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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

4,810 events, each with its source
VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 968

Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SB 981

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SB 1008

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1017

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SB 1035

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SB 1035

[First] hearing set for [03-18-2026]: Failed passage in Committee. Reconsideration granted

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SB 1039

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

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SR 90

Relative to Khmer New Year.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SR 91

Relative to Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week.

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SB 868

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 886

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 904

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 943

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 978

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 985

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 996

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1007

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1091

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 76

Senate 3rd Reading SR76 Menjivar et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 114

Senate 3rd Reading SCR114 Grove

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SR 85

Senate 3rd Reading SR85 Umberg

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 134

Special Consent ACR134 Bryan et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 127

Special Consent ACR127 Muratsuchi et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 128

Special Consent ACR128 Stefani et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 132

Special Consent ACR132 Dixon et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SCR 110

Senate 3rd Reading SCR110 Grove et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SCR 127

Senate 3rd Reading SCR127 Allen et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SCR 137

Senate 3rd Reading SCR137 Ashby

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SR 87

Relative to the Armenian Genocide.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SCR 141

Women’s Equal Pay Day.

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 79

Senate 3rd Reading SR79 Niello

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 83

Senate 3rd Reading SR83 McNerney

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 120

Senate 3rd Reading SCR120 Grayson

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 126

Senate 3rd Reading SCR126 Grove

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 135

Senate 3rd Reading SCR135 Laird

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 82

Senate 3rd Reading SR82 Pérez et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 84

Senate 3rd Reading SR84 Caballero et al

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SR 86

Relative to Cinco de Mayo Week.

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 81

Senate 3rd Reading SR81 Pérez

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 125

Senate 3rd Reading SCR125 Wahab et al

Cosponsored
Cosponsored ACR 149

California Coastal Act of 1976.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SCR 136

California Coastal Act of 1976.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SCR 133

California Down Syndrome Awareness Month and California Down Syndrome Awareness Day.

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 69

Senate 3rd Reading SR69 Niello

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 122

Senate 3rd Reading SCR122 Weber Pierson et al

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SB 1417

Mutual water companies: assessments and water charges: notice.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored AB 2436

Public postsecondary education: tuition and fees: Team USA student athletes.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored AB 2495

Unlawful immigration-related practices.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored AB 2624

Privacy for immigration support services providers.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored AB 2647

Energy: nuclear powerplants: assessment.