Norma Torres | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 35th district | |
Assumed office January 3, 2015 | |
Preceded by | Gloria Negrete McLeod |
Member of the California State Senate from the 32nd district | |
In office May 20, 2013 – November 30, 2014 | |
Preceded by | Gloria Negrete McLeod |
Succeeded by | Tony Mendoza (Redistricted) |
Member of the California State Assembly from the 52nd district 61st district (2008–2012) | |
In office December 1, 2008 – May 20, 2013 | |
Preceded by | Nell Soto |
Succeeded by | Freddie Rodriguez |
Mayor of Pomona | |
In office April 3, 2006 – December 1, 2008 | |
Preceded by | Edward Cortez |
Succeeded by | Elliot Rothman |
Member of the Pomona City Council from the 6th district | |
In office January 8, 2001 – April 3, 2006 | |
Preceded by | Willie White |
Succeeded by | Steven Bañales |
Personal details | |
Born | Norma Judith Barillas[1] April 4, 1965 Escuintla, Guatemala |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Louis Torres |
Children | 3 |
Residence(s) | Pomona, California, U.S. |
Education | Mt. San Antonio College Rio Hondo College National Labor College (BA) |
Website | House website |
Norma Judith Torres, (née Barillas /ˈtɒrɛs/; born April 4, 1965)[2] is an American politician and representative. She is a member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 35th congressional district. Previously, she was a member of the California State Senate representing the 35th district. She is a member of the Democratic Party.[3]
Early life and career
Torres was born Norma Judith Barillas in Guatemala.[2] When she was five, she and her uncle came to the United States; her mother died a year later.[4][3] She originally arrived on a tourist visa, but became a legal resident in her teens and gained citizenship in 1992.[5]
Torres worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, and in 1994 led a campaign to require the hiring of bilingual 9-1-1 operators.[6] She was an active member of AFSCME, serving as local 3090's shop steward.[citation needed] She served on the Pomona city council before being elected the city's mayor in 2006.[5] In 2008, Torres endorsed then-presidential candidate Barack Obama before Hillary Clinton withdrew from the race, and was a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention. She was elected to the State Assembly in November 2008, filling the vacancy left by former legislator Nell Soto, who retired. She earned her bachelor's degree in labor studies from the now defunct National Labor College in Maryland in 2012.[7][4]
U.S. House of Representatives
Torres was elected to the U.S. House of Representative for California's 35th congressional district in 2014, defeating Christina Gagnier (D) with 63.5% of vote.[8] She was reelected in 2016, defeating Tyler Fischella (R) with 72.4% of the vote.[8] In 2018, Torres received 69.4% of the vote to defeat Christian Valiente (R),[8] and in 2020, she defeated Republican Mark Cargile with 69.3%.
Committee assignments
Caucus memberships
Political positions
Abortion
As of 2022, Torres has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and an F rating from the Susan B. Anthony List for her abortion-related voting record.[12][13] She opposed the overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it "devastating" and saying it set back "our country decades, reversing so many years of hard-fought progress" for women.[14]
Personal life
Torres is married to Louis Torres. They live in Pomona, California.[15] They have three children, all sons, including Robert Torres, a Pomona City Council member.
See also
- List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
References
- ^ Kevin Freking A child of Guatemala seeks a seat in Congress
- ^ a b Chief Clerk of the California State Assembly, Secretary of the California State Senate, 2009-10 California Legislature (PDF), State of California, archived from the original (PDF) on November 16, 2010, retrieved August 11, 2011
- ^ a b "Biography". house.gov. n.d. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
- ^ a b "Dangers Propelled Norma Torres to Move to U.S., Then to Politics". Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ a b Kevin Freking (September 6, 1994). "A child of Guatemala seeks a seat in Congress". Associated Press. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
- ^ "Congresswoman Norma Torres". Federal Communications Commission. April 17, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
- ^ "Biography". Congresswoman Norma Torres. December 11, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ a b c "California's 35th Congressional District". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
- ^ "Members". New Democrat Coalition. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
- ^ "Members". Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Archived from the original on May 15, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
- ^ "Members". Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ^ "Congressional Record". NARAL Pro-Choice America. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ "Norma Torres". SBA Pro-Life America. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ Torres, Norma. Twitter https://twitter.com/NormaJTorres/status/1540343959653961728. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
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(help) - ^ Yingling, Jennifer (November 7, 2018). "Torres". TheHill. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
External links
- Congresswoman Norma Torres official U.S. House website
- Campaign website
- Norma Torres at Curlie
- Appearances on C-SPAN