David Alvarez grew up in Barrio Logan and now lives in Logan Heights. From 2010 to 2018, he represented a San Diego City Council district that included communities from Grant Hill and Sherman Heights through Otay Mesa and San Ysidro to the Tijuana River Valley. Before running for office, he worked as a social worker and after-school teacher, served under the California Secretary of State, worked with a company developing opportunities for affordable housing and served as a community liaison. His City Council assignments included committees and regional bodies associated with land use, housing, transit, the border, the airport and the budget. In 2022, he was elected to the California State Assembly from the 80th District, which includes Chula Vista, National City and parts of southern San Diego.
ROOTS
Alvarez was born in San Diego on July 27, 1980, to Jose and Maria Alvarez. He grew up in Barrio Logan with four brothers and one sister, attending Perkins Elementary, Memorial Junior High and San Diego High School. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and college, and he graduated with honors from San Diego State University. He lives in Logan Heights with his wife, Xochitl, their daughter, Izel, and their son, Javier.
He began his career as a social worker and after-school teacher. In 2003, he was selected for the Capitol Fellows Program and served under the California Secretary of State. After returning to San Diego, he worked with a company that develops new opportunities for affordable housing. He later represented state Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny as a community liaison. Before his election to the City Council, his documented work therefore included social work, teaching, state government, affordable housing and service as a community liaison.
CITY HALL AND THE BALLOT
Alvarez won the San Diego City Council’s 8th District seat in November 2010, defeating Felipe Hueso with 60% of the vote. The district included Barrio Logan, Egger Highlands, Grant Hill, Logan Heights, Memorial, Nestor, Ocean View Hills, Otay Mesa East, Otay Mesa West, San Ysidro, Sherman Heights, Stockton and the Tijuana River Valley.
During his first term, he chaired the Natural Resources & Culture Committee and served as vice chair of Land Use & Housing. He also sat on the Budget & Finance and Rules & Economic Development committees. His other assignments included the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Board, San Diego Regional County Airport Authority, SANDAG Borders Committee, Otay Valley Regional Park Policy Committee, Bayshore Bikeway Working Group and San Diego Consortium Policy Board. He also served on the board of Local Progress, a national municipal policy network.
In September 2013, Alvarez declared his candidacy in the special mayoral election to replace Bob Filner as the officially endorsed Democratic candidate. He placed second in the November primary with 25.59% of the vote and lost the February 2014 runoff to Kevin Faulconer. Months later, he won another council term outright in the June primary with 75% of the vote.
THE NEXT OFFICES
Alvarez’s second council term began in December 2014. In January 2017, he announced his intention to run for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in 2020. He instead chose to run for the San Diego Community College District Board in 2018, finishing second to Sean Elo.
The record documents a mayoral campaign, an announced plan to seek a county supervisor seat and a campaign for the community college district board. In 2019, after leaving the council, Alvarez attended a meeting about an SDG&E project and supported its approval.
His documented election results include two council victories, including an outright primary win; a mayoral runoff loss; and a second-place finish for the community college board. In 2022, he won a special election to represent California’s 80th State Assembly District, succeeding Lorena Gonzalez after she resigned to take a leadership role at the California Labor Federation.
THE POLICY SIGNATURE
Alvarez’s work before elected office included social work, after-school teaching, employment with a company developing new opportunities for affordable housing and service as a community liaison. His first-term council assignments included Land Use & Housing, Natural Resources & Culture, Budget & Finance and Rules & Economic Development, along with bodies for transit, the airport, borders, a regional park and the Bayshore Bikeway.
Housing appears in multiple documented parts of his record, including his affordable-housing work and his service as vice chair of the Land Use & Housing Committee. Economic development appeared in his membership on the Rules & Economic Development Committee. His other assignments included the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Board, San Diego Regional County Airport Authority, SANDAG Borders Committee, Otay Valley Regional Park Policy Committee and Bayshore Bikeway Working Group.
- State Assembly · Assembly District 80 · 2022–present
David Alvarez grew up in Barrio Logan and now lives in Logan Heights. From 2010 to 2018, he represented a San Diego City Council district that included communities from Grant Hill and Sherman Heights through Otay Mesa and San Ysidro to the Tijuana River Valley. Before running for office, he worked as a social worker and after-school teacher, served under the California Secretary of State, worked with a company developing opportunities for affordable housing and served as a community liaison. His City Council assignments included committees and regional bodies associated with land use, housing, transit, the border, the airport and the budget. In 2022, he was elected to the California State Assembly from the 80th District, which includes Chula Vista, National City and parts of southern San Diego.
ROOTS
Alvarez was born in San Diego on July 27, 1980, to Jose and Maria Alvarez. He grew up in Barrio Logan with four brothers and one sister, attending Perkins Elementary, Memorial Junior High and San Diego High School. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and college, and he graduated with honors from San Diego State University. He lives in Logan Heights with his wife, Xochitl, their daughter, Izel, and their son, Javier.
