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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
VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 74

Special Consent ACR74 Wilson et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 76

Special Consent ACR76 Solache et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 78

Special Consent ACR78 Patel et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 80

Assembly 3rd Reading ACR80 Stefani By Wiener

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 82

Special Consent ACR82 Bryan et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 84

Special Consent ACR84 Hoover et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on ACR 86

Special Consent ACR86 Rivas et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 471

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 309

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 663

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 894

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 64

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 594

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 990

Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 1478

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 1459

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 787

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 951

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 543

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SJR 5

Be adopted as amended, and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 272

Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 1326

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 618

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 571

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 1017

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 57

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 480

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 1296

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 301

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 457

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 365

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 413

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 1303

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 1061

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SCR 86

Senate 3rd Reading SCR86 Weber Pierson et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SCR 83

Senate 3rd Reading SCR83 Stern et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SJR 1

Senate 3rd Reading SJR1 Wiener et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SCR 75

Senate 3rd Reading SCR75 Weber Pierson et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SCR 74

Senate 3rd Reading SCR74 Ochoa Bogh et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AJR 11

Consent Calendar 2nd AJR11 Ransom et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SB 101

Unfinished Business SB101 Wiener Concurrence

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 1306

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 463

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 627

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 606

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 574

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 870

Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 243

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 677

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 1009

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