Maria Elena Durazo

Maria Elena Durazo is a Democratic California State Senator representing District 26 in Central and East Los Angeles since 2018. One of the most influential labor leaders in Los Angeles history, she is the daughter of Mexican migrant farmworkers and the seventh of eleven children. She grew up following crops across California and Oregon, inspired by Cesar Chavez to dedicate her life to empowering workers. She led HERE Local 11 as president for 17 years, served as the first woman Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the LA County Federation of Labor, and was Vice Chair of the DNC and National Co-Chair of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. In the Senate she authored SB 525 establishing California's first $25/hour healthcare minimum wage and drove the Health4All initiative extending Medi-Cal to all income-eligible residents regardless of immigration status.

Born in Madera, California, the seventh of eleven children to Mexican migrant farmworker parents. Grew up following the crops throughout California and Oregon, picking peaches, strawberries, and grapes in Central Valley fields. The exploitative conditions her family endured as farmworkers inspired her lifelong commitment to workers' rights. Married the late Miguel Contreras, fellow union leader and Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the LA County Federation of Labor, in 1988. Contreras died on May 6, 2005. Mother of two sons, Mario and Michael Contreras. Now a grandmother and widow.