Esmeralda Zamudio Soria (born April 22, 1982)[1] is an American politician and adjunct professor who is serving in the California State Assembly for the 27th district since 2022. Previously, she served as a member of the Fresno City Council from 2015 to 2022, with Soria serving as Council President from 2015 to 2022.
Esmeralda Soria | |
|---|---|
 Soria in 2022 | |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 27th district | |
| Assumed office December 5, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Ash Kalra (redistricted) |
| Member of the Fresno City Council for the 1st district | |
| In office January 6, 2015 – December 5, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Blong Xiong |
| Succeeded by | Annalisa Perea |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 22, 1982 Visalia, California |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Terance Frazier (m. 2021) |
| Residence | Fresno, California |
| Profession | Politician |
Early life and education
editSoria was born and raised in Visalia to two immigrant parents from Michoacán, Mexico. She became interested in politics at a young age as her parents had valued education and giving back to their community. Soria graduated from University of California, Berkeley and University of California, Davis as well as attending Harvard University's Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Leadership Program.
Political career
editSoria began working at the California State Capitol after graduating from UC Berkeley and later interned at the White House. Soria was elected to the Fresno City Council in 2014, being the only woman on the council. She was elected president of the Council in 2018, becoming the first Latina council president in Fresno city history.
In 2020, Soria announced that she would challenge moderate Democrat Jim Costa for the U.S. House of Representatives.[2] She stated that she had felt that "nothing had changed" about the problems in Costa's district since his election in 2004.[3][4] She lost the primary to Costa and Republican Kevin Cookingham.[5]
In 2021, Soria stated that she had been considering running for California State Assembly, as she was set to term out after the end of her term.[6] In January 2022, she launched her campaign for the State Assembly's 27th district.[7] In the election, she and Mark Pazin advanced in the primary, and Soria defeated Pazin in the general election after a tight race.[8]
Personal life
editSoria is married to developer Terance Frazier, with the two being married in Sayulita, Mexico.[9]
Electoral history
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Jim Costa (incumbent) | 41,228 | 37.5 | |
| Republican | Kevin Cookingham | 38,652 | 35.2 | |
| Democratic | Esmeralda Soria | 23,484 | 21.4 | |
| Democratic | Kimberly Elizabeth Williams | 6,458 | 5.9 | |
| Total votes | 109,822 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Jim Costa (incumbent) | 128,690 | 59.4 | |
| Republican | Kevin Cookingham | 88,039 | 40.6 | |
| Total votes | 216,729 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Esmeralda Soria | 20,395 | 40.1 | |
| Republican | Mark Nicholas Pazin | 17,801 | 35.0 | |
| Republican | Amanda Fleming | 8,541 | 16.8 | |
| Democratic | Mike Karbassi | 4,107 | 8.1 | |
| Libertarian | Randall Pellissier (write-in) | 4 | 0.0 | |
| Total votes | 50,848 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Esmeralda Soria | 45,721 | 51.3 | |
| Republican | Mark Nicholas Pazin | 43,335 | 48.7 | |
| Total votes | 89,056 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
edit- ^ Parker, Sue (March 2023). "The Assembly List of MEMBERS, OFFICERS, COMMITTEES AND THE RULES" (PDF). California State Assembly.
- ^ Tavlian, Alex (July 11, 2019). "It's official: Esmeralda Soria is challenging Costa in 2020". The San Joaquin Valley Sun. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ^ Blood, Michael R. (February 1, 2020). "Some House challengers eager to push California further left". Associated Press.
- ^ Jeremy B. White (February 12, 2020). "'She is tired of waiting her turn': Costa stares down liberal challenger". Politico.
- ^ "Tight race between Democratic Congressman Jim Costa, Republican Kevin Cookingham for District 16". KFSN-TV. March 16, 2020.
- ^ Taub, David (December 14, 2021). "Soria Considering Assembly Run. Tulare Sheriff Boudreaux for Congress?". GV Wire.
- ^ Houghton, John (January 21, 2022). "Esmeralda Soria launches State Assembly campaign". KSEE.
- ^ "Mark Pazin concedes to Esmeralda Soria in very tight race for Assembly District 27". KFSN-TV. November 21, 2022.
- ^ Taub, David (November 22, 2021). "City Councilmember Soria and Developer Frazier Wed in Mexico". GV Wire.