Ernesto Lopez
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ernesto Lopez | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Delaware Senate from the 6th district | |
| In office November 6, 2012 – November 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Russ Huxtable |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 16, 1976 |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | Gettysburg College (BA) University of Delaware (MEd) |
| Website | lopezforde |
Ernesto B. Lopez (born November 16, 1976) is an American politician and a former Republican member of the Delaware Senate, where he had represented the 6th District from 2012 to 2023.[1] He was the first Latino elected to the Delaware Senate.[2]
Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Lopez moved to Delaware as a child with his parents.[3] After attending public schools, he earned his BA at Gettysburg College and his EdD in educational leadership from the University of Delaware.[citation needed] After graduating, he worked for the university as an administrator.[citation needed]
Lopez ran for New Castle County Council President in 2004 but lost to Democrat Paul Clark.[4] In 2012, he ran for and won election to fill the Senate District 6 seat vacated by retiring Republican Liane Sorenson whose district had been redistricted from New Castle County to Sussex County.[5] Lopez is the prime sponsor of Rylie's Law, allowing for children in Delaware to have access to physician prescribed medicinal cannabis, which is named after one of his constituents.[6][7][8] Lopez is also the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 200 which bans offshore drilling and seismic testing in Delaware's coastal waters.[9]
Lopez has two daughters with his former wife.[10] In 2021, Lopez announced he would not seek reelection.[11]
