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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

4,979 events, each with its source
VoteYea
Voted Yea on SJR 9

Be adopted as amended

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 785

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 358

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1195

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1051

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 902

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Natural Resources and Water]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1223

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 223

Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 848

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 87

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1272

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 525

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1387

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 535

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 239

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1141

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1299

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 770

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 33

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 334

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 750

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 630

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 771

Consent Calendar 2nd AB771 Macedo

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 565

Consent Calendar 2nd AB565 Dixon

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 48

Senate 3rd Reading SR48 Menjivar et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 49

Senate 3rd Reading SR49 Choi et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1297

Consent Calendar 2nd AB1297 Stefani

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 73

Senate 3rd Reading SCR73 Niello

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 369

Consent Calendar 2nd AB369 Michelle Rodriguez

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 85

Special Consent ACR85 Garcia et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 87

Special Consent ACR87 Nguyen et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 88

Special Consent ACR88 Jeff Gonzalez et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 89

Special Consent ACR89 Jeff Gonzalez et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 23

Special Consent ACR23 Quirk-Silva et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 24

Special Consent ACR24 Alanis et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SCR 94

Senate 3rd Reading SCR94 Blakespear et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 36

Special Consent ACR36 Carrillo et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 5

Special Consent ACR5 Nguyen et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 45

Special Consent ACR45 Quirk-Silva et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 15

Assembly 3rd Reading ACR15 Alanis et al. By Laird

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SCR 81

Special Consent SCR81 Niello et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 58

Special Consent ACR58 Sharp-Collins et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 62

Special Consent ACR62 Hart et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 63

Special Consent ACR63 Tangipa et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 65

Special Consent ACR65 Ward et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 66

Special Consent ACR66 Dixon et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 67

Special Consent ACR67 Sharp-Collins et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 68

Special Consent ACR68 Ávila Farías et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 69

Special Consent ACR69 Berman et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 73

Special Consent ACR73 Stefani et al