Democrat Jessica Caloza has defeated fellow Democrat Franky Carrillo in the race to represent California’s Assembly District 52.
Caloza secured a win with 81,460 votes, or 67% of the ballots counted so far, according to the Associated Press, who called the race on Thursday. Carrillo had 40,059 votes, or 33%.
Caloza, a women’s rights advisor, will represent a district that encompasses East L.A. and parts of Glendale, as well as several Los Angeles neighborhoods, including El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, Highland Park, Eagle Rock and Echo Park. The district, previously represented by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, has a population of more than half a million people, 57% Latino, according to 2020 Census data.
Caloza told Boyle Heights Beat that, if elected, she would enact policies that “lower the cost of living.” She aims to build more affordable housing, raise wages, protect renters, support small businesses, and take “bold action on the climate, and ensuring healthcare for all.”
Through her campaign, she prioritized affordable housing, education, and reproductive rights.
Caloza is a first-time candidate and a first-generation immigrant. As a child, she immigrated to Eagle Rock with her family from the Philippines.
She was deputy chief of staff at the California Department of Justice, where she focused on crime reduction and environmental protection. She also served as an L.A. Public Works Commissioner in the U.S. Department of Education under the Obama administration. According to her website, she has secured resources for underfunded schools, expanded union jobs, and ensured equal pay for women.
“I’ve dedicated my entire life to public service because I believe in the power of government and how it can transform lives when it works,”
Jessica caloza
“I’ve dedicated my entire life to public service because I believe in the power of government and how it can transform lives when it works,” Caloza said.
“I bring experience from federal, state, and local levels, allowing me to hit the ground running,” she said.