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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 SB 594

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 561

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 552

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 260

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 340

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 44

Senate 3rd Reading SCR44 Valladares

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 272

Consent Calendar 2nd SB272 Becker

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 230

Consent Calendar 2nd SB230 Laird et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 26

Unfinished Business SB26 Umberg et al. Urgency Clause Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 379

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 686

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 22

Senate 3rd Reading SCR22 Alvarado-Gil

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 733

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 241

Consent Calendar 2nd SB241 Cervantes

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 509

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 221

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

VoteNay
Voted Nay on SB 421

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 421

[First] hearing set for [04-01-2025]: Failed passage in Committee. Reconsideration granted

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 431

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 432

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 553

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 459

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 734

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 93

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 486

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 18

Senate 3rd Reading SCR18 Archuleta et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 39

Consent Calendar 2nd SB39 Weber Pierson Urgency Clause

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 29

Senate 3rd Reading SR29 Arreguín et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 229

Consent Calendar 2nd SB229 Alvarado-Gil

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 438

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 250

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 389

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Business, Professions and Economic Development] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 278

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 504

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 SB 241

Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 329

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 717

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 437

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 6

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 10

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 731

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 76

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 480

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 483

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 28

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 15

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 248

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 320

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 19

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 263

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