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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

5,419 events, each with its source
VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 620

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 602

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 598

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 573

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 546

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 542

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 532

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 527

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 477

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 460

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 455

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 447

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 416

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 350

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 347

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 320

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 310

Do pass as amended

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 291

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Labor, Public Employment and Retirement ] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 90

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 88

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Military and Veterans Affairs]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 80

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 70

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 66

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 60

Do pass as amended

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 30

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 14

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1085

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 893

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 824

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1036

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 734

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 528

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1263

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1417

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1094

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 651

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 400

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 650

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 906

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 531

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1275

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1276

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1108

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1154

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 6

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1294

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1167

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 610

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1239

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1131

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