Norma Torres

Norma Judith Torres is a Democratic politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for California's 35th congressional district since 2015. Born in Guatemala, she immigrated to the United States at age five and became a naturalized citizen in 1992. Before entering public office, she worked for nearly 18 years as a 911 dispatcher for the Los Angeles Police Department, where she led a successful campaign to require the hiring of bilingual operators. She earned a bachelor's degree in labor studies from the National Labor College. Her political career began in local government, where she served on the Pomona City Council before becoming the Mayor of Pomona in 2006. She subsequently served in the California State Assembly from 2008 to 2013 and the California State Senate from 2013 to 2014. In 2014, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first Guatemalan-born member of Congress. In the House, Torres is a member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on House Administration. She has been a prominent voice on Central American affairs, co-chairing the Congressional Central America Caucus. Her legislative work often focuses on addressing the root causes of migration, enhancing public safety, and securing federal funding for infrastructure and housing projects in the Inland Empire.

Representative Torres advocates for a compassionate immigration system that includes a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and addresses the root causes of migration through anti-corruption efforts in Central America. She views healthcare as a human right, supporting the strengthening of the Affordable Care Act and the protection of reproductive freedom. On economic issues, she emphasizes labor rights, having a background in the AFSCME union, and supports federal investment in infrastructure, such as improvements to the Ontario International Airport. Her environmental platform focuses on tackling the climate crisis by improving air quality in the Inland Empire, modernizing energy systems, and increasing the accessibility of public transit.