Stephanie Nguyen

In Elk Grove, Stephanie Nguyen’s public career has moved through a Sacramento nonprofit, the City Council and, since 2022, the California State Assembly. She entered city government when she was appointed to the Elk Grove City Council in 2017, representing the 4th district through 2022. She now represents Assembly District 10, which includes Elk Grove, Florin, Vineyard and parts of Sacramento. Before holding office, she was executive director of Asian Resources Inc. Nguyen lives in Elk Grove with her husband, a police officer, and their two daughters.

BACKGROUND AND FORMATION

Nguyen was born in the United States on April 17, 1979, to refugees from Vietnam. She grew up with six siblings. She attended Sacramento State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in humanities, and aspired to become a teacher.

Before serving in elected office, Nguyen was executive director of Asian Resources Inc., a Sacramento-based nonprofit organization supporting Asian Americans and immigrants. She joined the Elk Grove City Council by appointment in 2017 after incumbent Steve Ly was elected mayor. She represented the city’s 4th district through 2022.

Her documented roles include work at a Sacramento nonprofit, service on the Elk Grove City Council and representation of a state Assembly district that includes Elk Grove and nearby communities. She currently lives in Elk Grove.

THE PATH TO OFFICE

The Assembly district Nguyen sought in 2022 had previously been numbered the 9th. Democrat Jim Cooper had represented it before retiring to run for sheriff of Sacramento County. The renumbered 10th district includes Elk Grove, Florin, Vineyard and parts of Sacramento.

Nguyen entered the nonpartisan blanket primary while serving on the Elk Grove City Council. She placed first in the primary with 29.9% of the vote and advanced to the general election with fellow Democrat and Sacramento City Councilmember Eric Guerra. Nguyen defeated Guerra in the general election with 53.8% of the vote.

Oil interests reportedly spent $979,000 supporting Nguyen through independent expenditures. That spending documents outside support for Nguyen in the race, but does not by itself establish a policy position. The election moved Nguyen from a city council seat representing Elk Grove’s 4th district to a state office representing the 10th district.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Nguyen’s documented roles before the Assembly include leading a Sacramento-based nonprofit and representing Elk Grove’s 4th district on the City Council. Her current district includes Elk Grove, Florin, Vineyard and parts of Sacramento.

Her documented career moved from serving as executive director of Asian Resources Inc. to an appointment to the Elk Grove City Council and election to the California State Assembly. In 2022, she advanced from a primary with 29.9% of the vote and defeated fellow Democrat Eric Guerra in the general election with 53.8%.

The reported 2022 independent expenditures are also part of the record of Nguyen’s Assembly campaign. Her documented route to the Assembly includes service as a nonprofit executive and Elk Grove councilmember before her election as the representative for the 10th district.