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Headshot of Maria Elena Durazo

María Elena Durazo

Democrat, State Senate
District 26, Los Angeles
Time in office:
  • Senate: 2018-present

News coverage of María Elena Durazo

Bio

María Elena Durazo, 71, is a longtime labor activist. She’s a graduate of St. Mary’s College, where she was part of the Chicano Movement. She began organizing for the textile workers union as she worked toward a law degree at People’s College of Law. She was the executive vice president of UNITE-HERE International and the first woman Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. Durazo was the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee and national co-chair of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. She’s a widow of the late union leader Miguel Contreras. She has two children.

Leader Badges

Assistant Majority Whip Rank Badge

Ideology

Left

Moderate

Right

Bill Activity

0

Of 3 bills:
 Passed
 Failed
3 Pending

For this session year, this legislator initiated 3 bills: None passed, None failed, and 3 are currently pending.

Alignment Meter

See all-time percentage of this legislator’s alignment with any organization based on total votes.

xx%votes: xx

Financials

This feature tracks three sources of money intended to help a candidate win election: 1-Money given directly to a candidate’s committee, 2-Money given to an Independent Expenditure Committee, 3-Money given to a political party. (NOTE: Senators are elected every four years. Twenty of the 40 Senators are on the ballot in even-numbered years, so Senators may do little or no fundraising in the first two-year session of their Senate term).

Election

This display shows money given directly to the incumbent’s campaign committee (NOTE: The industry categories for donors come from Open Secrets, a nonpartisan research organization for campaign finance. Some contributions are “uncoded,” meaning they have not been assigned to an industry sector. As a result, the total for each sector is also an estimate).

No last session data found.

No last session data found.


Influence

There are three categories of donations to legislators after they are elected that encourage a working relationship between the donor and the legislator. The three categories are: 1-Gifts, 2-Travel, 3-Behests.

Giver
Value
Date
Description
Women in California Leadership$172.89Jun 22, 2021Dinner
California Armenian Legislative Caucus$106.2Aug 27, 2021Fleece Jacket
Women in California Leadership$100Sep 27, 2021Flowers
Sen., Steven Bradford$85Aug 19, 2021Gardena Jazz Festival
Re-Elect Sen. Atkins 2020$80.71Feb 23, 2021Jacket
California Armenian Legislative Caucus$68.12May 27, 2021Amb. Baibourtian Reception
Castulo de la Rocha$65Nov 6, 2021Dinner
California Tribal Business Alliance$53.22Jul 14, 2021Food & Beverage
Becker for Senate 2024$43.4Jan 19, 2021Cocktail Kit
Re-Elect Sen. Atkins 2020$20.22May 12, 2021Breakfast
Showing 1-10 of 13 rows

Personal Gifts

Legislators are not allowed to accept gifts of more than $10 per month from registered lobbyists. Gifts from any other single source are limited to $590 in a calendar year.

Gift Received Rating
#34/120

This legislator is ranked 34th highest for the amount of personal gifts received.

Committees

Most of the policy work in the state Capitol is done in “Standing” committees. Legislators also work on budget subcommittees. There are also “Special” and “Select” committees with a more narrow topic focus. And there are “Joint” committees with members from the Senate and Assembly.

Hearings

Featured Comments

Below are links to the video and transcript of recent, substantive comments by this legislator in committee hearings or floor sessions.

Preview image for SB 13501MIN
Aug 31, 2024

SB 1350

Occupational safety and health: definitions.

Preview image for SB 13503MIN
Aug 30, 2024

SB 1350

Occupational safety and health: definitions.

Preview image for SB 15002MIN
Aug 29, 2024

SB 1500

Housing: federal waiver: income eligibility.

Preview image for SB 13752MIN
Aug 29, 2024

SB 1375

Workforce development: records: poverty-reducing labor standards: funds, programs, reporting, and analyses.

Preview image for SB 2272MIN
Aug 29, 2024

SB 227

Unemployment: Excluded Workers Program.

Preview image for SB 14901MIN
Aug 28, 2024

SB 1490

Food delivery platforms.

Preview image for SCR 1646MIN
Aug 5, 2024

SCR 164

National Health Center Week.

Preview image for SB 13754MIN
Jul 2, 2024

SB 1375

Workforce development: records: poverty-reducing labor standards: funds, programs, reporting, and analyses.

Preview image for SB 135014MIN
Jul 2, 2024

SB 1350

Occupational safety and health: definitions.

Preview image for SB 11326MIN
Jul 2, 2024

SB 1132

County health officers.

Preview image for SB 125523MIN
Jul 1, 2024

SB 1255

Public water systems: needs analysis: water rate assistance program.

Preview image for SB 13259MIN
Jun 26, 2024

SB 1325

Public contracts: best value procurement: goods.

View All Hearings

District

View of map with yellow overlay for Senate District 26 boundaries.
District 26 is a Safe Democratic District
Democratic Party candidate has a very high likelihood of winning in an election

Previous Election:

Claudia Agraz
17.1%
María Elena Durazo (Incumbent)
82.9%
WON

Party Registration

Census Data

Median age0102030

Median age