Incumbent school board member Rocío Rivas declared victory Monday in the race to represent Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights and other Eastside neighborhoods on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education.
Though counting was ongoing, the latest results from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk showed Rivas held 63.24% of the vote, compared with 36.76% for challenger Raquel Zamora, an educator who was born and raised in Boyle Heights. Zamora has not yet conceded.
“I am deeply honored and grateful for the trust our community has placed in me,” said Rivas in a press release on Monday. “This victory belongs to the educators, parents, students, labor partners, and community members who came together to build a broad coalition in support of public education and our shared vision for schools that put students first.”
The incumbent, who currently serves as vice president of the Los Angeles Unified Board of Education, will be one of seven board members overseeing the nation’s second-largest school district. The District 2 seat covers 55,014 students across many Eastside neighborhoods as well as Silver Lake, MacArthur Park and downtown LA.
LAUSD board members will be tasked with balancing the district’s budget in the wake of hundreds of job cuts, bolstering student enrollment with fewer immigrant students attending LA schools, and making decisions over school safety and academic improvement.
Rivas, who has served on the board since 2022 and is a parent in the district, told The LA Local she would continue to invest in strengthening literacy in grades K–3, small-group tutoring, and strong instruction, while expanding access to advanced coursework, dual enrollment, and career pathways.
“I’ve fought for higher pay for teachers, more counselors and support staff, and smaller class sizes, because retaining experienced educators is critical to student success,” said Rivas, adding that she would continue to support investments in arts, athletics, and school modernization.
On protecting immigrant students and families, Rivas noted her support in reaffirming LAUSD as a sanctuary school district and authoring a board resolution “directing the district to review and limit contracts with vendors connected to immigration enforcement practices that raise civil rights concerns.”
Rivas also highlighted her office’s work in coordinating community defense and Know Your Rights training.
Immigrant rights protections, she said, must be consistent at every school. “That means clear protocols, regular staff training, and direct communication with families in their home languages so they understand their rights,” Rivas said.
Looking ahead, Rivas said she would focus on strengthening the district’s financial stability “so we can protect and expand the programs families rely on.”
“I will continue to prioritize resources for our highest-need schools so all students have access to strong programs and opportunities. Families should be able to see results, trust decisions, and know their children have a real path forward,” she said.
Rivas was heavily backed by a political action committee for the teachers union United Teachers Los Angeles, which through May 11, shelled out $639,127, according to the Eastsider LA. Funding went toward door hangers, phone banking, mailers and more.
That’s on top of the $59,498 that Rivas’ campaign raised through April 18, Eastsider LA reported. Zamora had raised $970.
