ABOUT
Meet Jerlilia
Hard Work, Responsibility, and Service.
Jerlilia Ryans is a San Diego small business owner, lawyer, and full-time caregiver for her elder siblings—bringing lived experience, legal expertise, and tireless compassion to her run for the United States House of Representatives.
Raised on the values of hard work, responsibility, and service, Jerlilia built her career by advocating for others and creating opportunities through small business ownership. As an attorney, she has fought to protect everyday people, standing up against injustice and holding systems accountable. As a caregiver, she has experienced firsthand the emotional and financial strain families face when caring for aging loved ones, struggles made worse by rising healthcare costs and an uncertain safety net.
To Serve. To Fight. To Win.
These experiences are why Jerlilia is running for Congress: to fight for affordability for working families, protect Medi-cal, Medicare and Social Security, lower the cost of living, defend reproductive freedom, safeguard LGBTQ+ rights, and ensure veterans and seniors receive the dignity and support they have earned. Jerlilia believes that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. That safe communities require both strong public safety and real economic opportunity. That small businesses deserve fair access to capital, not corporate favoritism. And that democracy must always be protected from corruption, extremism, and voter suppression. Jerlilia’s campaign is about bold leadership rooted in real life. It is about rejecting politics as usual and replacing it with real kitchen table concerns like affordability and universal healthcare for all. Jerlilia Ryans is not running to climb a political ladder, she is running to lift San Diego families up in these trying times. Jerlilia is running to serve, to fight, and to win for the American people.
Jerlilia is a longtime resident of San Diego, having made the city her home more than 40 years ago. After graduating from Centennial High School in Compton, California, she moved to San Diego to attend the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). There, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, and her master’s in business administration, and a Juris Doctor. Shortly after graduation, Jerlilia began her professional career when she accepted an offer from the federal government to serve as a Contract Specialist. After completing ten years of service with the federal government, she pursued her lifelong dream of owning her own business and earning her law degree and successfully accomplished both.
Opportunity Meets Determination.
Jerlilia was raised by parents who believed without hesitation that dreams should be pursued, no matter how big they seem or how impossible they may feel. Her father, who was denied the chance to complete his own education because he had to work the fields to help support his family, never stopped believing in the power of learning. He went on to serve our country in the U.S. Army, and through his G.I. Bill, helped open the doors for Jerlilia to attend college—turning sacrifice into opportunity for the next generation.
Her mother, who completed only an eighth-grade education, became her children’s first teacher, instilling a love of reading and learning with whatever resources she had. With faith, determination, and grit, she made sure her children understood that their future was not limited by their circumstances. Together, Jerlilia’s parents built a foundation of service, resilience, and hard work. That foundation shaped Jerlilia and her four siblings, each of whom went on to pursue higher education and become small business owners. Their story is proof of what’s possible when opportunity meets determination, and it’s the same promise Jerlilia is fighting to keep alive for every family in San Diego.
Family, Education, and Community.
Jerlilia herself raised three children as a single mother, one son and two daughters, instilling in them the same values of determination, education, and hard work. All three of her children were born and raised in San Diego, attended the same neighborhood schools, and graduated from the same high school before pursuing their own dreams. Her oldest child is working toward a Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology, her second child is a successful small business owner, and her youngest is thriving in her chosen career. Jerlilia is also a proud grandmother to one granddaughter, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications.
Jerlilia’s life and work embody a dedication to family, education, and community. From serving her country and building a career in law and business to raising her children and supporting her family, she has always worked tirelessly to create opportunities, not just for herself, but for those around her. This same commitment drives her vision for San Diego, where she fights to ensure every family has access to opportunity, education, and a brighter future.
