Jeff Gonzalez

Jeff Gonzalez
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 36th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 2, 2024
Preceded byEduardo Garcia
Personal details
BornNew Jersey
Political partyRepublican
SpouseChristine
Children4
ResidenceIndio, California
EducationNational University (BA, MS)

Jeff Gonzalez is an American veteran, businessman, and politician who is a member of the California State Assembly from the 36th District. A Republican, he flipped the majority Latino district in 2024 which includes eastern Riverside County and Imperial County in the High Desert.

Early life and education

Gonzalez is a first-generation American born in New Jersey and raised in Southern California.[1] He graduated from National University with a Bachelor's in Homeland Security and Emergency Management and a Master of Science in organizational leadership.[2]

Career

Upon graduating high school, Gonzalez enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at 19. He was deployed overseas to combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as U.S. embassies in Honduras and the Czech Republic. He retired after two decades of service and became a pastor at Southwest Church in Indian Wells and Saddleback Church in Orange County.[1][3]

California State Assembly

Gonzalez first ran for the California State Assembly in the 56th district against incumbent Democrat Eduardo Garcia in 2018.[1] He lost by a wide margin. He ran again in 2024 after Garcia retired, and defeated Joey Acuña in the general election in a major upset.[4][5]

Personal life

Gonzalez and his wife, Christine, have four children including an adult son diagnosed with cerebral palsy. They live in Indio, California.

Electoral history

2018

California's 56th State Assembly district election, 2018 [6]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eduardo Garcia (incumbent) 31,747 60.3
Republican Jeff Gonzalez 13,331 25.3
Republican Jonathan Reiss 7,527 14.3
Total votes 52,605 100.0
General election
Democratic Eduardo Garcia (incumbent) 62,622 64.8
Republican Jeff Gonzalez 34,088 35.2
Total votes 96,710 100.0
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ a b c Newkirk, Barrett (January 31, 2018). "Republican Jeff Gonzalez announces challenge to Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia". Palm Springs Desert Sun.
  2. ^ "The Candidates: California's 36th Assembly District". The Calexico Chronicle. February 25, 2024.
  3. ^ Miller, Betty (January 30, 2024). "Jeff Gonzalez, candidate for CA Assembly District 36". The Desert Review.
  4. ^ Sosa, Anabel (December 8, 2024). "This Latino Republican flipped a deep-blue California Assembly district. How?". Los Angeles Times.
  5. ^ Coulter, Tom (November 18, 2024). "Election results: Jeff Gonzalez declares victory, Joey Acuña concedes in assembly race". The Desert Sun.
  6. ^ "Inland Empire Election Results, Riverside & San Bernardino County". InlandEmpire.us. Press release. November 7, 2018.