Meet Kim Nguyen-Penaloza

Raised by her Vietnamese father and Mexican mother, Kim Nguyen-Penaloza learned early on to fight for her accomplishments. She was the first in her family to graduate high school and college. At just 25, she won a seat on the Garden Grove City Council, becoming the youngest person ever elected. In 2020, Kim was overwhelmingly re-elected with more than 75% of the vote.

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.

In Congress, Kim will work to restore integrity and accountability to a broken Washington. 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. Kim understands the challenges we face in Southern California, especially the rising cost of living, housing, education, and healthcare. In Congress, she will work to reduce medical and prescription drug costs, increase housing affordability, invest in job training to help raise wages, and reduce inflation so working families in Southern California can thrive.

A lifelong resident of CA-45, Kim attended Clinton-Mendenhall Elementary, Doig Intermediate, and Santiago High School. 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.