Today, we continue our focus on the race for the State Senate seat in District 26, currently held by Maria Elena Durazo, who is termed out of office.
District 26 is a dense, urban district centered in Los Angeles, including Downtown LA, Boyle Heights, Echo Park, and surrounding neighborhoods. It’s home to largely Latino and immigrant communities, with a mix of working-class families and renters, and it sits at the center of many of the city’s biggest challenges — from housing affordability and homelessness to economic inequality and access to public services.
Today’s guest is Wendy Carrillo, a member of the California State Assembly.
Carrillo represented the 52nd Assembly District from 2017 to 2024, covering much of Northeast Los Angeles. Before entering elected office, she worked as a journalist and communications professional, and has long been active in immigrant rights and community advocacy.
In the legislature, she worked on issues including housing, labor, and immigrant protections, and has been part of broader debates in Sacramento over affordability and the cost of living.
She’s now running for State Senate in a competitive race to succeed Durazo. And in this conversation, we also talk about something more personal — her experience with sobriety and recovery, and how that has shaped her life and approach to public service.
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Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin is a teacher, writer, activist, podcaster and local leader with nearly 30 years experience in government, politics, and public service.
