Amanda was named the Chair of Emerge America, a national organization that has trained more than 4,000 Democratic women to run for office. Currently, more than 690 Emerge alumnae are serving in elected office across the country.
Amanda was named the Chair of Emerge America, a national organization that has trained more than 4,000 Democratic women to run for office. Currently, more than 690 Emerge alumnae are serving in elected office across the country.
Amanda has had a unique and diverse career starting out in the private sector, moving to education as a teacher in her small hometown community and finally spending the majority of her career in public service. She began her government service at the local level in the City of San Jose and spent close to a decade in the United States Senate. During her Senate tenure, Amanda worked closely on the Affordable Care Act, the Farm Bill and the Re-organization of the Auto Industry. She was named one of the top 50 most influential staffers and became the first Latina Chief of Staff in the United States Senate. In 2014, she returned to her hometown and was a candidate for US Congress in California’s 21st District, where she was chosen as the Democratic Party’s nominee.
In 2016, Amanda served as the National Political Director for Secretary Clinton’s presidential run. Amanda oversaw the campaign’s political strategy with elected officials and key constituency groups. Her team conducted a wide range of outreach and engagement programs at the local, state and federal levels. Amanda often served as a surrogate and campaign spokesperson on all media platforms, including CNN, MSNBC, FOX, NPR, Univision and Telemundo and their state and local affiliates. She was featured in several publications including Allure, Buzzfeed, Cosmo, Elle, McClatchy, Politico and Sports Illustrated.
After the 2016 election, Amanda served as Chief of Operations for the California Department of Justice for Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Under her direction, she oversaw an annual budget of $850 million and managed a team of 1,000 talented and dedicated public servants. In 2018, Amanda ran for statewide office and subsequently helped elected Central Valley Democrats in her home region.
She is a proud daughter of parents who began as farmworkers in the rural Central Valley of California, a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Business school and a mom of two young energetic kids.
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