Norma Torres

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Norma Torres

| image = Norma Torres 118th congress.jpeg

| caption = Official Portrait, 2023

| state = California

| district = {{ushr|CA|35|35th}}

| term_start = January 3, 2015

| term_end =

| predecessor = Gloria Negrete McLeod

| successor =

| state_senate1 = California State

| district1 = 32nd

| term_start1 = May 20, 2013

| term_end1 = November 30, 2014

| predecessor1 = Gloria Negrete McLeod

| successor1 = Tony Mendoza (Redistricted)

| office2 = Member of the California Assembly

| constituency2 = 61st district (2008–2012)
52nd district (2012–2013)

| term_start2 = December 1, 2008

| term_end2 = May 20, 2013

| predecessor2 = Nell Soto

| successor2 = Freddie Rodriguez

| office3 = Mayor of Pomona

| term_start3 = April 3, 2006

| term_end3 = December 1, 2008

| predecessor3 = Edward Cortez

| successor3 = Elliot Rothman

| office4 = Member of the Pomona City Council
from the 6th district

| term_start4 = January 8, 2001

| term_end4 = April 3, 2006

| predecessor4 = Willie White

| successor4 = Steven Bañales

| birth_name = Norma Judith BarillasKevin Freking [https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-a-child-of-guatemala-seeks-a-seat-in-congress-2014sep06-story.html A child of Guatemala seeks a seat in Congress]

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|4|4}}

| birth_place = Escuintla, Guatemala

| residence = Pomona, California, U.S.

| party = Democratic

| spouse = Louis Torres

| children = 3

| education = Mt. San Antonio College
Rio Hondo College
National Labor College (BA)

| signature = Signature of Norma J. Torres.svg

| website = {{URL|torres.house.gov|House website}}

| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Norma Torres speaks in support of the reclassification of 9-1-1 Operators.ogg|title=Norma Torres's voice|type=speech|description=Norma Torres speaks on 911 Operators
Recorded July 11, 2019}}

}}

Norma Judith Torres (née Barillas; born April 4, 1965) is an American politician. She is a member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 35th congressional district. Previously, she was a member of the California State Senate representing the 32nd district. She is a member of the Democratic Party.{{cite web |url=https://torres.house.gov/about/full-biography |title=Biography |date=n.d. |website=house.gov |access-date=June 9, 2017}}

Early life and career

Torres was born Norma Judith Barillas in Guatemala.{{citation |url=http://www.assembly.ca.gov/clerk/billslegislature/116112_CA_Legi_HndBk.pdf |title=2009-10 California Legislature |author=Chief Clerk of the California State Assembly, Secretary of the California State Senate |publisher=State of California |access-date=August 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116041528/http://www.assembly.ca.gov/clerk/BILLSLEGISLATURE/116112_CA_Legi_HndBk.pdf |archive-date=November 16, 2010}} When she was five, she and her uncle came to the United States; her mother died a year later.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/16/us/politics/brushes-with-danger-propel-norma-torres-to-us-and-then-politics.html|title=Dangers Propelled Norma Torres to Move to U.S., Then to Politics|work=The New York Times |date=February 15, 2015 |access-date=2018-11-07|last1=Huetteman |first1=Emmarie }} She originally arrived on a tourist visa, but became a legal resident in her teens and gained citizenship in 1992.{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-a-child-of-guatemala-seeks-a-seat-in-congress-2014sep06-story.html |author =Kevin Freking |publisher=Associated Press |title=A child of Guatemala seeks a seat in Congress|date= September 6, 1994 |access-date=July 16, 2019}}

Torres worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, and in 1994 led a campaign to require the hiring of bilingual 9-1-1 operators.{{Cite web|date=2019-04-17|title=Congresswoman Norma Torres|url=https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/podcast/congresswoman-norma-torres|access-date=2020-08-13|website=Federal Communications Commission|language=en}} She was an active member of AFSCME, serving as local 3090's shop steward.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} She served on the Pomona city council before being elected the city's mayor in 2006. In 2008, Torres endorsed then-presidential candidate Barack Obama before Hillary Clinton withdrew from the race, and was a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention. She was elected to the State Assembly in November 2008, filling the vacancy left by former legislator Nell Soto, who retired. She earned her bachelor's degree in labor studies from the now-defunct National Labor College in Maryland in 2012.{{Cite news|url=https://torres.house.gov/about/full-biography|title=Biography|date=2012-12-11|work=Congresswoman Norma Torres|access-date=2018-11-07|language=en}}

U.S. House of Representatives

Torres was elected to the U.S. House of Representative for California's 35th congressional district in 2014, defeating Christina Gagnier (D) with 63.5% of the vote.{{Cite web|title=California's 35th Congressional District|url=https://ballotpedia.org/California%27s_35th_Congressional_District|access-date=2020-08-13|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}} She was reelected in 2016, defeating Tyler Fischella (R) with 72.4% of the vote. In 2018, Torres received 69.4% of the vote to defeat Christian Valiente (R), and in 2020, she defeated Republican Mike Cargile with 69.3%.

