Luz Rivas

Luz Maria Rivas (born February 6, 1974) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative from California's 29th congressional district since 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously represented the 43rd district in the California State Assembly from 2018 to 2024.

Luz Rivas
Official portrait, 2024
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 29th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Tony Cárdenas
Member of the California Assembly
In office June 11, 2018 – November 30, 2024
Preceded by	Raul Bocanegra
Succeeded by	Celeste Rodriguez
Constituency	39th district (2018–2022) 43rd district (2022–2024)
Personal details
Born	Luz Maria Rivas (1974-02-06) February 6, 1974 (age 51) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS) Harvard University (MEd)
Signature
Website	House website Campaign website

Background

Rivas was born and raised in Los Angeles. She earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, worked for Motorola, and then earned a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.^[1] She founded a non-profit organization based in Pacoima, Los Angeles, to encourage school age girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.^[2] She also served on Los Angeles' City Public Works Commission.^[1]

California State Assembly

Following Raul Bocanegra's resignation from the California Assembly, Rivas declared her candidacy in the special election to succeed him.^[1] Rivas won the special election on June 5, 2018,^[3] and was sworn into office on June 11.^[4]

Rivas is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.^[5]

Housing

Rivas has opposed legislative proposals that would reduce the stringent regulations on affordable housing construction along California's coast (which includes many of the state's most affluent and segregated areas).^[6][7] She has sought to limit the ability of religious institutions to build more housing.^[8] Rivas is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.^[5]

U.S. House of Representatives

2024 election

Main article: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in California § District 29

Tony Cárdenas, the incumbent U.S. Representative for California's 29th congressional district, announced that he would not run for reelection in the 2024 elections. Rivas announced her candidacy for the seat, with Cárdenas' endorsement.^[9] She won the election.^[10]

Tenure

Before the start of the 119th Congress, Rivas was elected as the freshman class representative for the Democratic Caucus, defeating Maryland freshman U.S. Representative-elect Sarah Elfreth and Washington freshman U.S. Representative-elect Emily Randall.^[11]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
  • Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries
• Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
  • Subcommittee on Research and Technology

Caucus membership

• Congressional Hispanic Caucus^[12]
• Congressional Progressive Caucus^[13]

Personal life

Rivas is Catholic.^[14]

Electoral history

2018 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly election, 2018

California's 39th State Assembly district election, 2018

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Luz Rivas	20,453	43.9
	Republican	Ricardo Antonio Benitez	11,679	25.1
	Democratic	Patty López	6,783	14.6
	Democratic	Antonio Sanchez	4,705	10.1
	Democratic	Patrea Patrick	1,740	3.7
	Democratic	Bonnie Corwin	1,220	2.6
Total votes			46,580	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Luz Rivas (incumbent)	85,027	77.7
	Republican	Ricardo Antonio Benitez	24,468	22.3
Total votes			109,495	100.0
	Democratic hold

2020 California State Assembly

2020 California's 39th State Assembly district election

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Luz Rivas (incumbent)	37,867	77.1%
	Republican	Ricardo Benitez	11,237	22.9%
Total votes

2022 California State Assembly

2022 California's 43rd State Assembly district election^[15][16]

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Luz Rivas (incumbent)	38,303	98.5
	Republican	Siaka Massaquoi (write-in)	575	1.5
Total votes			38,878	100%
General election
	Democratic	Luz Rivas (incumbent)	55,282	74.6
	Republican	Siaka Massaquoi	18,782	25.4
Total votes			74,064	100%
	Democratic hold

2024 U.S. House of Representatives

2024 California's 29th congressional district election^[17][18]

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Luz Rivas	40,096	49.3
	Republican	Benito Bernal	21,446	26.4
	Democratic	Angelica Dueñas	19,844	24.4
Total votes			81,386	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Luz Rivas	146,312	69.8
	Republican	Benito Bernal	63,374	30.2
Total votes			209,686	100.0
	Democratic hold

See also

• List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress