Lena Gonzalez
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| Lena Gonzalez | |
|---|---|
| Name | Lena Gonzalez |
| Office | Member of the California State Senate |
| Constituency | 33rd district |
| Term start | June 26, 2019 |
| Predecessor | Ricardo Lara |
| Office1 | Long Beach City Councilmember |
| Constituency1 | 1st district |
| Term start1 | July 21, 2014 |
| Term end1 | June 26, 2019 |
| Predecessor1 | Robert Garcia |
| Successor1 | Mary Zendejas |
| Birth date | 11 October 1981 |
| Birth place | Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | University of California, Berkeley (BA), University of Southern California (MBA) |
Lena Gonzalez is an American politician serving as a member of the California State Senate for the 33rd district. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served on the Long Beach City Council. Her district encompasses southeastern Los Angeles County and parts of northern Orange County.
Early life and education
Born and raised in Long Beach, she is the daughter of a United Auto Workers assembly line worker and a homemaker. Gonzalez attended local public schools before pursuing higher education at the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science. She later obtained a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California.
Career
Prior to entering elected office, Gonzalez worked in the technology sector, holding positions at companies including IBM and Knowledge Universe. She also served as the director of government affairs for the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, advocating for local business interests. Her community involvement included roles with the Long Beach Public Library Foundation and the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles.
California State Senate
Gonzalez was elected to the California State Senate in a June 2019 special election to succeed Ricardo Lara, who was elected as the California Insurance Commissioner. Upon taking office, she was appointed to several key committees, including the Senate Transportation Committee and the Senate Health Committee. She has authored legislation on issues ranging from public transit funding and zero-emission vehicle infrastructure to tenant protection laws and expanding access to health care.
Political positions
Gonzalez is a progressive Democrat whose policy focus includes environmental justice, affordable housing, and transportation equity. She has been a strong advocate for the California High-Speed Rail project and has sponsored bills to increase the state's use of renewable energy. On healthcare, she supports single-payer proposals like CalCare. She has also worked on labor issues, authoring legislation to protect warehouse workers and supporting the FAST Recovery Act. Her voting record aligns with major environmental groups such as the California League of Conservation Voters and labor organizations like the California Labor Federation.
Personal life
Gonzalez resides in Long Beach with her two children. She is a member of the Latinas Lead California network and has been recognized by organizations including the California Legislative Women's Caucus for her advocacy.
Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:California State Senators Category:Democratic Party California state senators Category:Long Beach City Council members Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni Category:University of Southern California alumni Category:Women state senators in California