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Xochil Peña Rodriguez

Xochil (pronounced So-Chil) Peña Rodriguez  was born in San Antonio on April 24, 1982, Texas to a Mexican-American family. She is the only daughter of Congressman Ciro and Carolina Peña Rodriguez. Xochil is seeking election to the Texas Senate District 19 in the 2020 Democratic Primary.''

Early Life and Education
Xochil earned her Juris Doctorate from [|The University of Texas School of Law] in 2008. As a Student Attorney, she participated in the Immigration Clinic handling asylum and adjustment of status claims before the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration Court. She also participated in the Transnational Worker's Rights Clinic (Equal Justice Center), where she represented workers seeking to recover damages for violations of labor laws as well as unpaid wages. Xochil was an intern with The United States Department of Justice, the Texas Senate, and a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Texas. After law school Xochil served briefly as a Law Fellow for the National Labor Relations Board.

Xochil earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in [|Architectural Studies from Rice University] in 2004. In high school her first job was as a U.S. Capital Tour Guide. Xochil is a graduate of Antonian High School where she was a National Hispanic Merit Scholar, and upon graduation, was a LULAC Scholarship recipient.

Career
Professionally, Xochil has been a practicing attorney for over 10 years. She served as Associate Counsel for The University of Texas at San Antonio and as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of San Antonio, and is a certified mediator.

Family & Politics
Xochil's parents, Ciro and Carolina Peña Rodriguez, taught Xochil the importance of family and what it meant to fight for justice. Xochil's [|Her father served on the Harlandale ISD School Board, Texas House of Representatives, and the U.S. House of Representatives]. He currently serves as a Justice of the Peace. Her mother was a migrant farm worker who became a teacher and a librarian. She retired as an American Federation of Teachers member. Both of her parents were active in social justice, education, and equal rights. Her uncle, Sergio "Chico" Rodriguez was first elected to office to serve as the Bexar County Commissioner for Precinct 1 in November 2004 and officially sworn into office on January 1, 2005.

Community Involvement
Currently, Xochil serves on the San Antonio/Bexar County Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census. In the past, she has served as a Democratic Party Precinct Chair, was the Democratic Convention Chair for Texas Senatorial District 19, and has been active in several political campaigns. Her community service began in high school when she has volunteered at Kindred Elementary and Bonham Elementary reading to students.

Personal
Xochil married Mr. Shannon O'Dowd, a public school teacher, at San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio. They have one daughter, Itzela.

2020 Campaign For Texas Senate
Xochil is currently running in the 2020 Democratic Primary for the Texas Senate District 19 seat. The election will be held on March 3, 2020.