José Solache

José Solache’s route to the Assembly included local public schools, the Lynwood School Board and the Lynwood City Council. Born in Bellflower and raised in Lynwood, he attended local public schools and played clarinet in the band at Lynwood High School. He was first elected to public office in 2003, at 23. His career has included two terms on the Lynwood School Board, more than a decade on the Lynwood City Council and multiple one-year terms as mayor. In November 2024, voters elected him to represent the 62nd Assembly District.

HOME GROUND

At California State University, Dominguez Hills, Solache earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies. He also served two terms as student body president and became statewide chairman of the California State Student Association. He is now pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Southern California.

In 2003, Solache became the youngest Latino member of the Lynwood School Board, taking office at 23. He served two terms there before winning election to the Lynwood City Council in 2013.

Under the city’s council-manager government, council members were ceremoniously selected for one-year terms as mayor, and Solache served multiple such terms. His public record includes student government, a local school board, the council and the mayor’s chair. Education figured in his school board service and later in positions raised during his Assembly campaign. Solache is also openly gay.

THE JUMP

In 2019, Solache ran in the special election for the 33rd State Senate District to replace Ricardo Lara. He finished fifth. In April 2023, he announced his candidacy for the 62nd Assembly District. He later retired from the Lynwood City Council to run for the Assembly.

The Assembly campaign came with the endorsement of Anthony Rendon, then the speaker of the Assembly. Positions raised during Solache’s campaign included lowering college tuition and investing in after-school programs, along with increasing public safety.

In the November 2024 general election, Solache faced Republican Paul Jones. He won with 66.0% of the vote. The result moved him from offices in Lynwood to an Assembly seat after a public career that began with his election to the school board in 2003 and continued on the City Council.

THE THROUGH LINE

Education appears at several points in Solache’s record. His first elected position was on the Lynwood School Board; his college record included two terms as student body president and statewide leadership in the California State Student Association. In his Assembly campaign, he called for lower college tuition and greater investment in after-school programs. Those positions addressed college tuition and programs for younger students. His campaign positions also included increasing public safety.

In 2025, Solache voted against SB 79, bipartisan legislation intended to increase California’s housing supply by permitting dense housing near major public transit stations. The measure passed despite his opposition. The record does not supply his reason for voting no; it establishes that he opposed the bill permitting denser housing near major public transit stations.

Taken together, his record includes service in student government, on the Lynwood School Board and on the Lynwood City Council, followed by election to the Assembly. Education and public safety were among his stated campaign positions, and opposition to SB 79 was a documented vote during his Assembly tenure.