Honored to be recognized by Moms Demand Action as a Gun Sense Candidate. This distinction is deeply personal to me. I grew up around gun violence, and I’ve seen firsthand the impact it has on families and communities. That experience stays with me and it’s why I’m committed to building a safer future for our children. Today, gun violence is the number one cause of death for children and teens in the United States. (Association of Health Care Journalists) That is a reality we cannot accept. Our kids deserve to grow up safe. They deserve classrooms, neighborhoods, and futures free from fear. I’m proud to stand with those working to protect our communities and demand common-sense solutions—because one life lost is one too many. #GunSenseCandidate #MomsDemandAction #ProtectOurKids #EndGunViolence #SaferCommunities Honrada de ser reconocida por Moms Demand Action como candidata con sentido común sobre armas. Este reconocimiento es profundamente personal para mí. Crecí rodeada de violencia armada y he visto de primera mano el impacto que tiene en las familias y comunidades. Esa experiencia vive conmigo y es la razón por la que estoy comprometida a construir un futuro más seguro para nuestros niños. Hoy, la violencia armada es la principal causa de muerte entre niños y adolescentes en los Estados Unidos. Esa es una realidad que no podemos aceptar. Nuestros hijos merecen crecer seguros. Merecen escuelas, vecindarios y futuros libres de miedo. Estoy orgullosa de estar junto a quienes trabajan para proteger a nuestras comunidades y exigir soluciones de sentido común porque una vida perdida ya es demasiado.

“Since reaching a peak in October 2024, federal government employment is down by 355,000, or 11.8 percent.” — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2026 I am humbled and grateful to have this story recognized in international news. But I want to be clear, this isn’t just my story. It belongs to hundreds of thousands of people. The Washington, D.C. region lost over 72,000 federal jobs last year. 96% of those losses were federal layoffs. I was one of them. After nearly 20 years serving this country as a U.S. Diplomat and Foreign Service Officer, my agency, USAID, was dismantled. I know firsthand what it means to have your career, your purpose, and your stability stripped away overnight. Not because of poor performance. Not because the work didn’t matter. But because of a political choice made without regard for the people who dedicated their lives to public service. The data is stark, unemployment in the DC-Maryland-Virginia region rose 3.5 times faster than the national average. Highly educated, deeply experienced professionals, economists, scientists, diplomats, healthcare specialists, are now navigating a job market that was not built to absorb them. And the communities that relied on their work, here and abroad, are paying the price too. This is not just an economic crisis. It is a values crisis. Maryland’s District 14 is home to many of these families. They deserve a Delegate who understands what they are going through, not in the abstract, but personally. Someone who will fight for economic resilience, job retraining, workforce investment, and a state government that steps up when the federal government steps back. That is exactly why I am running. If this resonates with you, please consider supporting the campaign. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us build the movement this moment demands. Every little bit truly helps. We are Building Tomorrow Together. 🔗 Learn more & donate at aliciacontrerasdonello.com liked in bio. 📌 Primary Early Voting: June 11–18 | Primary Election Day: June 23, 2026