Former radio host Wendy Carrillo won a special election on Tuesday (Dec. 5) to represent Northeast and East Los Angeles in the California Assembly, capping a long grassroots journey by the Salvadoran-American immigrant to join the ranks of women in state and national politics.
Carrillo beat run-off opponent Luis Lopez, about 53-47 percent, in the diverse and urban Assembly District 51, which includes Eagle Rock, East Los Angeles, Silver Lake, Echo Park, City Terrace, Boyle Heights, and Highland Park. Overall the district is more than 70 percent Latino-identified.
With her victory among a fraction of voters suffering a bit of election fatigue (some had to vote five times this year), Carrillo will soon be traveling back and forth to Sacramento as a legislator. Her district is a rich tapestry of neighborhoods combining immigrants and recent wealthier newcomers — as well as big problems, like the current housing crisis.
Before running for Assembly, Carrillo threw her hat in the ring to succeed former U.S. Congressman Xavier Becerra in Washington DC.