California State Senator Gloria Romero was elected to the 24th Senate District in 2001, representing East Los Angeles and the greater San Gabriel Valley.

Upon her election she was recognized as one of the hardest working members of the Legislature and quickly rose in leadership positions.  She was elected by her peers to serve as Democratic Caucus Chair and as Majority Leader—the first and only woman to ever hold that leadership position in the history of the California State Senate.

Senator Romero currently serves as Chair of the Education Committee making her one of the most influential voices on education policy in California.  She believes that education is the civil rights issue of our time.  States Romero, “My mother had a sixth grade education; I have a PhD. I understand the transformational power of education and the key it holds to accessing the American Dream”.  

She emphasizes that California cannot fully compete in the 21st century economy if we fail to close the achievement gap and create an educational system that fosters success for all students.  Towards this end, she created and chaired the Senate Select Committee on Urban School Governance.  She has authored numerous pieces of legislation seeking to restore accountability in our public school educational system and enhance the learning opportunities for California’s students.  She is a strong advocate of college-readiness and workforce preparedness.

  Prior to her election to the Senate, Romero served as Vice-President of the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees—the largest community college district in the nation—and the first Latina ever elected to this Board.  In 1998 she was elected to both the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission and the California State Assembly where she served as Majority Whip.

Senator Romero is the product of California’s public education system.  She earned her PhD in Psychology at the University of California and has taught at every level of higher education.  She received the Outstanding Faculty Member award by the Associated Students at Cal State LA after only her second year on the faculty.