Leticia Castillo

Castillo first ran for the California State Assembly in 2022, placing third in the primary and not advancing to the general election against incumbent Democrat Sabrina Cervantes.

In 2024, Castillo ran again in the open race to succeed Cervantes, who ran for California State Senate. During the open primary, Castillo ran against Democratic Riverside City Councilmembers Clarissa Cervantes, the sister of Sabrina, and Ronaldo Fierro.

After advancing to the general election, Castillo defeated Cervantes by 596 votes.^[9] Her victory was seen as a major upset in the blue-leaning district, attributed to the Latino swing towards Donald Trump in the concurrent presidential election as well as Cervantes' two arrests for driving under the influence.^[10]

In February 2025, Castillo introduced numerous anti-trans bills and promoted the parental rights movement. One bill would state that a parent refusing to use their child's preferred pronouns, chosen name, or allowing their child to access gender-affirming health care is not an act of child abuse and would bar judges from considering whether a parent is gender-affirming in child custody cases. Another bill would require students to be excused with a parent's permission from public school curricula, assemblies, or lessons discussing "transgender concepts” and instead provide an alternative educational activity.^[11] She also introduced a bill to promote adoption as an alternative to abortion with the anti-abortion California Family Council's support.^[12]

In April, she supported an unsuccessful voter ID law which would have required proof of citizenship in order to register to vote as well as requiring a government-issued ID at polling places and the last four digits of a government ID number on an absentee ballot.^[13]