5% of the vote.

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.

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. Carillo lost the election held on March 5, 2024, garnering only 15% of the vote.

During her tenure, Carrillo was a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.

Personal life 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.

Electoral history + Year Office Party Primary General Result Swing Total % . Total % . 2017 sp State Assembly Democratic 5,058 22.2% 1st 11,110 53.5% 1st Hold 2018 42,547 100.00% 1st 102,276 86.6% 1st Hold 2020 73,578 100.00% 1st 127,026 100.00% 1st Hold 2022 43,040 49.2% 1st 65,039 56.9% 1st Hold 2024 City Council Nonpartisan 5,321 15.14% 4th N/A