Liz Ortega’s route to Sacramento ran through the Alameda Labor Council and the unions where she worked before voters sent her to the Assembly. She began as a receptionist for SEIU in 2001, then moved through labor education, nursing-home work and political leadership. At AFSCME Local 3299, she lobbied the Legislature for the successful passage of legislation protecting essential service jobs at University of California campuses. She returned to the Alameda Labor Council in 2017 as its executive secretary-treasurer, the first Latina to hold that position. In 2022, Ortega defeated Dublin City Councilmember Shawn Kumagai for the 20th Assembly District seat. She took office on December 5 of that year, carrying a labor résumé into a district made up of Alameda County communities.
ROOTS
Elizabeth Ortega-Toro was born August 26, 1977, in Guadalajara, Mexico. She came to the United States at age three with her mother and brother; her father had immigrated earlier. They crossed the border in San Diego and settled in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland, where Ortega was raised and attended public school.
She later attended the Oakland campus of the University of Phoenix. In 2009, she earned a bachelor of science in criminal justice administration. Her career has included positions at SEIU, AFSCME Local 3299 and the Alameda Labor Council.
Ortega is married to Jason Toro, and they have four children. Her biography includes immigration, Oakland public schools, higher education completed during her labor career and family life. Those particulars sit alongside the institutions where she worked before entering elected office: SEIU, AFSCME Local 3299 and the Alameda Labor Council.
THE JOB BEFORE THE JOB
Ortega’s labor career began at the front desk. After working as an SEIU receptionist, she became an education trainer and later assistant director of Education and Nursing Homes. The jobs moved from administration to training and management before she took on an explicitly political role.
From 2011 to 2013, Ortega served as political director for the Alameda Labor Council. In 2013, she joined AFSCME Local 3299 as statewide political director. Based in Sacramento, she lobbied the California State Legislature for the successful passage of legislation to protect essential service jobs at all University of California campuses.
In 2017, she returned to the Alameda Labor Council as executive secretary-treasurer. She was the first Latina to lead the council in that position. The post followed years spent working at SEIU, serving as political director of the Alameda Labor Council and leading statewide political work for AFSCME Local 3299. By the time she ran for the Assembly, Ortega had lobbied state legislators in Sacramento and held political and leadership positions in Alameda County labor institutions.
THE PATH TO OFFICE
Ortega was first elected to the Assembly in 2022. She defeated Shawn Kumagai, a Dublin City Councilmember, and was sworn into the California State Assembly on December 5, 2022. She represents the 20th district and is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.
The election moved Ortega from labor leadership into the chamber where she previously had worked as a lobbyist. Her career before the election included work at SEIU, political leadership at the Alameda Labor Council, statewide political work for AFSCME Local 3299 and leadership of the county labor council. Before taking office, she had already worked in Sacramento to lobby for legislation protecting essential service jobs throughout the University of California system.
THE THROUGH LINE
Ortega’s documented career combines labor leadership with state politics. While serving as statewide political director for AFSCME Local 3299, she was based in Sacramento and lobbied the Legislature for the successful passage of legislation protecting essential service jobs at UC campuses.
Her labor work included education and nursing-home responsibilities at SEIU, political leadership at AFSCME Local 3299 and two periods at the Alameda Labor Council. She served as the council’s political director from 2011 to 2013 and returned in 2017 as its executive secretary-treasurer.
Her election to the Assembly in 2022 changed her place in the legislative process, from lobbying lawmakers to serving as one. She entered office with experience in labor education, union political work, county labor leadership and lobbying for legislation protecting essential service jobs. That labor career preceded her election to represent the 20th district.
- State Assembly · Assembly District 20 · 2022–present
Liz Ortega’s route to Sacramento ran through the Alameda Labor Council and the unions where she worked before voters sent her to the Assembly. She began as a receptionist for SEIU in 2001, then moved through labor education, nursing-home work and political leadership. At AFSCME Local 3299, she lobbied the Legislature for the successful passage of legislation protecting essential service jobs at University of California campuses. She returned to the Alameda Labor Council in 2017 as its executive secretary-treasurer, the first Latina to hold that position. In 2022, Ortega defeated Dublin City Councilmember Shawn Kumagai for the 20th Assembly District seat. She took office on December 5 of that year, carrying a labor résumé into a district made up of Alameda County communities.
ROOTS
Elizabeth Ortega-Toro was born August 26, 1977, in Guadalajara, Mexico. She came to the United States at age three with her mother and brother; her father had immigrated earlier. They crossed the border in San Diego and settled in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland, where Ortega was raised and attended public school.
She later attended the Oakland campus of the University of Phoenix. In 2009, she earned a bachelor of science in criminal justice administration. Her career has included positions at SEIU, AFSCME Local 3299 and the Alameda Labor Council.
