Cecelia GonzalezServing

Cecelia Gonzalez

State HouseDemocrat

NV-NV AD-16 State House

Age 35·Thai-Mexican American·Chair, Nevada Latino Legislative Caucus (2025)

Why This Race Matters

Cecelia Gonzalez is running against TBD - seat up for election in 2026.

Gonzalez chairs the Nevada Latino Legislative Caucus during a critical 2025 session focused on protecting immigrant families from federal deportation policies. Her signature bill, the Family Unity Support Act, would establish safeguards for children whose parents face deportation. AD-16 is a competitive swing district where she won by just 7.5 points in 2024 (52.2%-44.7%), making her re-election a bellwether for Latino political power in Clark County.

Won three consecutive elections since 2020, but margins have tightened: 65.3% in 2020, 53.9% in 2022, 52.2% in 2024. As a Thai-Mexican American, she is one of the few multiracial Asian-Latina legislators in the country. Sponsoring key 2025 bills: Family Unity Support Act (deportation family protections), Mandated Court Notification Act, and voter language expansion. Also leading the Latino Caucus's response to federal immigration enforcement.

Key dates to watch: Primary on June 9, 2026 and General Election on November 3, 2026.

About

Assemblywoman Cecelia Gonzalez is a Thai-Mexican American educator and native Nevadan representing Assembly District 16. Elected in 2020, she is a first-generation college graduate and serves as Chair of the Nevada Latino Legislative Caucus for the 2025 session. Growing up with limited resources in an immigrant family shaped her passion for social, environmental, and economic justice.

Family & Heritage

Born in Whittier, California in 1991. Daughter of an immigrant mother from Thailand and a father of Mexican descent. Father has been incarcerated for most of her life, shaping her perspective on criminal justice. Raised by her single mother in Las Vegas with two younger sisters and a younger brother, with limited resources. First-generation college graduate. Graduated from Canyon Springs High School's Leadership and Law Preparatory Academy in North Las Vegas. Married to Francisco Gonzalez with a child named Itsara.

Political Career

Before Politics

Substitute teacher and charter school educator at Mater Academy East Las Vegas. Field organizer for For Our Future (2018). Elizabeth Warren presidential campaign staff (2020). Domestic violence and stalking advocate at UNLV, co-founded 24-hour peer-to-peer support hotline.

Education

B.A. in Criminal Justice with Sociology minor from UNLV (2015); M.Ed. in Multicultural Education from UNLV (2019); M.Ed. in Teaching - Elementary Education from UNLV (2024); Ph.D. candidate in Multicultural Education at UNLV

Key Issues & Priorities

*Family separation protections (Family Unity Support Act)
*Court notification reform (Mandated Court Notification Act)
*Education equity and teacher retention
*Worker protections
*Healthcare access
*Immigration rights
*Voter language expansion

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