Luz Robles Escamilla (born February 4, 1978) is an American politician serving as a member of theUtah State Senate from the10th District. From 2009 until 2023, she represented the1st District and has served as the body's Minority Leader since 2023.

The daughter of two Mexican college professors, Escamilla was born in 1978 and raised inMexico.^[1] After moving to the United States in 1996, Escamilla graduated from Marian Catholic High School inSan Diego, California.^[2] She then earned her Bachelor of Science at the University of Utah in business marketing in 2000.^[2] She also holds a Masters in Public Administration, which she earned from the University of Utah in 2005.^[2]

Escamilla is a director for theZions Bank Business Resource Center.^[2]

Senator Escamilla serves as the minority leader in theUtah State Senate.[1]GovernorJon Huntsman Jr. appointed Escamilla to the State Office of Ethnic Affairs in 2005.^[3] In 2010, she received the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce Pathfinder Award and the SBA Award. She has also received the Pete Suazo Memorial Award from the University of Utah.^[3] Senator Escamilla has also served as a board member for the University of Utah College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Regence Caring Foundation, the Utah Health Policy Project, and the Primary Children's Medical Center.^[4]Escamilla was first elected to theUtah State Senate in 2008 and was re-elected in 2012.^[5] In 2016, Escamilla served on the Executive Appropriations Committee and the Social Services Appropriations Subcommittee. She also served on the following Senate standing committees:^[6]

• Senate Ethics Committee
• Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee
• Senate Health and Human Services Committee
• Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee.

In 2014, Escamilla ran unsuccessfully for Congress inUtah's 2nd congressional district as the Democratic Party's nominee.^[7] The seat was held by Republican incumbentChris Stewart, who won reelection.^[8][9]

In 2019, Sen. Escamilla ran for mayor ofSalt Lake City, after MayorJackie Biskupski announced she would not run for another term.^[10] In the 2019 election, Escamilla lost, finishing second behind Salt Lake City CouncilwomanErin Mendenhall. She conceded the loss on November 6, 2019, one day after the race, after initial hesitation to concede in the event that mail-in ballots could affect results in the run-off election.^[11]

2024

2020

2019

2016

2014

2012

2008

[2]

^[12]

During the 2011 Legislative Session, Escamilla pioneered groundbreaking immigration reform legislation, SB60, which would issue illegal immigrants already living in Utah an "accountability card," giving them the right to work without changing their legal status. Immigrants would have to pass a criminal background check and learn English to obtain the permit. Immigration experts have hailed Escamilla's immigration bill and Escamilla herself as "ground breaking" and "creative." While her SB60 did not pass, it was a model for a guest worker program that ultimately did pass the 2011 Legislature.^[13]

Escamilla has also proposed a bill that would protect the rights of fathers against fraudulent adoption practices. SB 63 would have allowed a compact of states to share punitive father's records. This would help protect father's rights if mothers took their children out of the state without the father's knowledge. The bill was not voted on the floor before Utah's 45-day session was completed.^[14]

Escamilla introduced a bill to fund theUtah Department of Environmental Quality to install air and water monitors at the site of the proposedUtah Inland Port, to establish baseline readings for future comparison.^[15] An environmental impact study of the proposed port has not been completed.

Escamilla is married to formerArizona state representativeJuan Carlos Escamilla.^[2] He proposed to her on the Utah Senate floor during the 2014 legislative session.^[16] She is a member ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.^[17]

• Utah State Legislature – Senator Luz Robles Escamillaofficial government website
• Project Vote Smart – Senator Luz Robles (UT) profile
• Follow the Money – Luz Robles
  • 2008 campaign contributions

• 1978 births
• 21st-century American women politicians
• American politicians of Mexican descent
• Democratic Party Utah state senators
• Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Utah
• Hispanic and Latino American women in politics
• Latter Day Saints from Utah
• Living people
• Mexican emigrants to the United States
• Politicians from Salt Lake City
• University of Utah alumni
• Women state legislators in Utah
• 21st-century members of the Utah Legislature

• CS1: unfit URL
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from October 2011