Ortega is married to Jason Toro, and they have four children. Her biography includes immigration, Oakland public schools, higher education completed during her labor career and family life. Those particulars sit alongside the institutions where she worked before entering elected office: SEIU, AFSCME Local 3299 and the Alameda Labor Council.
THE JOB BEFORE THE JOB
Ortega’s labor career began at the front desk. After working as an SEIU receptionist, she became an education trainer and later assistant director of Education and Nursing Homes. The jobs moved from administration to training and management before she took on an explicitly political role.
From 2011 to 2013, Ortega served as political director for the Alameda Labor Council. In 2013, she joined AFSCME Local 3299 as statewide political director. Based in Sacramento, she lobbied the California State Legislature for the successful passage of legislation to protect essential service jobs at all University of California campuses.
In 2017, she returned to the Alameda Labor Council as executive secretary-treasurer. She was the first Latina to lead the council in that position. The post followed years spent working at SEIU, serving as political director of the Alameda Labor Council and leading statewide political work for AFSCME Local 3299. By the time she ran for the Assembly, Ortega had lobbied state legislators in Sacramento and held political and leadership positions in Alameda County labor institutions.
THE PATH TO OFFICE
Ortega was first elected to the Assembly in 2022. She defeated Shawn Kumagai, a Dublin City Councilmember, and was sworn into the California State Assembly on December 5, 2022. She represents the 20th district and is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.
The election moved Ortega from labor leadership into the chamber where she previously had worked as a lobbyist. Her career before the election included work at SEIU, political leadership at the Alameda Labor Council, statewide political work for AFSCME Local 3299 and leadership of the county labor council. Before taking office, she had already worked in Sacramento to lobby for legislation protecting essential service jobs throughout the University of California system.
THE THROUGH LINE
Ortega’s documented career combines labor leadership with state politics. While serving as statewide political director for AFSCME Local 3299, she was based in Sacramento and lobbied the Legislature for the successful passage of legislation protecting essential service jobs at UC campuses.
Her labor work included education and nursing-home responsibilities at SEIU, political leadership at AFSCME Local 3299 and two periods at the Alameda Labor Council. She served as the council’s political director from 2011 to 2013 and returned in 2017 as its executive secretary-treasurer.
Her election to the Assembly in 2022 changed her place in the legislative process, from lobbying lawmakers to serving as one. She entered office with experience in labor education, union political work, county labor leadership and lobbying for legislation protecting essential service jobs. That labor career preceded her election to represent the 20th district.
The record
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AB 1908 McKinnor Concurrence - Urgency Added
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AB 1954 Ward Concurrence in Senate Amendments
AB 1957 Pacheco Concurrence in Senate Amendments
AB 1977 Irwin Concurrence in Senate Amendments
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AB 2107 Pellerin Concurrence in Senate Amendments
AB 2180 Ward Concurrence in Senate Amendments
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AB 2346 Wilson Concurrence in Senate Amendments
AB 2595 Papan Concurrence in Senate Amendments
AB 2624 Bonta Concurrence in Senate Amendments
HR 86 Ta Consent Calendar Second Day
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HR 135 Celeste Rodriguez Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session
HR 138 Aguiar-Curry Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session
AJR 9 Wallis Concurrence in Senate Amendments
SB 296 Archuleta Senate Third Reading By Schiavo
SB 401 Hurtado Senate Third Reading By Irwin
SB 479 Arreguín Senate Third Reading By Wicks
SB 599 Caballero Senate Third Reading By Ward
SB 692 Arreguín Senate Third Reading By Mark González
SB 872 McNerney Senate Third Reading By Harabedian
SB 925 McNerney Senate Third Reading By Calderon
SB 932 Hurtado Senate Third Reading By Papan
SB 934 Wiener Senate Third Reading By Ward
SB 945 Weber Pierson Senate Third Reading By Alanis
SB 977 Weber Pierson Senate Third Reading By Schiavo
SB 990 Grove Senate Third Reading By Ellis
SB 1030 Smallwood-Cuevas Senate Third Reading By Sharp-Collins
SB 1056 Grayson Senate Third Reading By Schultz
SB 1069 Grayson Senate Third Reading By Wilson
SB 1135 Blakespear Senate Third Reading By Rogers
SB 1149 Durazo Senate Third Reading By Wicks
SB 1154 Reyes Senate Third Reading By Schultz
SB 1192 Rubio Senate Third Reading By Stefani
SB 1194 Caballero Senate Third Reading By Bonta
SB 1263 McGuire Senate Third Reading By Rogers
SB 1264 Valladares Senate Third Reading By Dixon
SB 1354 Archuleta Senate Third Reading By Schiavo
SB 1371 Durazo Senate Third Reading By Harabedian
SB 1400 Arreguín Senate Third Reading By Ortega
SCR 129 Cortese Senate Third Reading By Calderon