Robert A. Rivas

{{Short description|American politician (born 1980)}}

{{Distinguish|Robert Rivas (archbishop)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Robert Rivas

| image = Robert Rivas official speaker portrait.jpg

| office = 71st Speaker of the California State Assembly

| term_start = June 30, 2023

| term_end =

| predecessor = Anthony Rendon

| successor =

| office1 = Member of the California State Assembly

| term_start1 = December 3, 2018

| term_end1 =

| predecessor1 = Anna Caballero

| successor1 =

| constituency1 = 30th district (2018–2022)
29th district (2022–present)

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|1|2}}

| birth_place = Henderson, Nevada, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| education = California State University, Sacramento (BA)
San Jose State University (MPA)

}}

Robert A. Rivas (born January 2, 1980) is an American politician currently serving as the 71st speaker of the California State Assembly. A Democrat, he represents the 29th Assembly District, which encompasses the Pajaro and Salinas valleys of the Central Coast. Prior to being elected to the State Assembly, he served on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors. Rivas was first elected to the State Assembly in November 2018, easily defeating Republican Neil G. Kitchens.{{cite web|url=https://gilroydispatch.com/civil-rights-icon-stumps-for-rivas/|title=Civil rights icon stumps for Rivas|date= May 30, 2018 |author=Moore, Michael|website=Gilroy Dispatch}}

On May 27, 2022, Rivas announced he had votes to become the next Speaker of the California State Assembly, challenging incumbent speaker Anthony Rendon.{{cite web|url=https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/cover/assemblymember-robert-rivas-is-confident-he-will-become-the-next-speaker-can-he-hold-on/article_0d6d2f8e-18f7-11ed-806d-df2d00667cfa.html|title=Assemblymember Robert Rivas is confident he will become the next Speaker. Can he hold on?|author=Neely, Christopher|date=August 11, 2022|website=Monterey County Weekly}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2022/05/27/california-democrat-has-votes-to-become-assembly-speaker/|title=Democrat Robert Rivas says he has votes to become California Assembly speaker|date= May 27, 2022|website=The Orange County Register}} Rendon challenged Rivas's claim, with the two meeting to talk about the challenge, later releasing a joint statement that Rendon would be the leader at least until the end of the legislative session.{{cite web|url=https://www.kcra.com/article/anthony-rendon-to-remain-as-california-speaker/40788376|title=Anthony Rendon on being California Speaker: 'This is not my last month'|date=August 2, 2022|author=Zavala, Ashley|website=KCRA-TV}} On November 10, 2022, the Assembly voted to make Rivas the next Speaker in 2023, alongside re-electing current speaker Rendon for the 2022–23 year.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-11-10/california-assembly-elects-democrat-robert-rivas-as-speaker|title=California Assembly elects new leader after showdown over speaker post|website=Los Angeles Times|date=November 10, 2022|author=Gutierrez, Melody}} He assumed office on June 30, 2023.{{cite news|url=https://calmatters.org/politics/california-legislature/2022/11/california-legislature-assembly-speaker-deal/|title=A speakership deal: Rendon, Rivas agree on handover|date=November 10, 2022|author=Koseff, Alexei|website=CalMatters}}

Rivas is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.{{cite web |title=Legislative Progressive Caucus |url=https://www.assembly.ca.gov/offices-caucuses/legislative-progressive-caucus |website=assembly.ca.gov |publisher=California State Assembly |access-date=11 April 2024}} His brother, Ricardo Rivas, is on the California Coastal Commission. Ricardo Rivas was nominated to the commission in 2021 by President pro Tempore of the State Senate, Toni Atkins.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=BenitoLink |date=2021-11-19 |title=San Benito County native Rick Rivas appointed to the California Coastal Commission |url=http://benitolink-newspack.newspackstaging.com/san-benito-county-native-rick-rivas-appointed-to-the-california-coastal-commission/ |website=BenitoLink |language=en-US}}