Norma Torres

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American politician (born 1965)

title: "Norma Torres" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1965-births", "21st-century-american-women-politicians", "21st-century-members-of-the-california-state-legislature", "21st-century-united-states-representatives", "american-politicians-of-guatemalan-descent", "california-city-council-members", "california-democrats", "democratic-party-california-state-senators", "democratic-party-members-of-the-california-state-assembly", "democratic-party-united-states-representatives-from-california", "dispatchers", "female-united-states-representatives", "guatemalan-emigrants-to-the-united-states", "hispanic-and-latino-american-mayors-in-california", "hispanic-and-latino-american-members-of-the-united-states-congress", "hispanic-and-latino-american-state-legislators-in-california", "hispanic-and-latino-american-women-in-politics", "living-people", "los-angeles-police-department-officers", "mayors-of-places-in-california", "national-labor-college-people", "naturalized-citizens-of-the-united-states", "people-from-escuintla-department", "people-from-pomona,-california", "women-mayors-of-places-in-california", "women-state-legislators-in-california"] description: "American politician (born 1965)" topic_path: "politics" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norma_Torres" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American politician (born 1965) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox officeholder"]

FieldValue
nameNorma Torres
imageNorma Torres 118th congress.jpeg
captionOfficial Portrait, 2023
stateCalifornia
district
term_startJanuary 3, 2015
predecessorGloria Negrete McLeod
state_senate1California State
district132nd
term_start1May 20, 2013
term_end1November 30, 2014
predecessor1Gloria Negrete McLeod
successor1Tony Mendoza (redistricted)
office2Member of the California Assembly
term_start2December 1, 2008
term_end2May 20, 2013
predecessor2Nell Soto
successor2Freddie Rodriguez
constituency261st district (2008–2012)
52nd district (2012–2013)
office3Mayor of Pomona
term_start3April 3, 2006
term_end3December 1, 2008
predecessor3Edward Cortez
successor3Elliot Rothman
office4Member of the Pomona City Council
from the 6th district
term_start4January 8, 2001
term_end4April 3, 2006
predecessor4Willie White
successor4Steven Bañales
birth_nameNorma Judith Barillas
birth_date
birth_placeEscuintla, Guatemala
partyDemocratic
spouseLouis Torres
children3
educationMt. San Antonio College
Rio Hondo College
National Labor College (BA)
signatureSignature of Norma J. Torres.svg
website

| | module | | ::

| name = Norma Torres | image = Norma Torres 118th congress.jpeg | caption = Official Portrait, 2023 | state = California | district = | 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 | term_start2 = December 1, 2008 | term_end2 = May 20, 2013 | predecessor2 = Nell Soto | successor2 = Freddie Rodriguez | constituency2 = 61st district (2008–2012) 52nd district (2012–2013) | 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 Barillas | birth_date = | birth_place = Escuintla, Guatemala | death_date = | death_place = | 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 =

| module = 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.

Early life and career

Torres was born Norma Judith Barillas in Guatemala. When she was five, she and her uncle came to the United States; her mother died a year later.

Torres worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, and in 1994 led a campaign to require the hiring of bilingual 9-1-1 operators. She was an active member of AFSCME, serving as local 3090's shop steward.

Early political activities

She served on the Pomona city council before being elected the city's mayor in 2006.

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. 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%.

Tenure

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.

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:

Caucus memberships

Political positions

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Michal_Herzog_in_Beit_HaNassi,March_2024(MYN_2287).jpg" caption="Torres and other members of the US Congress with Israeli President [[Isaac Herzog]] in [[Jerusalem]], March 28, 2024"] ::

Abortion

As of 2025, Torres has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and an F grade from the Susan B. Anthony List for her abortion-related voting record. 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.

Personal life

Torres is married to Louis Torres. They live in Pomona, California. They have three sons, including Robert Torres, a former Pomona City Council member.

Electoral history

| title=2008 California Assembly election: District 61}} | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Norma Torres | votes = 61,004 | percentage = 60.60% | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Wendy Maier | votes = 33,284 | percentage = 33.00% | party = Libertarian Party (United States) | candidate = Michael Mendez | votes = 6,517 | percentage = 6.40% | votes = 100,805 | percentage = 100}}

| title=2010 California Assembly election: District 61}} | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent) | votes = 43,813 | percentage = 60.16% | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Ray Moors | votes = 29,009 | percentage = 39.84% | votes = 72,822 | percentage = 100}}

| title=2012 California Assembly election: District 52}} | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent) | votes = 66,565 | percentage = 66.02% | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Kenny Coble | votes = 34,267 | percentage = 33.98% | votes = 100,832 | percentage = 100}}

| title=2013 California Senate special election: District 32}} | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Norma Torres | votes = 15,021 | percentage = 44.24% | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Paul Leon | votes = 8,961 | percentage = 26.39% | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Larry Walker | votes = 4,620 | percentage = 13.61% | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Joanne Gilbert | votes = 2,327 | percentage = 6.85% | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Kenny Coble | votes = 2,178 | percentage = 6.41% | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Paul Avila | votes = 845 | percentage = 2.49% | votes = 33,952 | percentage = 100}}

