Gloria Romero (politician)

Romero grew up in Barstow, one of six children. Her father worked in the railroad yards and her mother, who left school after sixth grade, stayed home and raised the kids. Romero received her associate's degree from Barstow Community College before going on to earn a B.A. and an M.A. from California State University, Long Beach and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California, Riverside. She taught as a professor at state universities and served as a trustee and vice president of the board of trustees of Los Angeles Community College District. ==Legislative career==

She was elected to the California State Assembly in 1998 and to the Senate in 2001. Romero represented the 24th district, which included East Los Angeles, portions of the city of Los Angeles, as well as a major part of the San Gabriel Valley, including the cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, City of Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, Monterey Park, Rosemead, West Covina and Whittier. In 2008, Romero stepped down as Majority Leader and became chairman of the Education Committee. "parent trigger" law that allows a majority of parents in a "failing school" to vote on a method to restructure the school. Romero was term-limited in 2010. ==Campaign for State Superintendent of Public Instruction==

Following U.S. Representative Hilda Solis's December 2008 selection to become U.S. Secretary of Labor by President-elect Barack Obama (and expected subsequent confirmation), Romero indicated strong interest in running in the special election for California's 32nd congressional district to replace her, but later chose to run for the nonpartisan California State Superintendent of Public Instruction instead. Romero was supported by advocates of charter schools, while her two major opponents were supported by teachers unions and school administrators, respectively.{{cite news|title=The Buzz: Money, endorsements rolling in to replace California schools chief|url=http://www.sacbee.com/2010/06/02/2791800/the-buzz-money-endorsements-rolling.html#ixzz0thBIbNsS|work=Sacramento Bee|date=June 2, 2010|access-date=14 July 2010 ==Post-legislative career and charter school industry support==

Romero led the California chapter of Democrats for Education Reform, a reform wing of the Democratic Party supporting charter schools. In the 2012 election, she supported California's Proposition 32, which would have barred payroll deductions to give money to unions Political Action Committees (PACs). She founded Scholarship Prep Charter School, which enrolls TK-8th grade students in low income communities. In the unsuccessful 2021 California gubernatorial recall election, she endorsed Republican Larry Elder as a replacement candidate for Democratic governor Gavin Newsom, while saying that she "disagrees with just about everything that Larry Elder stands for". On September 4, 2024, Romero left the Democratic Party and joined the Republican Party. She gave many reasons for her switch in parties, including her disagreement with the Democratic Party's positions on crime, gender identity, COVID-19 lockdowns, gas stoves and school choice. In a press conference, Romero endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 election and offered praise for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling him a "personal hero". On February 3, 2025, Politico's California Playbook reported that Romero was considering running in the 2026 California lieutenant gubernatorial election. She announced her campaign in January 2026, as part of a slate with Steve Hilton. ==References==