After being reelected to the House in November 2022, Torres accused President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador of interfering in her race. Bukele had urged voters to oppose Torres.{{Cite web |last=Sesin |first=Carmen |date=November 28, 2022 |title=State Department says Salvadorans' attempts to 'directly influence' a U.S. congressional election are 'unacceptable' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/state-dept-salvadorans-tried-directly-influence-us-election-rcna58138 |access-date=December 5, 2022 |website=NBC News}}

= Committee assignments =

For the 118th Congress:{{cite web |title=Norma J. Torres |url=https://clerk.house.gov/members/T000474 |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |access-date=30 April 2023}}

= Caucus memberships =

New Democrat Coalition{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://newdemocratcoalition-himes.house.gov/members|publisher=New Democrat Coalition|access-date=February 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208100356/https://newdemocratcoalition-himes.house.gov/members|archive-date=February 8, 2018|url-status=dead}}
Congressional Hispanic Caucus{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://congressionalhispaniccaucus-lujangrisham.house.gov/members|publisher=Congressional Hispanic Caucus|access-date=May 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515183838/https://congressionalhispaniccaucus-lujangrisham.house.gov/members|archive-date=May 15, 2018|url-status=dead}}
Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.ng911institute.org/about-the-congressional-nextgen-9-1-1-caucus|publisher=Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus|access-date=June 14, 2018}}

Political positions

File:Michal Herzog in Beit HaNassi, March 2024 (MYN 2287).jpg in Jerusalem, March 28, 2024]]

= Abortion =

As of 2022, Torres has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and an F rating from the Susan B. Anthony List for her abortion-related voting record.{{cite web |title=Congressional Record |url=https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/laws-policy/congressional-record/#2020 |website=NARAL Pro-Choice America |access-date=28 June 2022}}{{cite web |title=Norma Torres |url=https://sbaprolife.org/representative/norma-torres |website=SBA Pro-Life America |access-date=28 June 2022}} She opposed the overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it "devastating" and saying it set back "our country decades, reversing so many years of hard-fought progress" for women.{{cite tweet|title=Register|url-access=limited|user=NormaJTorres|number=1540343959653961728 |url=https://twitter.com/NormaJTorres/status/1540343959653961728 |via=Twitter |access-date=28 June 2022 |language=en}}

= Big Tech =

In 2022, Torres was one of 16 Democrats to vote against the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2021, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/29/house-passes-antitrust-bill-raising-ma-fees.html | title=House passes antitrust bill that hikes M&A fees as larger efforts targeting tech have stalled | website=CNBC | date=September 29, 2022 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/117-2022/h460 | title=H.R. 3843: Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022 -- House Vote #460 -- Sep 29, 2022 }}

= Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 =

Torres was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4029522-republicans-and-democrats-who-bucked-party-leaders-by-voting-no/|title=Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no|first=Jared|last=Gans|date=May 31, 2023|access-date=June 6, 2023|work=The Hill}}

Personal life

Torres is married to Louis Torres. They live in Pomona, California.{{cite web |last1=Yingling |first1=Jennifer |title=Torres |url=https://thehill.com/people/norma-torres |website=The Hill|access-date=21 November 2020 |language=en |date=7 November 2018}} They have three sons, including Robert Torres, a Pomona City Council member.

Electoral history

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title=2008 California Assembly election: District 61{{cite web|title=2008 California general election results|date=November 4, 2008|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2008-general/sov_complete.pdf#page=14%22%3E}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Norma Torres

| votes = 61,004

| percentage = 60.60%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Wendy Maier

| votes = 33,284

| percentage = 33.00%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = Michael Mendez

| votes = 6,517

| percentage = 6.40%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 100,805

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title=2010 California Assembly election: District 61{{cite web|title=2010 California general election results|date=November 2, 2010|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2010-general/complete-sov.pdf#page=17%22%3E}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent)

| votes = 43,813

| percentage = 60.16%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Ray Moors

| votes = 29,009

| percentage = 39.84%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 72,822

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title=2012 California Assembly election: District 52{{cite web|title=2012 California general election results|date=November 2, 2012|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2012-general/sov-complete.pdf#page=13%22%3E}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent)

| votes = 66,565

| percentage = 66.02%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Kenny Coble

| votes = 34,267

| percentage = 33.98%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 100,832

