Charlene started her career in public service opening Congressman Ed Pastor’s Yuma office, and later serving in Congressman Raul Grijalva and Governor Janet Napolitano’s offices. She also served for 8 years on the Yuma Union High School Board.

Since her 2014 election to the Arizona House of Representatives, Charlene’s been one of the legislature's strongest advocates for public education, frequently pushing for more teacher and classroom funding from her position on the appropriations committee. Her leadership was integral to the Drought Contingency Plan agreement in 2019, bringing states, tribal nations, farmers, and other stakeholders together to ensure a sustainable water supply for Arizona.

Charlene has also championed quality healthcare by promoting affordable drug prices and opposing junk insurance plans. She’s sponsored gun safety legislation to address the shooting crisis. Additionally, she’s prioritized protecting our environment and addressing climate change for future generations.

As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Charlene led the Democratic Caucus effort for better unemployment protections and paid sick leave for workers.