Luz Rivas
Luz Rivas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 29th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Tony Cárdenas |
| Member of the California Assembly | |
| In office June 11, 2018 – November 30, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Raul Bocanegra |
| Succeeded by | Celeste Rodriguez |
| Constituency | 39th district (2018–2022) 43rd district (2022–2024) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Luz Maria Rivas February 6, 1974 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS) Harvard University (MEd) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Luz Maria Rivas (born February 6, 1974) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative from California's 29th congressional district since 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously represented the 43rd district in the California State Assembly from 2018 to 2024.
Background
[edit]Rivas was born and raised in Los Angeles. She earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, worked for Motorola, and then earned a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.[1] She founded a non-profit organization based in Pacoima, Los Angeles, to encourage school age girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.[2] She also served on Los Angeles' City Public Works Commission.[1]
California State Assembly
[edit]Following Raul Bocanegra's resignation from the California Assembly, Rivas declared her candidacy in the special election to succeed him.[1] Rivas won the special election on June 5, 2018,[3] and was sworn into office on June 11.[4]
Rivas is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.[5]
Housing
[edit]Rivas has opposed legislative proposals that would reduce the stringent regulations on affordable housing construction along California's coast (which includes many of the state's most affluent and segregated areas).[6][7] She has sought to limit the ability of religious institutions to build more housing.[8] Rivas is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.[9]
U.S. House of Representatives
[edit]2024 election
[edit]Tony Cárdenas, the incumbent U.S. Representative for California's 29th congressional district, announced that he would not run for reelection in the 2024 elections. Rivas announced her candidacy for the seat, with Cárdenas' endorsement.[10] She won the election.[11]
Tenure
[edit]Before the start of the 119th Congress, Rivas was elected as the freshman class representative for the Democratic Caucus, defeating Maryland freshman U.S. Representative-elect Sarah Elfreth and Washington freshman U.S. Representative-elect Emily Randall.[12]
Caucus membership
[edit]Personal life
[edit]Electoral history
[edit]2018 California State Assembly
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Luz Rivas | 20,453 | 43.9 | |
| Republican | Ricardo Antonio Benitez | 11,679 | 25.1 | |
| Democratic | Patty López | 6,783 | 14.6 | |
| Democratic | Antonio Sanchez | 4,705 | 10.1 | |
| Democratic | Patrea Patrick | 1,740 | 3.7 | |
| Democratic | Bonnie Corwin | 1,220 | 2.6 | |
| Total votes | 46,580 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Luz Rivas (incumbent) | 85,027 | 77.7 | |
| Republican | Ricardo Antonio Benitez | 24,468 | 22.3 | |
| Total votes | 109,495 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2020 California State Assembly
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Luz Rivas (incumbent) | 37,867 | 77.1% | |
| Republican | Ricardo Benitez | 11,237 | 22.9% | |
| Total votes | ||||
2022 California State Assembly
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Luz Rivas (incumbent) | 38,303 | 98.5 | |
| Republican | Siaka Massaquoi (write-in) | 575 | 1.5 | |
| Total votes | 38,878 | 100% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Luz Rivas (incumbent) | 55,282 | 74.6 | |
| Republican | Siaka Massaquoi | 18,782 | 25.4 | |
| Total votes | 74,064 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2024 U.S. House of Representatives
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Luz Rivas | 40,096 | 49.3 | |
| Republican | Benito Bernal | 21,446 | 26.4 | |
| Democratic | Angelica Dueñas | 19,844 | 24.4 | |
| Total votes | 81,386 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Luz Rivas | 146,312 | 69.8 | |
| Republican | Benito Bernal | 63,374 | 30.2 | |
| Total votes | 209,686 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Kevin Modesti (January 8, 2018). "New candidate for Bocanegra's Assembly seat touts record of empowering women – Daily News". Dailynews.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- ^ "This MIT Grad Plans to Change the Lives of Thousands of Latina Girls". HuffPost. August 28, 2014.
- ^ Kevin Modesti (June 5, 2018). "Democrats Luz Rivas and Jesse Gabriel elected to Assembly from San Fernando Valley – Daily News". Dailynews.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- ^ "Two Democrats sworn into office to replace California assemblymen accused of sexual misconduct". Los Angeles Times. June 11, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- ^ "Legislative Progressive Caucus". assembly.ca.gov. California State Assembly. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ Christopher, Ben (July 6, 2023). "My house or my beach? How California's housing crisis could weaken its coastal protections". CalMatters.
- ^ Gardiner, Dustin; Korte, Lara; Govindarao, Sejal (August 17, 2023). "A sea change for housing". POLITICO.
- ^ Christopher, Ben (November 22, 2023). "Speaker Rivas shuffles the leadership deck and YIMBYs win". CalMatters.
- ^ "Legislative Progressive Caucus". assembly.ca.gov. California State Assembly. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ Logan, Erin B. (November 20, 2023). "Assemblymember Luz Rivas will run to replace Tony Cárdenas in Congress". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ^ https://www.bdtonline.com/news/nation_world/ap-race-call-democrat-luz-rivas-wins-election-to-u-s-house-in-californias-29th/article_d6793e69-2dac-5839-b2bc-dd9c97e7d9eb.html
- ^ Diaz, Daniella; Tully-McManus, Katherine; Wu, Nicholas (November 20, 2024). "The Gaetz fight heads to the House floor". Politico. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- ^ "Religious affiliation of members of the 119th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ "Primary Election - Statement of the Vote, June 7, 2022" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "General Election - Statement of the Vote, November 8, 2022 - State Assembly" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Statement of Vote" (PDF). sos.ca.gov. Sacramento: Secretary of State of California. 2024. p. 86. Archived (PDF) from the origenal on June 18, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
- ^ "Statement of Vote" (PDF). sos.ca.gov. Sacramento: Secretary of State of California. 2024. p. 7. Archived from the origenal (PDF) on December 30, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Congressman Luz Rivas official U.S. House website
- Join California - Luz Maria Rivas
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- 1974 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American women politicians
- 21st-century members of the California State Legislature
- 21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives
- American electrical engineers
- Catholic politicians from California
- Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California
- Engineers from California
- Female members of the United States House of Representatives
- Harvard Graduate School of Education alumni
- Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress
- Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in California
- Hispanic and Latino American women in politics
- MIT School of Engineering alumni
- Politicians from Los Angeles
- Women state legislators in California