KIM NGUYEN-PENALOZA

The daughter of a Vietnamese refugee and a Mexican immigrant, Kim Bernice Nguyen was the first in her family to graduate high school and college. At just 25, she won a historic election as the youngest person and first Latina ever elected to the Garden Grove City Council.

As a Councilmember, Kim has been a fierce advocate for neighborhoods—championing new economic development, infrastructure projects, and park rehabilitation while reducing crime and homelessness. Kim is a leader on women’s issues, standing up to harassment and seeking equality and justice throughout Southern California. She has fought to ensure that immigrants, like her mother, have the dignity and opportunity to thrive in our communities. She has a proven record of bipartisanship, working with her colleagues on council to deliver meaningful policies to strengthen small businesses and create economic opportunity.

A homegrown leader, Ms. Nguyen attended Clinton-Mendenhall Elementary, Doig Intermediate, and Santiago High School. As a healthcare expert, she will bring a much-needed public health background to Congress, having formerly worked for CalOptima and now as a Program Manager for a large health plan.