Lena GonzalezServing

Lena Gonzalez

State HouseDemocrat

CA-SD-33 State House

Age 45·Mexican-American (first-generation American, daughter of immigrants from Aguascalientes, Mexico)·Senate Majority Leader (appointed February 8, 2024)

Why This Race Matters

As Senate Majority Leader, Gonzalez is one of the most powerful Latina legislators in the country. She is not up for reelection until 2028, but her leadership of the California Latino Legislative Caucus -- the largest and most influential Latino caucus in any state legislature -- makes her a key figure shaping the 2026 political landscape.

In 2025-2026, Gonzalez authored SB 48 to protect schools from ICE enforcement without judicial warrants, which passed the Senate 28-7. Her SB 1016 Latino and Indigenous Health Disparities Reduction Act was signed into law in 2024. She won reelection in 2024 with 69.9% of the vote.

About

Lena Gonzalez is the Senate Majority Leader of the California State Senate, representing District 33 encompassing Southeast Los Angeles, the City and Port of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, and Catalina Island. The proud daughter of Mexican immigrants -- a union truck driver father and a mother who immigrated from Aguascalientes, Mexico and worked her way up in the aerospace and tech industries -- Gonzalez was the first in her family to earn a graduate degree. She became the first Latina to chair the Senate Transportation Committee in its history and is currently Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus.

Family & Heritage

Born in Torrance, California to Mexican immigrant parents. Father was a union cargo truck driver. Mother immigrated from Aguascalientes, Mexico and worked her way up from entry-level positions to a career in the aerospace technology industry. First in her family to earn a graduate degree. Lives in Long Beach with husband Adam Carillo and three sons in a blended family.

Political Career

Before Politics

Corporate Affairs Manager at Microsoft (philanthropy and civic engagement programs); Long Beach City Council District 1 (2014-2019), representing 50,000 residents in Downtown Long Beach including the Port of Long Beach

Education

A.A., Saddleback Community College (2006); B.A. Political Science, California State University Long Beach (2009); M.B.A., Loyola Marymount University (2017)

Key Issues & Priorities

*Environmental justice (authored SB 1137 ending neighborhood oil and gas drilling, 20+ environmental bills)
*broadband equity (Broadband for All securing continuous CASF funding)
*worker protections (SB 616 expanding paid sick leave from 3 to 5 days, SB 338 protecting port truck drivers from wage theft)
*clean transportation ($2B+ via SB 84/AB 126 for zero-emission vehicles)
*reproductive rights (Abortion Accessibility Act removing cost barriers)
*health equity (SB 1016 Latino and Indigenous Health Disparities Reduction Act)
*immigrant protections (SB 48 Safe Access to Schools Act blocking ICE from campuses without judicial warrant)

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