Politracks is a work in progress under active development — data may be incomplete while we build.
Politracks
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

4,810 events, each with its source
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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1136

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1218

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1228

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1292

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1293

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1324

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1334

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1382

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1411

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1425

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 108

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1389

Assembly 3rd Reading AB1389 Blanca Rubio By Rubio Urgency Clause

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 898

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 924

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 925

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 952

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 957

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1000

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1008

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1011

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1095

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1111

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1158

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1168

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Revenue and Taxation]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1196

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1217

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1245

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1279

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1350

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1370

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1417

Do pass as amended

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 92

Senate 3rd Reading SR92 Becker et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 140

Senate 3rd Reading SCR140 Wiener

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 88

Senate 3rd Reading SR88 Blakespear et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 90

Senate 3rd Reading SR90 Gonzalez

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 869

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 955

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1023

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1048

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1057

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