# Esmeralda Soria

Esmeralda Zamudio Soria (born April 22, 1982) is an American politician and adjunct professor who is serving in the California State Assembly for the 27th district since 2022. Previously, she served as a member of the Fresno City Council from 2015 to 2022, with Soria serving as Council President from 2015 to 2022.

## Early life and education

Soria was born and raised in Visalia to two immigrant parents from Michoacán, Mexico. She became interested in politics at a young age as her parents had valued education and giving back to their community. Soria graduated from University of California, Berkeley and University of California, Davis as well as attending Harvard University's Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Leadership Program.

## Political career

Soria began working at the California State Capitol after graduating from UC Berkeley and later interned at the White House. Soria was elected to the Fresno City Council in 2014, being the only woman on the council. She was elected president of the Council in 2018, becoming the first Latina council president in Fresno city history.
In 2020, Soria announced that she would challenge moderate Democrat Jim Costa for the U.S. House of Representatives. She stated that she had felt that "nothing had changed" about the problems in Costa's district since his election in 2004. She lost the primary to Costa and Republican Kevin Cookingham.
In 2021, Soria stated that she had been considering running for California State Assembly, as she was set to term out after the end of her term. In January 2022, she launched her campaign for the State Assembly's 27th district. In the election, she and Mark Pazin advanced in the primary, and Soria defeated Pazin in the general election after a tight race.

## Personal life

Soria is married to developer Terance Frazier, with the two being married in Sayulita, Mexico.

## Electoral history

California's 16th congressional district, 2020 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Costa (incumbent) | 41,228 | 37.5 |
| | Republican | Kevin Cookingham | 38,652 | 35.2 |
| | Democratic | Esmeralda Soria | 23,484 | 21.4 |
| | Democratic | Kimberly Elizabeth Williams | 6,458 | 5.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 109,822 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Jim Costa (incumbent) | 128,690 | 59.4 |
| | Republican | Kevin Cookingham | 88,039 | 40.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 216,729 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
2022 California's 27th State Assembly district election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Esmeralda Soria | 20,395 | 40.1 |
| | Republican | Mark Nicholas Pazin | 17,801 | 35.0 |
| | Republican | Amanda Fleming | 8,541 | 16.8 |
| | Democratic | Mike Karbassi | 4,107 | 8.1 |
| | Libertarian | Randall Pellissier (write-in) | 4 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 50,848 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Esmeralda Soria | 45,721 | 51.3 |
| | Republican | Mark Nicholas Pazin | 43,335 | 48.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 89,056 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |