Norma Torres

She is a member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 35th congressional district. Previously, she was a member of the California State Senate representing the 35th district. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Norma Torres
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 35th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Gloria Negrete McLeod
Member of the California State Senate from the 32nd district
In office May 20, 2013 – November 30, 2014
Preceded by	Gloria Negrete McLeod
Succeeded by	Tony Mendoza (Redistricted)
Member of the California State Assembly from the 52nd district 61st district (2008–2012)
In office December 1, 2008 – May 20, 2013
Preceded by	Nell Soto
Succeeded by	Freddie Rodriguez
Mayor of Pomona
In office April 3, 2006 – December 1, 2008
Preceded by	Edward Cortez
Succeeded by	Elliot Rothman
Member of the Pomona City Council from the 6th district
In office January 8, 2001 – April 3, 2006
Preceded by	Willie White
Succeeded by	Steven Bañales
Personal details
Born	Norma Judith Barillas (1965-04-04) April 4, 1965 (age 59) Escuintla, Guatemala
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Louis Torres
Children	3
Residence(s)	Pomona, California, U.S.
Education	Mt. San Antonio College Rio Hondo College National Labor College (BA)
Website	House website
Norma Torres's voice Norma Torres speaks on 911 Operators Recorded July 11, 2019

Torres was born Norma Judith Barillas in Guatemala. When she was five, she and her uncle came to the United States; her mother died a year later. She originally arrived on a tourist visa, but became a legal resident in her teens and gained citizenship in 1992.

Torres worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, and in 1994 led a campaign to require the hiring of bilingual 9-1-1 operators. She was an active member of AFSCME, serving as local 3090's shop steward.^{[citation needed]} She served on the Pomona city council before being elected the city's mayor in 2006. In 2008, Torres endorsed then-presidential candidate Barack Obama before Hillary Clinton withdrew from the race, and was a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention. She was elected to the State Assembly in November 2008, filling the vacancy left by former legislator Nell Soto, who retired. She earned her bachelor's degree in labor studies from the now-defunct National Labor College in Maryland in 2012.

Torres was elected to the U.S. House of Representative for California's 35th congressional district in 2014, defeating Christina Gagnier (D) with 63.5% of the vote. She was reelected in 2016, defeating Tyler Fischella (R) with 72.4% of the vote. In 2018, Torres received 69.4% of the vote to defeat Christian Valiente (R), and in 2020, she defeated Republican Mark Cargile with 69.3%.

After being reelected to the House in November 2022, Torres accused President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador of interfering in her race. Bukele had urged voters to oppose Torres.

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
  • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
  • Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
• Committee on House Administration
  • Subcommittee on Elections
  • Subcommittee on Oversight (Ranking Member)

Caucus memberships

• New Democrat Coalition
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus
• Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus

Abortion

As of 2022, Torres has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and an F rating from the Susan B. Anthony List for her abortion-related voting record. She opposed the overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it "devastating" and saying it set back "our country decades, reversing so many years of hard-fought progress" for women.

Big Tech

In 2022, Torres was one of 16 Democrats to vote against the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2021, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior.

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

Torres was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.

Torres is married to Louis Torres. They live in Pomona, California. They have three sons, including Robert Torres, a Pomona City Council member.

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