Laura Friedman
American politician (born 1966)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Laura Syril Friedman[1] (born December 3, 1966)[2] is an American politician and former film producer who is the member for California's 30th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously represented California's 44th State Assembly district from 2016 to 2024.
44th district (2022–2024)
Laura Friedman | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2026 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 30th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Adam Schiff |
| Member of the California Assembly | |
| In office December 5, 2016 – November 30, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Gatto |
| Succeeded by | Nick Schultz |
| Constituency | 43rd district (2016–2022) 44th district (2022–2024) |
| Mayor of Glendale | |
| In office April 2011 – April 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Ara Najarian |
| Succeeded by | Frank Quintero |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 3, 1966 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Guillaume Lemoine |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of Rochester (BA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Prior to her election to the Assembly in 2016, Friedman was a member of the Glendale City Council from 2009 to 2016,[3] where she served as mayor of Glendale from 2011 until 2012.[4] She authored a bill to eliminate minimum parking requirements for housing near mass transit stations in California, which was signed into law in 2022.[5]
Early life and career
Friedman comes from a Jewish family in New York.[6] She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rochester in New York.[7] In 1992, Friedman moved to Hollywood, eventually relocating to Glendale in 2000 where she has resided ever since.
Between 1994 and 1997, Friedman was the vice president of development at Rysher Entertainment, where she oversaw the production of approximately ten feature films annually as well as extensive television programming.[8]
In 1995, Friedman was the co-producer of the Warner Brothers release It Takes Two.[9] In 1996, she was associate producer of House Arrest; executive producer of Foxfire; executive producer of the family film Zeus and Roxanne; and associate producer of the independent film Aberration, which was released by LIVE Entertainment. Between 1998 and 1999, Friedman was the vice president of development at Cort/Madden Company. Since 2000, Friedman has owned and managed PlanetGlass.net, a web-based art glass dealership.
Political career
In April 2011, Friedman became the mayor of Glendale, California.[10]
California State Assembly
In 2019, Friedman authored legislation supported by animal rights organizations and activists to prohibit the sale of new fur products in California. The bill was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2019, making California the first state to ban the sale of fur.[11][12] In 2024, Friedman co-authored legislation with Assemblymember Steve Bennett to prohibit the commercial farming of octopuses in California. The legislation was enacted in September 2024, making California the second state to prohibit octopus farming after the state of Washington banned the practice earlier that year.[13][14]
On September 7, 2021, she delayed the release of $4 billion of voter approved bonds for the California High-Speed Rail, stating that the California High-Speed Rail Authority has "not provided us any real details about what the money would go towards this year". The CHSRA Chief Financial Officer, Brian Annis, countered by stating that the CHSRA already presented to the legislature the expenditure plan in February 2021 and that this delayed release by Friedman could cause budget delays to snowball.[15]
Friedman is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.[16]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2024
In January 2023, Friedman launched her candidacy in the 2024 election in California's 30th congressional district.[17] The incumbent representative, Adam Schiff, vacated the seat in his successful bid in the 2024 United States Senate election in California. Friedman defeated physician Alex Balekian, receiving 68.4% of the vote.[18]
Committee assignments
Caucus membership
Electoral history
2016
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Laura Friedman | 33,276 | 31.9 | |
| Democratic | Ardy Kassakhian | 25,357 | 24.3 | |
| Republican | Mark MacCarley | 16,551 | 15.9 | |
| Democratic | Andrew J. Blumenfield | 13,309 | 12.8 | |
| Republican | Alexandra A. Bustamante | 6,524 | 6.3 | |
| Democratic | Dennis R. Bullock | 4,294 | 4.1 | |
| Democratic | Rajiv Dalal | 3,173 | 3.0 | |
| American Independent | Aaron Cervantes | 1,873 | 1.8 | |
| Total votes | 104,357 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Laura Friedman | 106,186 | 64.5 | |
| Democratic | Ardy Kassakhian | 58,561 | 35.5 | |
| Total votes | 164,747 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2018
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Laura Friedman (incumbent) | 58,310 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 58,310 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Laura Friedman (incumbent) | 125,568 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 125,568 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2020
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Laura Friedman (incumbent) | 88,541 | 75.6% | |
| Republican | Mike Graves | 24,258 | 20.7% | |
| No party preference | Robert J. Sexton | 4,264 | 3.6% | |
| Total votes | ||||
2022
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Laura Friedman (incumbent) | 80,209 | 73.2 | |
| Republican | Barry Curtis Jacobsen | 29,381 | 26.8 | |
| Total votes | 109,590 | 100% | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Laura Friedman (incumbent) | 113,380 | 71.4 | |
| Republican | Barry Curtis Jacobsen | 45,519 | 28.6 | |
| Total votes | 158,899 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2024
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Laura Friedman | 46,329 | 30.1 | |
| Republican | Alex Balekian | 26,826 | 17.4 | |
| Democratic | Anthony Portantino | 20,459 | 13.3 | |
| Democratic | Mike Feuer | 18,878 | 12.3 | |
| Democratic | Maebe A. Girl | 15,791 | 10.3 | |
| Republican | Emilio Martinez | 6,775 | 4.4 | |
| Democratic | Ben Savage | 6,147 | 4.0 | |
| Democratic | Nick Melvoin | 4,134 | 2.7 | |
| Democratic | Jirair Ratevosian | 2,889 | 1.9 | |
| Democratic | Sepi Shyne | 2,126 | 1.4 | |
| Democratic | Courtney Simone Najera | 1,167 | 0.8 | |
| No party preference | Joshua Bocanegra | 780 | 0.5 | |
| Democratic | Steve Dunwoody | 727 | 0.5 | |
| Democratic | Francisco Arreaga | 532 | 0.3 | |
| Democratic | Sal Genovese | 442 | 0.3 | |
| Total votes | 154,002 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Laura Friedman | 213,100 | 68.4 | |
| Republican | Alex Balekian | 98,559 | 31.6 | |
| Total votes | 311,659 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Personal life
Friedman is married to Guillaume Lemoine, a professional landscape designer.[8] The couple has a daughter, Rachel, born in 2013.[citation needed]