He began his career as a social worker and after-school teacher. In 2003, he was selected for the Capitol Fellows Program and served under the California Secretary of State. After returning to San Diego, he worked with a company that develops new opportunities for affordable housing. He later represented state Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny as a community liaison. Before his election to the City Council, his documented work therefore included social work, teaching, state government, affordable housing and service as a community liaison.
CITY HALL AND THE BALLOT
Alvarez won the San Diego City Council’s 8th District seat in November 2010, defeating Felipe Hueso with 60% of the vote. The district included Barrio Logan, Egger Highlands, Grant Hill, Logan Heights, Memorial, Nestor, Ocean View Hills, Otay Mesa East, Otay Mesa West, San Ysidro, Sherman Heights, Stockton and the Tijuana River Valley.
During his first term, he chaired the Natural Resources & Culture Committee and served as vice chair of Land Use & Housing. He also sat on the Budget & Finance and Rules & Economic Development committees. His other assignments included the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Board, San Diego Regional County Airport Authority, SANDAG Borders Committee, Otay Valley Regional Park Policy Committee, Bayshore Bikeway Working Group and San Diego Consortium Policy Board. He also served on the board of Local Progress, a national municipal policy network.
In September 2013, Alvarez declared his candidacy in the special mayoral election to replace Bob Filner as the officially endorsed Democratic candidate. He placed second in the November primary with 25.59% of the vote and lost the February 2014 runoff to Kevin Faulconer. Months later, he won another council term outright in the June primary with 75% of the vote.
THE NEXT OFFICES
Alvarez’s second council term began in December 2014. In January 2017, he announced his intention to run for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in 2020. He instead chose to run for the San Diego Community College District Board in 2018, finishing second to Sean Elo.
The record documents a mayoral campaign, an announced plan to seek a county supervisor seat and a campaign for the community college district board. In 2019, after leaving the council, Alvarez attended a meeting about an SDG&E project and supported its approval.
His documented election results include two council victories, including an outright primary win; a mayoral runoff loss; and a second-place finish for the community college board. In 2022, he won a special election to represent California’s 80th State Assembly District, succeeding Lorena Gonzalez after she resigned to take a leadership role at the California Labor Federation.
THE POLICY SIGNATURE
Alvarez’s work before elected office included social work, after-school teaching, employment with a company developing new opportunities for affordable housing and service as a community liaison. His first-term council assignments included Land Use & Housing, Natural Resources & Culture, Budget & Finance and Rules & Economic Development, along with bodies for transit, the airport, borders, a regional park and the Bayshore Bikeway.
Housing appears in multiple documented parts of his record, including his affordable-housing work and his service as vice chair of the Land Use & Housing Committee. Economic development appeared in his membership on the Rules & Economic Development Committee. His other assignments included the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Board, San Diego Regional County Airport Authority, SANDAG Borders Committee, Otay Valley Regional Park Policy Committee and Bayshore Bikeway Working Group.
The record
328 events, each with its sourceJustice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Day.
Relative to Transgender Day of Visibility.
Public social services: Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month.
Relative to Unclaimed Property Month.
Relative to California Agriculture Day.
Legislative and gubernatorial appointments: report.
Student financial aid: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data.
Relative to women in carpentry.
Ethnic studies: content standards, curriculum frameworks, instructional materials, and compliance monitoring.
Summary proceedings for obtaining possession of real property: procedural requirements.
Local control funding formula: school districts and charter schools: pupils experiencing homelessness: supplemental and concentration grants: regional adjustment factors: grade-span adequacy adjustments.
Community colleges: California College Promise: fee waiver eligibility.
Public postsecondary education: academic exchange programs: plan.
State Property: San Pasqual Battlefield State Park.
California Environmental Quality Act: transportation impact mitigation.
Pupil instruction: Holocaust and genocide education: notice, survey, and grant program.
Teachers: exchange programs: local educational agencies: sponsors.
Primary elections: county officers: top two candidates.
The Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026.
Otay Mesa East Toll Facility Act: public-private partnership agreements: toll revenues.
Public postsecondary education: student employment.
Relative to Women’s History Month.
Hazardous materials: metal shredding facilities.
Postsecondary education: mixed-use intersegmental educational facility in the City of Chula Vista: South County Higher Education Planning Task Force.
Community colleges: baccalaureate degree program: Southwestern Community College District.
California-Mexico Border Relations Council.
San Diego County Air Pollution Control District: governing board: alternate members.
California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: housing development projects.
Housing element: governmental constraints: disclosure statement.
Relative to Read Across America Day.
California Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
Relative to Japanese American concentration camps.
Relative to President Jimmy Carter Day.
Personal Income Tax Law: young child tax credit.
National Missing Children’s Day.
Coastal resources: coastal development permit application: higher education housing project.
National School Counseling Week.
Wear Red Day and American Heart Month.
Relative to World Wetlands Day.
Student financial aid: application deadlines: extension.