Gloria J. Romero (born July 10, 1955) is an American politician. She served as a California state senator from 2001 until 2010 and was the Democratic majority leader of the California State Senate from 2005 until 2008. She was the first woman to hold that leadership position. In 2024, she joined the Republican Party.[1]
Gloria Romero | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, c. 2001–2010 | |
| Majority Leader of the California Senate | |
| In office 2005–2008 | |
| Preceded by | Don Perata |
| Succeeded by | Dean Florez |
| Member of the California State Senate from the 24th district | |
| In office March 12, 2001 – November 30, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Hilda Solis |
| Succeeded by | Edward Hernández |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 49th district | |
| In office December 7, 1998 – March 12, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Diane Martinez |
| Succeeded by | Judy Chu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 10, 1955 Barstow, California, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic (before 2024) Republican (2024–present) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Barstow Community College (AA) California State University, Long Beach (BA, MA) University of California, Riverside (PhD) |
Early life and career
editRomero grew up in Barstow, one of six children. Her father worked in the railroad yards and her mother, who left school after sixth grade, stayed home and raised the children. Romero received her associate's degree from Barstow Community College before going on to earn a B.A. and an M.A. from California State University, Long Beach and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California, Riverside.
She taught as a professor at state universities and served as a trustee and vice president of the board of trustees of Los Angeles Community College District.[citation needed]
Legislative career
edit
Romero was elected to the California State Assembly in 1998 and to the Senate in 2001. Romero represented the 24th district, which included East Los Angeles, portions of the city of Los Angeles, as well as a major part of the San Gabriel Valley, including the cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, City of Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, Monterey Park, Rosemead, West Covina and Whittier.
In 2008, Romero stepped down as Majority Leader and became chairman of the Education Committee.[2] In that position, she authored and guided to passage a fiercely contested[3] "parent trigger" law that allows a majority of parents in a "failing school" to vote on a method to restructure the school.[4]
Romero was term-limited in 2010.[2]
Campaign for State Superintendent of Public Instruction
editFollowing U.S. Representative Hilda Solis's December 2008 selection to become U.S. Secretary of Labor by President-elect Barack Obama (and expected subsequent confirmation), Romero indicated strong interest in running in the special election for California's 32nd congressional district to replace her,[5] but later chose to run for the nonpartisan California State Superintendent of Public Instruction instead.[6] Romero was supported by advocates of charter schools, while her two major opponents were supported by teachers unions and school administrators, respectively.[7][8][9] Eventually, Romero finished third, receiving 17.0% of the vote in a crowded 12-person field.[10]
Post-legislative career and charter school industry support
editRomero led the California chapter of Democrats for Education Reform, a reform wing of the Democratic Party supporting charter schools. In the 2012 election, she supported California's Proposition 32, which would have barred payroll deductions to give money to unions Political Action Committees (PACs).[2] She founded Scholarship Prep Charter School, which enrolls TK-8th grade students in low income communities.
In the unsuccessful 2021 California gubernatorial recall election, she endorsed Republican Larry Elder as a replacement candidate for Democratic governor Gavin Newsom, while saying that she "disagrees with just about everything that Larry Elder stands for".[11]
On September 4, 2024, Romero left the Democratic Party and joined the Republican Party.[12] She gave many reasons for her switch in parties, including her disagreement with the Democratic Party's positions on crime, gender identity, COVID-19 lockdowns, gas stoves and school choice. In a press conference, Romero endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 election and offered praise for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling him a "personal hero".[13]
On February 3, 2025, Politico's California Playbook reported that Romero was considering running in the 2026 California lieutenant gubernatorial election.[14] She announced her campaign in January 2026, as part of a slate with Steve Hilton.[15]
References
edit- ↑ Harter, Clara (September 4, 2024). "Gloria Romero, former Democratic State Senate leader, joins Republican Party". Los Angeles Daily News.
- 1 2 3 Finley, Allysia, "Gloria Romero: The Trials of a Democratic Reformer", Wall Street Journal, August 31, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
- ↑ Libby, Ken, "How to Buy a Candidate: Gloria Romero for CA Superintendent of Public Instruction", SchoolsMatter blog, March 8, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
- ↑ O'Connor, John, "Q & A: Gloria Romero, Author Of California’s ‘Parent Trigger’ Law", StateImpact (local public media and NPR), February 2, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
- ↑ Morain, Dan (December 18, 2008). "Obama's pick of Hilda Solis for Labor prompts some to eye her House seat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
- ↑ Larrubia, Evelyn (January 8, 2009). "Gloria Romero will not seek congressional seat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
- ↑ Dan Smith; Torey Van Oot (June 2, 2010). "The Buzz: Money, endorsements rolling in to replace California schools chief". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved July 14, 2010.[dead link]
- ↑ Patrick Range McDonald (June 3, 2010). "Gloria Romero's Race to the Top". LA Weekly. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ↑ Patrick Range McDonald (June 8, 2010). "Special Interests Spend Heavily on California Superintendent of Public Instruction Race". LA Weekly. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Secretary of State June 8, 2010 Primary Election--Superintendent of Public Education - Statewide Results". Archived from the original on July 14, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Column: Why this Democrat is backing Larry Elder for governor". Los Angeles Times. August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ↑ "Democrat lawmaker switches Republican, voting Trump". Newsweek. September 5, 2024.
- ↑ "Former California Democratic Senate leader goes full MAGA, calls RFK Jr a 'personal hero'". The Sacramento Bee. September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ↑ Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (February 3, 2025). "Don't call it a sanctuary city". Politico. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
- ↑ "Democrat-turned-Republican Gloria Romero announces run for lieutenant governor". Los Angeles Times. January 13, 2026.
External links
edit- Democrats for Education Reform (official website)
- Gloria Romero at Ballotpedia
- Join California Gloria Romero