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title=2013 California Senate special election: District 32{{cite web|title=Final Official Election Results (32nd District)|date=March 12, 2013|url=https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/prior-elections/special-elections/senate-district-32/final-official-election-results1}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Norma Torres

| votes = 15,021

| percentage = 44.24%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul Leon

| votes = 8,961

| percentage = 26.39%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Larry Walker

| votes = 4,620

| percentage = 13.61%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Joanne Gilbert

| votes = 2,327

| percentage = 6.85%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Kenny Coble

| votes = 2,178

| percentage = 6.41%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Paul Avila

| votes = 845

| percentage = 2.49%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 33,952

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title=US House election, 2014: California District 35{{cite web|title=2014 California primary election results|date=June 3, 2014|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2014-primary/pdf/2014-complete-sov.pdf#page=25%22%3E}}{{cite web|title=2014 California general election results|date=November 4, 2014|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2014-general/pdf/2014-complete-sov.pdf#page=9%22%3E}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Norma Torres

| votes = 17,996

| percentage = 65.68%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Christina Gagnier

| votes = 4,081

| percentage = 14.89%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Scott Heydenfeldt

| votes = 2,574

| percentage = 9.39%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Anthony Vieyra

| votes = 2,183

| percentage = 7.97%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Benjamin "Ben" Lopez (write-in)

| votes = 567

| percentage = 2.07%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 27,401

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Norma Torres

|votes = 39,502

|percentage = 63.45%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Christina Gagnier

|votes = 22,753

|percentage = 36.55%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 62,255

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title=US House election, 2016: California District 35{{cite web|title=2016 California primary election results|date=June 7, 2016|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2016-primary/2016-complete-sov.pdf#page=18%22%3E}}{{cite web|title=2016 California general election results|date=November 8, 2016|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2016-general/sov/2016-complete-sov.pdf#page=9%22%3E}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent)

| votes = 65,226

| percentage = 75.57%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Tyler Fischella

| votes = 21,089

| percentage = 24.43%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 86,315

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent)

|votes = 124,044

|percentage = 73.29%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Tyler Fischella

|votes = 47,309

|percentage = 27.61%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 171,353

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title=US House election, 2018: California District 35{{cite web|title=2018 California primary election results|date=June 5, 2018|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2018-primary/sov/2018-complete-sov.pdf#page=23%22%3E}}{{cite web|title=2018 California general election results|date=November 6, 2018|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2018-general/sov/2018-complete-sov.pdf#page=10%22%3E}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent)

| votes = 32,474

| percentage = 51.17%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Christian Valiente

| votes = 21,572

| percentage = 33.99%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Joe Baca

| votes = 9,417

| percentage = 14.84%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 63,463

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent)

|votes = 103,420

|percentage = 69.40%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Christian Valiente

|votes = 45,604

|percentage = 30.60%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 149,024

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title=US House election, 2020: California District 35{{cite web|title=2020 California primary election results|date=March 3, 2020|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-primary/sov/complete-sov.pdf#page=20%22%3E}}{{cite web|title=2020 California general election results|date=November 3, 2020|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-general/sov/complete-sov.pdf#page=11%22%3E}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent)

| votes = 70,813

| percentage = 70.78%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Mike Cargile

| votes = 29,234

| percentage = 29.22%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 100,047

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent)

|votes = 169,405

|percentage = 69.33%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Cargile

|votes = 74,941

|percentage = 30.67%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 244,346

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title=US House election, 2022: California District 35{{cite web|title=2022 California primary election results|date=June 7, 2022|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-primary/sov/complete.pdf#page=22%22%3E}}{{cite web|title=2022 California general election results|date=November 8, 2022|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2022-general/sov/complete.pdf#page=9%22%3E}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent)

| votes = 37,554

| percentage = 54.34%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Mike Cargile

| votes = 17,431

| percentage = 25.22%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Rafael Carcamo

| votes = 7,619

| percentage = 11.03%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Bob Erbst

| votes = 3,480

| percentage = 5.04%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Lloyd Stevens

| votes = 3,022

| percentage = 4.37%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 69,106

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent)

|votes = 75,121

|percentage = 57.36%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Cargile

|votes = 55,832

|percentage = 42.64%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 130,953

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title=US House election, 2024: California District 35{{cite web|title=2024 California primary election results|date=March 5, 2024|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2024-primary/sov/complete-sov-updated.pdf#page=14%22%3E}}{{cite web|title=2024 California general election results|date=November 5, 2024|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2024-general/sov/complete-sov.pdf#page=9%22%3E}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent)

| votes = 39,051

| percentage = 48.18%

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Mike Cargile

| votes = 32,082

| percentage = 39.58%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Melissa May

| votes = 6,432

| percentage = 7.94%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Vijal Suthar

| votes = 3,491

| percentage = 4.31%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 81,056

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent)

|votes = 136,413

|percentage = 58.41%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Cargile

|votes = 97,142

|percentage = 41.59%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 233,555

| percentage = 100}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}

References

External links

[https://torres.house.gov/ Congresswoman Norma Torres] official U.S. House website
[http://www.normatorres.com/ Norma Torres for Congress] campaign website
{{C-SPAN|76129}}

{{CongLinks | congbio=T000474 | votesmart=71284 | fec=H4CA35031 | congress=norma-torres/T000474 }}

{{US House succession box

|before = Gloria Negrete McLeod

|years = 2015–present

|state = California

|district = 35}}

{{s-ttl|title=United States representatives by seniority|years=148th}}

{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 114th–present United States Congress |state=California}}