# Marie Alvarado-Gil

Marie Issa Alvarado-Gil (born December 24, 1973) is an American educator and politician who represents California's 4th State Senate district in the California State Senate, following her election in 2022. Elected as a member of the Democratic Party, she joined the Republican Party on in August 2024.

## Early life and education

Alvarado-Gil was born in Mountain View to parents from Jalisco, Mexico. She was placed in foster care by fifth grade and spent part of her youth with her Mexican grandmother who owned a tortilla factory in Mexico. She attended UC Davis, studying animal science. In her third year at the school, Alvarado-Gil pivoted from her education to raise her three children in rural northern California. She later went to the University of San Francisco, where she obtained both a Bachelor and a Master of Public Administration.

## Political career

Alvarado-Gil ran as a Democrat for California's 4th State Senate district in the 2022 California State Senate election. She placed second in the top-two primary, with fellow Democrat Tim Robertson placing first. This guaranteed that the district, which is largely rural and tends to lean Republican, would be represented by a Democrat.

### Party change

On August 8, 2024, Alvarado-Gil crossed the floor and joined the Republican Party. Upon switching her party affiliation, Alvarado-Gil lost all her committee assignments, and was forced out of the Latino Caucus. Alvarado-Gil is fiscally conservative and had previously voted with Republicans on labor legislation; however, she had also aligned with the Democratic Party by being "pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ+ rights and anti-Trump". While the change was welcomed by Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones and Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher, conservative Assemblymember Bill Essayli dubbed her "opportunistic" and a "RINO" for her previous support of liberal priorities and for her endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 United States presidential election.

### Sexual harassment lawsuit

On September 5, 2024, Alvarado-Gil's former chief of staff Chad Condit, son of former Congressman Gary Condit, filed a lawsuit against her and the California Senate alleging sexual harassment. The suit alleged Alvarado-Gil had demanded he perform sexual acts on her, eventually firing him in retaliation for his refusal. Through an attorney, Alvarado-Gil called the claim "outlandish" and vowed to fight the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that Condit eventually capitulated to her damands and performed oral sex upon her in a car during a trip to Inyo County, and that she harassed his family as well. He allegedly injured his back due to having to contort his body in a narrow space. His attorneys said the California Senate is conducting an investigation into Condit's claims.
In November of that year, Alvarado-Gil accused Chad Condit of participating in the murder of Chandra Levy, a woman who had an affair with Condit's father. Condit's attorneys strongly denied the allegation.

## Electoral history

2022 California's 4th State Senate district election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tim Robertson | 48,880 | 22.1 |
| | Democratic | Marie Alvarado-Gil | 41,262 | 18.7 |
| | Republican | George Radanovich | 37,793 | 17.1 |
| | Republican | Steven Bailey | 37,129 | 16.8 |
| | Republican | Jeff McKay | 34,773 | 15.7 |
| | Republican | Jack Griffith | 10,337 | 4.7 |
| | Republican | Michael Gordon | 6,202 | 2.8 |
| | Republican | Jolene Daly | 4,652 | 2.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 221,028 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Marie Alvarado-Gil | 129,277 | 52.6 |
| | Democratic | Tim Robertson | 116,425 | 47.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 245,702 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

## Personal life

Alvarado-Gil was diagnosed with cervical cancer and metastatic thyroid cancer in 2018, defeating both by 2019. Two of her children have special needs.