| title=US House election, 2014: California District 35}} | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Norma Torres | votes = 17,996 | percentage = 65.68% | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Christina Gagnier | votes = 4,081 | percentage = 14.89% | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Scott Heydenfeldt | votes = 2,574 | percentage = 9.39% | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Anthony Vieyra | votes = 2,183 | percentage = 7.97% | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Benjamin "Ben" Lopez (write-in) | votes = 567 | percentage = 2.07% | votes = 27,401 | percentage = 100}} |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Norma Torres |votes = 39,502 |percentage = 63.45% |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Christina Gagnier |votes = 22,753 |percentage = 36.55% | votes = 62,255 | percentage = 100}} | winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}

| title=US House election, 2016: California District 35}} | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent) | votes = 65,226 | percentage = 75.57% | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Tyler Fischella | votes = 21,089 | percentage = 24.43% | votes = 86,315 | percentage = 100}} |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent) |votes = 124,044 |percentage = 73.29% |party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Tyler Fischella |votes = 47,309 |percentage = 27.61% | votes = 171,353 | percentage = 100}} | winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}

| title=US House election, 2018: California District 35}} | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent) | votes = 32,474 | percentage = 51.17% | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Christian Valiente | votes = 21,572 | percentage = 33.99% | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Joe Baca | votes = 9,417 | percentage = 14.84% | votes = 63,463 | percentage = 100}} |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent) |votes = 103,420 |percentage = 69.40% |party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Christian Valiente |votes = 45,604 |percentage = 30.60% | votes = 149,024 | percentage = 100}} | winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}

| title=US House election, 2020: California District 35}} | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent) | votes = 70,813 | percentage = 70.78% | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Mike Cargile | votes = 29,234 | percentage = 29.22% | votes = 100,047 | percentage = 100}} |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent) |votes = 169,405 |percentage = 69.33% |party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Mark Cargile |votes = 74,941 |percentage = 30.67% | votes = 244,346 | percentage = 100}} | winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}

| title=US House election, 2022: California District 35}} | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent) | votes = 37,554 | percentage = 54.34% | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Mike Cargile | votes = 17,431 | percentage = 25.22% | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Rafael Carcamo | votes = 7,619 | percentage = 11.03% | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Bob Erbst | votes = 3,480 | percentage = 5.04% | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Lloyd Stevens | votes = 3,022 | percentage = 4.37% | votes = 69,106 | percentage = 100}} |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent) |votes = 75,121 |percentage = 57.36% |party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Mark Cargile |votes = 55,832 |percentage = 42.64% | votes = 130,953 | percentage = 100}} | winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}

| title=US House election, 2024: California District 35}} | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent) | votes = 39,051 | percentage = 48.18% | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Mike Cargile | votes = 32,082 | percentage = 39.58% | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Melissa May | votes = 6,432 | percentage = 7.94% | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Vijal Suthar | votes = 3,491 | percentage = 4.31% | votes = 81,056 | percentage = 100}} |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Norma Torres (incumbent) |votes = 136,413 |percentage = 58.41% |party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Mark Cargile |votes = 97,142 |percentage = 41.59% | votes = 233,555 | percentage = 100}} | winner = Democratic Party (United States)}}

References

References

  1. Kevin 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]
  2. (n.d.). "Biography".
  3. Chief Clerk of the California State Assembly, Secretary of the California State Senate. "2009-10 California Legislature". State of California.
  4. (February 15, 2015). "Dangers Propelled Norma Torres to Move to U.S., Then to Politics". [[The New York Times]].
  5. Kevin Freking. (September 6, 1994). "A child of Guatemala seeks a seat in Congress". [[Associated Press]].
  6. (2019-04-17). "Congresswoman Norma Torres".
  7. (2012-12-11). "Biography". Congresswoman Norma Torres.
  8. "California's 35th Congressional District".
  9. Sesin, Carmen. (November 28, 2022). "State Department says Salvadorans' attempts to 'directly influence' a U.S. congressional election are 'unacceptable'".
  10. "Norma J. Torres". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
  11. "Members". Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
  12. "Members". New Democrat Coalition.
  13. "Members". Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
  14. "Members". Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus.
  15. "Congressional Record".
  16. "Norma Torres".
  17. "Register".
  18. (7 November 2018). "Torres".
  19. "About Norma {{!}} U.S. Congresswoman Norma Torres of California's 35th District".
  20. (November 4, 2008). "2008 California general election results".
  21. (November 2, 2010). "2010 California general election results".
  22. (November 2, 2012). "2012 California general election results".
  23. (March 12, 2013). "Final Official Election Results (32nd District)".
  24. (June 3, 2014). "2014 California primary election results".
  25. (November 4, 2014). "2014 California general election results".
  26. (June 7, 2016). "2016 California primary election results".
  27. (November 8, 2016). "2016 California general election results".
  28. (June 5, 2018). "2018 California primary election results".
  29. (November 6, 2018). "2018 California general election results".
  30. (March 3, 2020). "2020 California primary election results".
  31. (November 3, 2020). "2020 California general election results".
  32. (June 7, 2022). "2022 California primary election results".
  33. (November 8, 2022). "2022 California general election results".
  34. (March 5, 2024). "2024 California primary election results".
  35. (November 5, 2024). "2024 California general election results".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

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