Jeff Gonzalez | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of theCalifornia State Assembly from the36th district | |
| Assumed office December 2, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Eduardo Garcia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Christine |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence | Indio, California |
| Education | National University (BA,MS) |
Jeff Gonzalez is an American veteran, businessman, and politician who is a member of theCalifornia State Assembly from the36th District. ARepublican, he flipped the majorityLatino district in2024 which includes easternRiverside County andImperial County in theLow Desert of southeastern California.
Gonzalez is afirst-generation American born inNew Jersey and raised inSouthern California.[1] He graduated fromNational University with a Bachelor's in Homeland Security and Emergency Management and aMaster of Science inorganizational leadership.[2]
Upon graduating high school, Gonzalez enlisted in theUnited States Marine Corps at 19. He was deployed overseas to combat zones inIraq andAfghanistan as well asU.S. embassies inHonduras and theCzech Republic. He retired after two decades of service and became apastor at Southwest Church inIndian Wells andSaddleback Church inOrange County.[1][3]
Gonzalez first ran for theCalifornia State Assembly in the56th district against incumbentDemocratEduardo Garcia in2018.[1] He lost by a wide margin. He ran again in 2024 after Garcia retired, and defeatedCoachella School Board Trustee Joey Acuña in the general election in a majorupset.[4][5]
Gonzalez and his wife, Christine, have four children, including an adult son diagnosed withcerebral palsy. They live inIndio, California.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Eduardo Garcia (incumbent) | 31,747 | 60.3 | |
| Republican | Jeff Gonzalez | 13,331 | 25.3 | |
| Republican | Jonathan Reiss | 7,527 | 14.3 | |
| Total votes | 52,605 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Eduardo Garcia (incumbent) | 62,622 | 64.8 | |
| Republican | Jeff Gonzalez | 34,088 | 35.2 | |
| Total votes | 96,710 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Jeff Gonzalez | 21,626 | 35.1 | |
| Democratic | Joey Acuña | 12,262 | 19.9 | |
| Democratic | Edgard Garcia | 7,889 | 12.8 | |
| Republican | Kalin Morse | 6,985 | 11.3 | |
| Democratic | Waymond Fermon | 4,765 | 7.8 | |
| Democratic | Tomas Oliva | 4,624 | 7.5 | |
| Democratic | Eric L. Rodriguez | 3,458 | 5.6 | |
| Total votes | 61,682 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Jeff Gonzalez | 79,477 | 51.8 | |
| Democratic | Joey Acuña | 73,926 | 48.2 | |
| Total votes | 153,403 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | ||||
