Karen Bass

Rep. Karen Bass (Photo/Courtesy of Karen Bass)

Bass serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, where she is the chair of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. She is also a member of the House Judiciary Committee and the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Achievements: Before serving in Congress, Bass was elected as the California State Assembly’s 67th speaker. Under her leadership, the assembly prioritized federal economic stimulus legislation that aided Californians affected by the national economic crisis in the late 2000s. Before running for elected office, she worked for nearly a decade as a physician assistant. She graduated from the Keck School of Medicine of USC’s Physician Assistant Program, where she also served as a clinical instructor. In 1990, Bass started and ran the Community Coalition, a community-based social justice organization in South Los Angeles.

Trojan Ties: Bass earned a master’s degree from the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. She delivered USC’s 136th commencement address in 2019.

Young Kim

Rep. Young Kim (Photo/Courtesy of Young Kim)

With her victory, Kim is one of the first Korean American women to serve in Congress, alongside newly elected — and fellow USC alumna — Michelle Steel.

Achievements: A working mother of four, Kim started her career as a small business owner and financial analyst. She entered public service as a staff member in former Rep. Ed Royce’s office more than 25 years ago, rising to become director of community operations. In 2014, she became the first Korean American woman to represent Southern California in the state assembly. As a legislator, Kim authored AB 2078, a bill protecting domestic violence survivors that passed with bipartisan support.

Trojan Ties: Kim earned her degree in business administration in 1994 from the USC Marshall School of Business.

Nanette Barragán

Rep. Nanette Barragán (Photo/Courtesy of Nanette Barragán)

Barragán is the second vice chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and a member of the Progressive Caucus. She serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on Natural Resources. In 2019, she became the first Latina in 10 years and the second ever to hold a seat on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Achievements: Prior to first winning her current seat in 2016, Barragán practiced law for 10 years and served on the Hermosa Beach City Council from 2013 to 2015 as the city’s first Latina councilmember.

Trojan Ties: Barragán earned her law degree from the USC Gould School of Law.

Michelle Steel

Rep. Michelle Steel (Photo/Courtesy of Michelle Steel)

Campaigning on her “tax-fighter” track record, the chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors touted her work in guiding the county through COVID-19 and providing support for vulnerable communities.

Achievements: Steel emigrated from South Korea with her family when she was a teenager. She has been a county supervisor since 2015 and is a former member of the California State Board of Equalization, where she served from 2007 to 2015.

Trojan Ties: She holds a master’s degree in business administration from USC Marshall.

Carolyn Bourdeaux

Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux (Photo/Courtesy of Carolyn Bourdeaux)

Bourdeaux has been a professor at the Andrew Young School of Public Policy at Georgia State University since 2003.

Achievements: From 2007 to 2010, she took a leave of absence to direct Georgia’s Senate Budget and Evaluation Office, where she worked in a nonpartisan role to help the state balance the budget during the Great Recession. Bourdeaux later returned to the Andrew Young School and founded the Center for State and Local Finance to teach the next generation of leaders about responsible and compassionate public policy.

Trojan Ties: She earned her master’s degree in public administration from the USC Price School of Public Policy.

Ashley Hinson

Rep. Ashley Hinson (Photo/Courtesy of Ashley Hinson)

A former television reporter, Hinson campaigned on her efforts in Iowa’s state government to balance the budget, cut taxes and advocate for vulnerable populations.

Achievements: As the first woman to represent Iowa’s 67th district in the state legislature, Hinson prioritized funding for education and rural health care. Prior to elected office, she worked as a broadcast journalist for KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids for more than a decade. Hinson won two regional Emmy awards for her reporting, among other honors.

Trojan Ties: Hinson earned her bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.