In 2003, Barragán served as an extern to Justice Carlos Moreno at the California Supreme Court. In 2004, she served as an extern at the Los Angeles Legal Aid Foundation, a law firm for low-income people in Los Angeles. There she assisted pro per workers who needed assistance filing claims for unpaid overtime and meal breaks. In 2005, Barragán received an externship at the United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California where she worked with attorneys in the Organized Crime and Terrorism section. There she assisted on a money laundering trial team, in investigations, and in prosecuting Central Violations Bureau cases. Barragán then joined Latham & Watkins LLP, where she worked on a variety of cases from land use to securities litigation. While at Latham, she was the lead attorney in an immigration asylum case spanning three years for a child and mother from Guatemala; withholding of removal was granted. After Hurricane Katrina, Barragán and her colleague Blake Megdal flew to Biloxi, Mississippi, to provide pro bono assistance with insurance claims. She also served as a child advocate and was the Spanish-speaking adoption attorney for low-income families seeking adoptions.
Early political career
Barragán started her political career with the Clinton White House in the Office of Public Liaison doing African American outreach, and served as the facilitator between the president and African American organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In 1999, she worked with the NAACP's Washington Bureau on health policy and racial health disparities. Thereafter she volunteered for many federal and local candidates while serving on the Board of the L.A. County Young Democrats for three years before attending law school. In 2012, Barragán took a leave of absence from her law firm to move to Florida to work on President Barack Obama's reelection campaign with the voter protection team. She served as the out-of-state volunteer attorney director and recruited attorneys across the country to volunteer in Florida to make sure every eligible voter had the opportunity to vote.
In 2013, Barragán ran for Hermosa Beach City Council, fighting an oil company's proposal to drill 34 oil and water injection wells in Hermosa Beach and into the Santa Monica Bay. She beat six other candidates, becoming the first Latina elected to the council and the first woman in ten years. Barragán resigned from office on July 31, 2015, to run for Congress in the state's 44th district.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2016
Barragán officially announced her candidacy for California's 44th congressional district on Equal Pay Day in mid-April 2015. The seat was being vacated by Democrat Janice Hahn, who decided to run for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. In June 2015, Barragán said, "The district is one where only 60 percent graduate from high school and 10 percent go on to college. That's how people live. I'm one of those 10-percenters who beat the odds. I've achieved the American dream. Now I’m coming home to make sure others have the same shot at the dream." After announcing her candidacy, Barragán received major endorsements, including EMILY's List, a nationally prominent backer of female Democratic candidates; National Women's Political Caucus ; the California League of Conservation Voters ; the Latino Victory Project; former South Gate Mayor Henry Gonzalez; South Gate Council members Bill De Witt, Maria Davila and Belen Bernal; Carson Commissioner Janice Schaffer; and scores of congressional members, including Representatives Linda Sanchez, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Eric Swalwell, Raul Ruiz, Ruben Gallego, Joaquin Castro, and Lois Frankel. In the November 8 general election, Barragán defeated state senator Isadore Hall III.
