Melissa Melendez

Melissa Ann Melendez (née Schneider; born February 17, 1968) is an American politician who served in the California State Senate. A Republican, she represented the 28th District from 2012 to 2022, which encompassed large portions of Riverside County.^[1] She previously served in the California State Assembly and on the Lake Elsinore City Council.^[2]

Melissa Melendez
Melendez in 2021
Member of the California State Senate from the 28th district
In office May 18, 2020 – December 5, 2022
Preceded by	Jeff Stone
Succeeded by	Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (redistricted)
Member of the California State Assembly from the 67th district
In office December 3, 2012 – May 18, 2020
Preceded by	Jim Silva (redistricted)
Succeeded by	Kelly Seyarto
Personal details
Born	Melissa Ann Schneider (1968-02-17) February 17, 1968 (age 57) Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Nico Melendez
Children	5
Alma mater	Chaminade University (BA) University of Phoenix (MBA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Battles/wars	Persian Gulf War

Early life

Melendez is a native of Youngstown, Ohio. After high school, she enlisted in the United States Navy. She attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, where she learned Russian.^[3]

While serving in the Navy, Melendez also attended college in the evenings, and received her BA in History and Political Studies from the Chaminade University of Honolulu in Honolulu, Hawaii.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Melendez was one of the first women to fly aboard EP-3 aircraft overseas.^{[citation needed]} She was a Russian language translator for ten years, and was part of flight missions during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.^{[citation needed]}

After the Navy, Melendez worked at Chaminade University for two years before deciding to establish her own business.^{[citation needed]} She then formed a transcription company, contracting with the Navy.^[3] Melendez earned her MBA from the University of Phoenix in June 2008. In 2008, Melendez was elected to the Lake Elsinore City Council. She served as Mayor Pro Tem as well as Mayor during her four years in local government.^{[citation needed]}

After incumbent State Senator Jeff Stone announced his resignation to work as a regional director at the U.S. Department of Labor, a special election was ordered to fill his vacant seat. After advancing in the March 3, 2020, special election, Melendez won the runoff election held on May 12 over the Democratic nominee, Riverside County School Board Trustee Elizabeth Romero and was sworn into the Senate on May 18.^[4][5][6]

The day after the 2020 United States presidential election, prior to a winner being declared, she claimed that Democrats were attempting to steal the election.^[7]

Electoral history

2020 California State Senate

California's 28th State Senate district special election, 2020

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Melissa Melendez	81,918	40.5
	Democratic	Elizabeth Romero	47,516	23.5
	Democratic	Joy Silver	42,222	20.9
	Republican	John Schwab	24,536	12.1
	Democratic	Anna Nevenic	5,912	2.9
Total votes			202,104	100.0
General election
	Republican	Melissa Melendez	105,525	55.4
	Democratic	Elizabeth Romero	84,902	44.6
Total votes			190,427	100.0

2018 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly election, 2018

California's 67th State Assembly district election, 2018

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Melissa Melendez (incumbent)	54,089	67.1
	Democratic	Michelle Singleton	26,474	32.9
Total votes			80,563	100.0
General election
	Republican	Melissa Melendez (incumbent)	93,519	60.9
	Democratic	Michelle Singleton	60,015	39.1
Total votes			153,534	100.0
	Republican hold

2016 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly election, 2016

California's 67th State Assembly district election, 2016

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Melissa Melendez (incumbent)	51,987	63.5
	Democratic	Jorge Lopez	29,924	36.5
Total votes			81,911	100.0
General election
	Republican	Melissa Melendez (incumbent)	107,654	63.8
	Democratic	Jorge Lopez	60,996	36.2
Total votes			168,650	100.0
	Republican hold

2014 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014

California's 67th State Assembly district election, 2014

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Melissa Melendez (incumbent)	32,268	99.8
	Democratic	Conrad Melton (write-in)	58	0.2
Total votes			32,326	100.0
General election
	Republican	Melissa Melendez (incumbent)	54,018	68.9
	Democratic	Conrad Melton	24,386	31.1
Total votes			78,404	100.0
	Republican hold

2012 California State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly election, 2012

California's 67th State Assembly district election, 2012

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Phil Paule	11,951	27.7
	Republican	Melissa Melendez	10,084	23.3
	Republican	Bob Magee	8,672	20.1
	Republican	Kenneth C. Dickson	8,216	19.0
	Republican	William T. Akana	4,291	9.9
Total votes			43,214	100.0
General election
	Republican	Melissa Melendez	67,232	52.3
	Republican	Phil Paule	61,230	47.7
Total votes			128,462	100.0
	Republican hold