Nanette Diaz Barragán
Legislative Policy Conference
Nanette Diaz Barragán
Nanette Diaz Barragán was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2016, becoming the first Latina ever to represent California’s 44th Congressional district.
Born in Harbor City and growing up in its surrounding harbor communities, her humble beginnings shaped her interest in issues that matter locally.
As the youngest of eleven children raised by immigrant parents from Mexico, Barragán learned the value of hard work from her parents. Her father was a local tv repairman and her mother, who only completed the third grade, cleaned homes and worked in factories.
Congresswoman Barragán received her B.A. from UCLA and her J.D. from USC. With a desire to give back, she began her career in public service. She steered outreach efforts for African Americans in the Office of Public Liaison for the Clinton White House and worked for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Prior to practicing law, Barragán served as an extern to California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno and worked at the Los Angeles Legal Aid Foundation.
Nanette was the first woman in 12 years to be elected to the Hermosa Beach City Council. During her two-year term, Barragán successfully stood up to a powerful oil company and stopped a drilling proposal in her community.
In 2016, Nanette decided to take her advocacy to the national level.
Nanette is Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and a member of the Progressive Caucus. She serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security, where she chairs the subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation and Operations, and serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
From fighting for comprehensive and affordable healthcare for all to ensuring clean air and clean water for her communities, Congresswoman Barragán works tirelessly for her constituents of California’s 44th Congressional District.