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Headshot of Robert Rivas

Robert Rivas

Democrat, State Assembly
District 29, Salinas
Time in office:
  • Assembly: 2018-present

News coverage of Robert Rivas

Bio

Robert Rivas, 44, is the powerful Assembly speaker who oversees the chamber. He replaced fellow Democrat Anthony Rendon in a contentious fight among the majority party. Before being elected to the Assembly in 2018, Rivas served two terms on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors. Rivas grew up in farmworker housing, cared for by his single mother and grandparents. Rivas has a degree from Sacramento State University and a master’s degree in public administration from San Jose State University. Rivas lives in Hollister with his wife and their daughter.

Leader Badges

Speaker Rank Badge

Ideology

Left

Moderate

Right

Bill Activity

0

Of 12 bills:
8 Passed
0 Failed
4 Pending

For this session year, this legislator initiated 12 bills: 8 passed, 0 failed, and 4 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).

Agriculture

$152.5K

Candidate Contributions

$950.0

Communications & Electronics

$140.2K

Construction

$68.2K

Energy & Natural Resources

$83.3K

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate

$398.0K

General Business

$330.3K

Government Agencies/Education/Other

$162.3K

Health

$206.8K

Ideology/Single Issue

$37.8K

Labor

$572.0K

Lawyers & Lobbyists

$74.2K

Party

$650.0

Transportation

$90.5K

Uncoded

$1.5M

Unitemized Contributions

$423.0K

Candidate Donations

Individuals, corporations, organizations and committees are limited to a maximum donation to candidates of $5,500 for the primary and for the general elections.

Total
$4.2M

791.0% higher than the average legislators

Independent Expenditures

Money from Independent Expenditure Committees (IEC) for advertising or grassroots activity targeting a candidates run for office is unlimited, but it cannot be spent in coordination with the candidate or the candidate's campaign.

Total
$315.0

100.0% lower than the average legislators

Grand Total for Elections

$4.2M

648.0% higher than the average legislators

This is a total of the money targeting this legislator's campaign(s) including direct donations to the candidate, money spent by Independent Expenditure Committees and money from political parties.


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
49ers Football Company LLC$420Sep 26, 2021Game Tickets
Urban Associates$223Oct 11, 2021Ticket- Baseball Game
Govern for California$176.59Sep 29, 2021meal
Evan Low for Assembly 2022$117.65Jun 16, 2021meal
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians$90Apr 3, 2021meal
California Issues Forum$83Jun 21, 2021meal
Re-Elect Senator Atkins$70.96May 10, 2021wine
California Democratic Party$60.99Aug 24, 2021meal
California Democratic Party$56.93May 4, 2021meal
California Tribal Business Alliance$53.22Jul 14, 2021Food & Beverage
Showing 1-10 of 17 rows

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
#18/120

This legislator is ranked 18th highest for the amount of personal gifts received.

Policy

Bills Authored by Robert Rivas

AB 301
Planning and zoning: housing development projects: postentitlement phase permits: state agencies.

Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development

Passed
Planning and zoning: housing development projects: postentitlement phase permits: state agencies.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development
AB 299
Motels, hotels, and short-term lodging: disasters.

Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development

Passed
Motels, hotels, and short-term lodging: disasters.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development
AB 253
California Residential Private Permitting Review Act: residential building permits.

Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development

Passed
California Residential Private Permitting Review Act: residential building permits.Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development
View All Bills

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 AB 145453SEC
Sep 12, 2025

AB 1454

Pupil literacy: credential program standards and professional development: instructional materials.

Preview image for ACA 82H
Aug 21, 2025

ACA 8

Congressional redistricting.

Preview image for AB 145412MIN
Jun 5, 2025

AB 1454

Pupil literacy: credential program standards and professional development: instructional materials.

Preview image for AB 283059SEC
Aug 29, 2024

AB 2830

Foster care: relative placement: approval process.

Preview image for AB 28301MIN
May 21, 2024

AB 2830

Foster care: relative placement: approval process.

Preview image for AB 28451MIN
May 21, 2024

AB 2845

Migrant education: California Mini-Corps program and currently migratory children.

Preview image for AB 87639MIN
Sep 14, 2023

AB 876

Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project: environmental laws: exemptions.

Preview image for AB 5851MIN
Sep 14, 2023

AB 585

Climate change: infrastructure and clean energy projects: assessments.

Preview image for AB 8762MIN
Sep 14, 2023

AB 876

Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project: environmental laws: exemptions.

Preview image for AB 8766MIN
Sep 12, 2023

AB 876

Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project: environmental laws: exemptions.

Preview image for AB 87618MIN
Sep 6, 2023

AB 876

Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project: environmental laws: exemptions.

Preview image for AB 5871MIN
Aug 31, 2023

AB 587

Public works: payroll records.

View All Hearings

District

View of map with yellow overlay for Assembly District 29 boundaries.
District 29 is a Safe Democratic District
Democratic Party candidate has a very high likelihood of winning in an election

Previous Election (2024):

J.W. Paine
34%
Robert Rivas
66%
WON

Party Registration

Census Data

Median age0102030

Median age