Celeste Rodriguez | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of theCalifornia State Assembly from the43rd district | |
| Assumed office December 2, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Luz Rivas |
| Mayor ofSan Fernando | |
| In office December 14, 2022 – December 2, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Mary Mendoza |
| Succeeded by | Mary Mendoza |
| Member of theSan Fernando City Council | |
| In office December 7, 2020 – December 2, 2024 | |
| Succeeded by | Patty López |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1990 (age 34–35) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Robert Gonzales |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Los Angeles Mission College (AA) San Diego State University (BEc) University of Southern California (MSW) |
Celeste T. Rodriguez (born 1990) is an American politician who is a member of theCalifornia State Assembly representing the43rd district, based in the easternSan Fernando Valley. Elected in the2024 election, she previously served as a councilor and Mayor ofSan Fernando, California.
Rodriguez was born in 1990, graduated fromJames Monroe High School and later earned anassociate degree fromLos Angeles Mission College.[1] She later attended and graduated fromSan Diego State University and later earned aMaster of Social Work at theUniversity of Southern California. She started her public service at Recreation and Community Services Department and later moved to the Office of Economic Opportunity inLos Angeles.[2]
In 2020, Rodriguez announced that she would be running for the San Fernando City Council. She defeated Mayor Joel Fajardo by 24 votes in the general election, being elected withCindy Montañez.[3][4] In December 2022, Rodriguez was elected by the city council to become the Mayor of San Fernando, after previously losing a vote for vice mayor against Mary Mendoza. She was recommended by councilor Cindy Montañez, who had the unanimous support of the city council to become Mayor before turning down the position.[5]
In January 2024, she announced that she would be running forCalifornia State Assembly for the43rd district after incumbentLuz Rivas ran for theUnited States House of Representatives.[6] She advanced to the general election with Republican Victoria Garcia, a fellow San Fernando city councilor.[7]
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cindy Montañez | 3,774 | 29.4 | |
| Celeste Rodriguez | 3,253 | 25.4 | |
| Joel Fajardo | 3,229 | 25.2 | |
| Magaly Colelli | 2,581 | 20.1 | |
| Total votes | 12,828 | 100.0 | |
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Celeste Rodriguez | 20,485 | 43.5 | |
| Republican | Victoria Garcia | 11,077 | 23.5 | |
| Democratic | Walter Garcia | 8,071 | 17.1 | |
| Republican | Felicia Novick | 3,431 | 7.3 | |
| No party preference | Carmelina Minasova | 2,045 | 4.3 | |
| Democratic | Saul Hurtado | 2,024 | 4.3 | |
| Total votes | 47,133 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Celeste Rodriguez | 85,983 | 66.6 | |
| Republican | Victoria Garcia | 43,028 | 33.4 | |
| Total votes | 129,011 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
