WASHINGTON – Today at the Republican National Committee (RNC) Winter Meeting in Washington, DC, Chairman Reince Priebus and Co-Chairman Sharon Day announced five new RNC Rising Stars, including Arizona State Senator Kimberly Yee.
The program spotlights and promotes Republican individuals who are new voices in the Party. They are prominently featured on GOP.comhttp://www.gop.com/rising-stars/ and given a national platform to share their unique perspectives.
Chairman Priebus and Co-Chair Day announced the next five Republicans to be named Rising Stars and joined them for a panel discussion. In addition to Senator Yee, the other four GOP Rising Stars are:
* Chelsi Henry, Cabinet Aide to the Chief Financial Officer of Florida
* Alison Howard, Conservative Activist
* Alex Smith, National Chair of the College Republican National Committee
* Monica Youngblood, New Mexico State Representative
“These new Rising Stars are an impressive group of leaders who have had a tremendous impact on our party and who I’m certain will play major roles in shaping our party’s future,” said Chairman Priebus. “I look forward to working with Chelsi, Alison, Alex, Kimberly, and Monica to share their stories—and to share our party’s message of freedom and opportunity.”
“We launched the Rising Stars Program to highlight the incredible talent in our party on a national platform and to a national audience. It’s also gives us the chance for us to learn from these individuals and their success as we work to grow our party.”
“I’m thrilled to see this all-women slate of Rising Stars,” said RNC Co-Chairman Sharon Day. “Each is already an accomplished woman in her own right. With young leaders like these, I know our party’s future is bright.”
Senator Yee represents Arizona’s 20th Legislative District and is the first Asian American woman elected to serve in the Arizona legislature. She is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, and serves as a member of the Committees on Health and Human Services, Judiciary, and Elections.
She is the former chairman of her legislative district’s Republican Committee, and was elected as a national delegate at the Republican National Convention in 2008. Prior to elective office, she worked for State Treasurer Dean Martin and in the U.S. Department of Justice. She also served as a member of Governor Schwarzenegger’s cabinet and on the State Board of Education under California Governor Pete Wilson. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University.
Senator Yee lives in Phoenix with her husband and young son. They own a small business.