Jeff Gonzalez
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jeff Gonzalez
| image = Jeff Gonzalez, 2024.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2024
| state_assembly = California
| district = 36th
| term_start = December 2, 2024
| term_end =
| predecessor = Eduardo Garcia
| successor =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = New Jersey
| party = Republican
| spouse = Christine
| children = 4
| residence = Indio, California
| education = National University (BA, MS)
| website =
}}
Jeff Gonzalez is an American veteran, businessman, and politician who is a member of the California State Assembly from the 36th District. A Republican, he flipped the majority Latino district in 2024 which includes eastern Riverside County and Imperial County in the Low Desert of southeastern California.
Early life and education
Gonzalez is a first-generation American born in New Jersey and raised in Southern California.{{cite web|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/31/republican-jeff-gonzalez-announces-challenge-assemblyman-eduardo-garcia/1080972001/|title=Republican Jeff Gonzalez announces challenge to Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia|date=January 31, 2018|last=Newkirk|work=Palm Springs Desert Sun|first=Barrett}} He graduated from National University with a Bachelor's in Homeland Security and Emergency Management and a Master of Science in organizational leadership.{{cite web|url=https://calexicochronicle.com/2024/02/25/the-candidates-californias-36th-assembly-district/|title=The Candidates: California’s 36th Assembly District|date=February 25, 2024|website=The Calexico Chronicle}}
Career
Upon graduating high school, Gonzalez enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at 19. He was deployed overseas to combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as U.S. embassies in Honduras and the Czech Republic. He retired after two decades of service and became a pastor at Southwest Church in Indian Wells and Saddleback Church in Orange County.{{cite web|url=https://www.thedesertreview.com/news/jeff-gonzalez-candidate-for-ca-assembly-district-36/article_f45c1ece-bc7e-11ee-bc6a-1b3ca439fdf5.html|title= Jeff Gonzalez, candidate for CA Assembly District 36 |date=January 30, 2024|author=Miller, Betty|website=The Desert Review}}
California State Assembly
Gonzalez first ran for the California State Assembly in the 56th district against incumbent Democrat Eduardo Garcia in 2018. He lost by a wide margin. He ran again in 2024 after Garcia retired, and defeated Cochella School Board Trustee Joey Acuña in the general election in a major upset.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-12-08/la-me-california-assembly-republican-jeff-gonzalez|title=This Latino Republican flipped a deep-blue California Assembly district. How? |author=Sosa, Anabel|website=Los Angeles Times|date=December 8, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/18/california-assembly-election-results-jeff-gonzalez-beats-joey-acuna/76412934007/|title=Election results: Jeff Gonzalez declares victory, Joey Acuña concedes in assembly race|date=November 18, 2024|author=Coulter, Tom|website=The Desert Sun}}
Personal life
Gonzalez and his wife, Christine, have four children including an adult son diagnosed with cerebral palsy. They live in Indio, California.
Electoral history
=2024=
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = 2024 California's 36th State Assembly district election
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Jeff Gonzalez
| votes = 21,626
| percentage = 35.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Joey Acuña
| votes = 12,262
| percentage = 19.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Edgard Garcia
| votes = 7,889
| percentage = 12.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Kalin Morse
| votes = 6,985
| percentage = 11.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Waymond Fermon
| votes = 4,765
| percentage = 7.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Tomas Oliva
| votes = 4,624
| percentage = 7.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Eric L. Rodriguez
| votes = 3,458
| percentage = 5.6
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 61,682
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Jeff Gonzalez
| votes = 79,477
| percentage = 51.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Joey Acuña
| votes = 73,926
| percentage = 48.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 153,403
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no change
| winner = California Republican Party
| loser = California Democratic Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2018=
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = California's 56th State Assembly district election, 2018{{Cite news |url=https://inlandempire.us/inland-empire-election-results-riverside-san-bernardino-county/ |title=Inland Empire Election Results, Riverside & San Bernardino County |date=November 7, 2018 |agency=Press release |work=InlandEmpire.us}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Eduardo Garcia (incumbent)
| votes = 31747
| percentage = 60.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Jeff Gonzalez
| votes = 13331
| percentage = 25.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Jonathan Reiss
| votes = 7527
| percentage = 14.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 52605
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = California Democratic Party
| candidate = Eduardo Garcia (incumbent)
| votes = 62622
| percentage = 64.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = California Republican Party
| candidate = Jeff Gonzalez
| votes = 34088
| percentage = 35.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 96710
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = California Democratic Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzalez, Jeff}}
Category:Republican Party members of the California State Assembly
Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in California
Category:People from Indio, California
Category:21st-century members of the California State Legislature