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Portrait of Lena Gonzalez

Lena Gonzalez

Democratic

State Senate · Senate District 33

In office
2019–present
BiographyReporting (Tier 3) · reviewed

Gonzalez’s documented local-government work included working for then-Councilman Robert Garcia and serving on the Long Beach City Council. She represented District 1 in Downtown Long Beach from 2014 to 2019. Since a June 2019 special election, she has represented the 33rd Senate District, which encompasses Southeast Los Angeles and includes Lakewood and Long Beach. Her Sacramento assignments have included chairing the Senate Transportation Committee, serving as Majority Whip and serving as Majority Leader from February 2024 to December 2025. Her legislation has included environmental standards, public health and insurance protections for HIV-positive people.

ROOTS AND THE JOB BEFORE THE JOB

Gonzalez was born in Torrance on January 26, 1981, the daughter of immigrants from Aguascalientes, Mexico. Her father worked as a cargo truck driver; her mother worked in the aerospace technology industry. Gonzalez earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, Long Beach, and a Master of Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University.

Her work has included local government and a corporate-affairs role at Microsoft. Before serving on the Long Beach City Council, she worked for Garcia when he was a councilman. At Microsoft, she was a corporate affairs manager responsible for the company’s philanthropy and civic engagement.

Gonzalez lives in Long Beach with Adam Carillo and three sons in a blended family. Gonzalez and Carillo met while playing softball. They married in 2019 at the new Long Beach City Hall building.

FROM CITY COUNCIL TO SENATE LEADERSHIP

Gonzalez served on the City Council for five years, from 2014 until 2019. Her move to the Senate came through the special election held to succeed Ricardo Lara.

As chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, Gonzalez became the first Latina to lead the committee and the only woman to do so in the previous 20 years. She was appointed Majority Whip on February 12, 2021. She was also one of several California lawmakers to attend the COP15 Summit.

In 2024, Gonzalez was appointed Senate Majority Leader, succeeding President Pro Tem Mike McGuire. She served as majority leader from February 2024 to December 2025. Her documented roles include service on the Long Beach City Council, an elected state Senate seat, a committee chairmanship and the posts of Majority Whip and Majority Leader.

THE POLICY SIGNATURE

Gonzalez’s Senate record includes legislation concerning environmental standards, public health, fossil fuels and access to insurance.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed The Equal Insurance HIV Act, which prohibits life and disability income insurance companies from denying coverage to HIV-positive individuals solely based on their HIV status.

Gonzalez has authored numerous bills concerning environmental standards and public health. In 2022, she introduced legislation requiring CalPERS and CalSTRS to engage in fossil-fuel divestment to align with the state’s climate-action goals. That same year, Newsom signed her bill to ban new oil and gas wells near homes and schools.

Gonzalez also introduced Senate Joint Resolution 2 with Assemblyman Ash Kalra. Upon its adoption, California became the largest economy endorsing the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.

The documented measures concern HIV-positive people applying for life or disability income insurance, new oil and gas wells near homes and schools, public-pension investment policy, and environmental and public-health standards. They include insurance regulation, limits on new well locations, proposed fossil-fuel divestment by CalPERS and CalSTRS, and a state resolution endorsing the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.

Record of service
  • State Senate · Senate District 33 · 2019–present
BiographyReporting (Tier 3) · reviewed before publication

Gonzalez’s documented local-government work included working for then-Councilman Robert Garcia and serving on the Long Beach City Council. She represented District 1 in Downtown Long Beach from 2014 to 2019. Since a June 2019 special election, she has represented the 33rd Senate District, which encompasses Southeast Los Angeles and includes Lakewood and Long Beach. Her Sacramento assignments have included chairing the Senate Transportation Committee, serving as Majority Whip and serving as Majority Leader from February 2024 to December 2025. Her legislation has included environmental standards, public health and insurance protections for HIV-positive people.

ROOTS AND THE JOB BEFORE THE JOB

Gonzalez was born in Torrance on January 26, 1981, the daughter of immigrants from Aguascalientes, Mexico. Her father worked as a cargo truck driver; her mother worked in the aerospace technology industry. Gonzalez earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, Long Beach, and a Master of Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University.

Her work has included local government and a corporate-affairs role at Microsoft. Before serving on the Long Beach City Council, she worked for Garcia when he was a councilman. At Microsoft, she was a corporate affairs manager responsible for the company’s philanthropy and civic engagement.

Gonzalez lives in Long Beach with Adam Carillo and three sons in a blended family. Gonzalez and Carillo met while playing softball. They married in 2019 at the new Long Beach City Hall building.

FROM CITY COUNCIL TO SENATE LEADERSHIP

Gonzalez served on the City Council for five years, from 2014 until 2019. Her move to the Senate came through the special election held to succeed Ricardo Lara.

As chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, Gonzalez became the first Latina to lead the committee and the only woman to do so in the previous 20 years. She was appointed Majority Whip on February 12, 2021. She was also one of several California lawmakers to attend the COP15 Summit.

In 2024, Gonzalez was appointed Senate Majority Leader, succeeding President Pro Tem Mike McGuire. She served as majority leader from February 2024 to December 2025. Her documented roles include service on the Long Beach City Council, an elected state Senate seat, a committee chairmanship and the posts of Majority Whip and Majority Leader.

THE POLICY SIGNATURE

Gonzalez’s Senate record includes legislation concerning environmental standards, public health, fossil fuels and access to insurance.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed The Equal Insurance HIV Act, which prohibits life and disability income insurance companies from denying coverage to HIV-positive individuals solely based on their HIV status.

Gonzalez has authored numerous bills concerning environmental standards and public health. In 2022, she introduced legislation requiring CalPERS and CalSTRS to engage in fossil-fuel divestment to align with the state’s climate-action goals. That same year, Newsom signed her bill to ban new oil and gas wells near homes and schools.

Gonzalez also introduced Senate Joint Resolution 2 with Assemblyman Ash Kalra. Upon its adoption, California became the largest economy endorsing the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.

The documented measures concern HIV-positive people applying for life or disability income insurance, new oil and gas wells near homes and schools, public-pension investment policy, and environmental and public-health standards. They include insurance regulation, limits on new well locations, proposed fossil-fuel divestment by CalPERS and CalSTRS, and a state resolution endorsing the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.

The record

4,638 events, each with its source
VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 154

Special Consent ACR154 Patterson et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 156

Special Consent ACR156 Hoover et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 149

Senate 3rd Reading SCR149 Valladares et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 150

Senate 3rd Reading SCR150 Choi

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 152

Senate 3rd Reading SCR152 Reyes et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 866

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 874

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 954

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Labor, Public Employment and Retirement ]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 914

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 915

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 928

Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 942

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 945

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 950

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 958

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Local Government]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 960

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 961

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 965

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 967

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 989

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 995

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 998

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1031

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1037

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1064

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Transportation]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1075

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Local Government]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1082

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1083

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Labor, Public Employment and Retirement ]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1089

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Labor, Public Employment and Retirement ]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1097

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Energy, Utilities and Communications]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1122

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1133

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1186

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1213

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Transportation] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1221

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Rules]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1238

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1258

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Housing]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1284

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Labor, Public Employment and Retirement ]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1322

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1323

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1375

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Transportation]

VoteNay
Voted Nay on SB 1377

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Business, Professions and Economic Development]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1381

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1383

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Local Government]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1412

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 131

Be adopted. Ordered to third reading

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 897

Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 953

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1013

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1029

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar