Luz Rivas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the California Assembly | |
| Assumed office June 11, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Raul Bocanegra |
| Constituency | 39th district (2018–2022) 43rd district (2022–present) |
| 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 from the state of California. A member of the Democratic Party, she serves in the California State Assembly for California's 39th State Assembly district, which includes San Fernando, Sylmar, and Pacoima.
Background
Rivas is from Los Angeles. She earned a degree 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]
Political career
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 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).[5][6] She has sought to limit the ability of religious institutions to build more housing.[7]
Rivas is a candidate in the 2024 United States House of Representatives elections, running in California's 29th congressional district.[8]
2018 California State Assembly
| 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
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Luz Rivas (incumbent) | 37,867 | 77.1% | |
| Republican | Ricardo Benitez | 11,237 | 22.9% | |
| Total votes | ||||
References
- 1 2 3 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Logan, Erin B. (November 20, 2023). "Assemblymember Luz Rivas will run to replace Tony Cárdenas in Congress". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
