Amanda Renteria

Personal life and education

Renteria's father emigrated from Mexico in the 1960s, settling in Woodlake, California; her mother was born in the United States. Renteria is the second of three daughters. She double-majored in economics and political science at Stanford University, writing her senior thesis on women in politics. She played basketball and softball for the Stanford Cardinal. Renteria also earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. Renteria lives in Sanger, California, with her husband Patrick Brannelly, a business owner and teacher at Fresno State’s MBA program, and two children.

Career

After college, Renteria became a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs. She decided to move to the public sector to "make a difference," working for one year as a math teacher at her former high school in Woodlake and helping San Jose with a neighborhood revitalization initiative, before going to Harvard Business School.

Renteria became a member of Senator Dianne Feinstein's staff in 2006. She later took a job with Senator and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow as a legislative aid on financial issues. She was promoted to legislative director, and became Stabenow's chief of staff in 2008. Renteria was the first Latina chief of staff in Senate history.

In 2013, Renteria was considered for the role of chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, but withdrew her name from consideration. According to Reuters, “Washington policy-watchers widely assumed that Renteria would get the job, but last-minute questions about her perceived lack of experience got in the way.” Politico noted that “financial reform advocates reacted with shock to reports that the White House was considering her for the position.”

In August 2013, Renteria moved back to California, where she briefly worked as a substitute teacher before announcing her congressional candidacy.

2014 congressional candidacy

Renteria ran for Congress in California's 21st congressional district. On announcing her candidacy, she stated, "I'm running because I grew up here, and I believe the Valley needs a strong voice in Washington. We have to have folks who know how to work across the aisle, and who know how to be effective." Republican David Valadao holds the seat. In the June 3 primary, Renteria received 11,682 votes and about 25.6% overall, ahead of fellow Democrat John Hernandez, but fell nearly 40% behind Valadao, thus becoming the Democratic nominee. At the time of the primary, Cook Political Report considered the seat to be “likely Republican.”

On July 20, 2014, both Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and representative Nancy Pelosi held a fundraiser to support Renteria's candidacy. President Barack Obama also appeared at a fundraiser with Renteria, calling her one of “two outstanding candidates and part of what it is that we’re just trying to build here and across the country." According to the Fresno Bee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reserved $1 million for ads in September in her district. On October 7 Vice President Joe Biden spoke at a fundraiser for Renteria.

On the Affordable Care Act, The Hill reported Renteria as saying that “something needed to be done at the time and that she opposes repealing the law now.”

In October 2014, Roll Call reported that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced plans to cut campaign ads in the final two weeks of the campaign, "a signal the party does not see a path to victory for these candidates or races."

In the November 4 general election, Renteria lost to Valadao by an almost 58 to 42 margin.

2016 Clinton campaign

Leaked emails of John Podesta show that the Hillary Clinton campaign was looking for a "Hispanic woman" for the position of political director of her 2016 presidential campaign. Following the loss to Valadao, Renteria was hired to fill that position.

Electoral history

California's 21st congressional district, 2014 (Primary):

California's 21st congressional district, 2014: