Technology Executive and Entrepreneur Enters the Race Against Incumbent Orange County Congressman Dana Rohrabacher
Orange County, CA — Technology executive and entrepreneur Rachel Payne announced her campaign this morning for California’s 48th Congressional District via Facebook live.
View her announcement here: https://www.facebook.com/RachelPayneForOC/
“People in Orange County and across America are facing major challenges. When I talk to people in my community, they are concerned about how they are going to maintain a secure job, afford their home, and put their kids through college. Our economic growth opportunities are unprecedented, but in order for us to advance, we have to make sure everyone has a chance to play the game. Many feel that the current political environment is a direct attack on who they are and their livelihoods,” said Payne. “We deserve a Representative in Congress who will focus on the issues that matter most — our transforming economy, access to affordable health care, and addressing the changes in our climate.”
California’s 48th Congressional District consists of Orange County’s coastal cities of Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, as well as Aliso Viejo, Fountain Valley, Laguna Niguel, and Westminster. Incumbent Dana Rohrabacher has been named one of the 10 most vulnerable Members of Congress in 2018. In the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton carried the district with nearly 48% of the vote.
Payne is an ideal candidate at a time of transition to a new economy and has experience in building tech ecosystems and tools that improve people’s lives. Throughout her career, she has championed policies that make a meaningful place for everyone in the new economy.
“I believe I have the experience, problem solving skills, passion and compassion needed to bring people together and put forth innovative solutions for Orange County’s most pressing problems. I look forward to hearing more about the issues that people care about most here.”
Payne has held key leadership roles during the early, pioneering days of the Internet and later at groundbreaking, Fortune 100 companies where she witnessed firsthand how technology and new business models transformed the economy. She was on the founding team of google.org and worked in various capacities at Google for eight years including International Business Operations in Emerging Markets and leading the Technology Vertical at Google in Irvine.
Currently, she is the CEO and co-founder of FEM Inc., a holding company focused on research and development at the intersection of media, technology, and gender. In 2015, FEM Inc. launched Prizma, an AI tech startup offering personalized content delivery and analytics for major media and tech companies.
Payne earned her Bachelors degree with highest honors from Smith College and her MBA from Stanford. She resides in Aliso Viejo with her dog Mochi and enjoys living down the street from her sister and nieces and near her aunts and uncles in Orange County.
For more information about Rachel Payne, please visit RachelPayneforCongress.com
###