# Luz Rivas

Luz Maria Rivas (born February 6, 1974) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative from California's 29th congressional district since 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously represented the 43rd district in the California State Assembly from 2018 to 2024.

## Background

Rivas was born and raised in Los Angeles. She earned a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, worked for Motorola, and then earned a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She founded a non-profit organization based in Pacoima, Los Angeles, to encourage school age girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She also served on Los Angeles' City Public Works Commission.

## California State Assembly

Following Raul Bocanegra's resignation from the California Assembly, Rivas declared her candidacy in the special election to succeed him. Rivas won the special election on June 5, 2018, and was sworn into office on June 11.
Rivas is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.

### Housing

Rivas has opposed legislative proposals that would reduce the stringent regulations on affordable housing construction along California's coast (which includes many of the state's most affluent and segregated areas). She has sought to limit the ability of religious institutions to build more housing. Rivas is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.

## U.S. House of Representatives
### 2024 election

Tony Cárdenas, the incumbent U.S. Representative for California's 29th congressional district, announced that he would not run for reelection in the 2024 elections. Rivas announced her candidacy for the seat, with Cárdenas' endorsement. She won the election.

### Tenure

Before the start of the 119th Congress, Rivas was elected as the freshman class representative for the Democratic Caucus, defeating Maryland freshman U.S. Representative-elect Sarah Elfreth and Washington freshman U.S. Representative-elect Emily Randall.

### Committee assignments

* Committee on Natural Resources
** Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
** Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries
* Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
** Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
** Subcommittee on Research and Technology

### Caucus membership

* Congressional Hispanic Caucus
* Congressional Progressive Caucus

## Personal life

Rivas is Catholic.

## Electoral history
### 2018 California State Assembly

California's 39th State Assembly district election, 2018 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Luz Rivas | 20,453 | 43.9 |
| | Republican | Ricardo Antonio Benitez | 11,679 | 25.1 |
| | Democratic | Patty López | 6,783 | 14.6 |
| | Democratic | Antonio Sanchez | 4,705 | 10.1 |
| | Democratic | Patrea Patrick | 1,740 | 3.7 |
| | Democratic | Bonnie Corwin | 1,220 | 2.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 46,580 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Luz Rivas (incumbent) | 85,027 | 77.7 |
| | Republican | Ricardo Antonio Benitez | 24,468 | 22.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 109,495 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2020 California State Assembly

2020 California's 39th State Assembly district election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Luz Rivas (incumbent) | 37,867 | 77.1% |
| | Republican | Ricardo Benitez | 11,237 | 22.9% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | | |

### 2022 California State Assembly

2022 California's 43rd State Assembly district election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Luz Rivas (incumbent) | 38,303 | 98.5 |
| | Republican | Siaka Massaquoi (write-in) | 575 | 1.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 38,878 | 100% |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Luz Rivas (incumbent) | 55,282 | 74.6 |
| | Republican | Siaka Massaquoi | 18,782 | 25.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 74,064 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2024 U.S. House of Representatives

2024 California's 29th congressional district election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Luz Rivas | 40,096 | 49.3 |
| | Republican | Benito Bernal | 21,446 | 26.4 |
| | Democratic | Angelica Dueñas | 19,844 | 24.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 81,386 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Luz Rivas | 146,312 | 69.8 |
| | Republican | Benito Bernal | 63,374 | 30.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 209,686 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |