Mia Bonta
American politician (born 1972)
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Mialisa Tania Bonta (née Villafañe; born January 26, 1972) is an American politician serving as a member of the California State Assembly. A member of the Democratic Party, she represents the 18th Assembly District, which consists of Oakland, Alameda, and Emeryville.[1][2]
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Mia Bonta | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2022 | |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 18th district | |
| Assumed office September 7, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Rob Bonta |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mialisa Tania Villafañe January 26, 1972 New York City, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Rob Bonta |
| Children | 3, including Reina |
| Education | Yale University (BA, JD) Harvard University (MEd) |
Early life and education
Bonta was born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents.[3] Some of her ancestors came to Puerto Rico from Ghana via the Atlantic slave trade.[4] She is the daughter of a divorced working mother in the Bronx. She attended Yale University, where she met Rob Bonta as a freshman.[5] Bonta earned a Master of Education degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education before attending Yale Law School with Rob Bonta.[6][7][8]
Career
Mia Bonta is the CEO of Oakland Promise, a nonprofit cradle-to-college support program focused on the city's low-income students.[9] In 2018, she was elected to the Alameda School Board. In 2021, she was elected as a member of the California State Assembly from the 18th district.[10]
During her special election campaigns, Bonta's opponents claimed that she benefited from her husband's position and name, and pointed to money she has received from gambling interests that may be intended to influence Rob Bonta.[11] In the primary, Bonta finished first place with 38% of the vote, and in the runoff, she defeated human rights attorney Janani Ramachandran by 56% to 44%.
Bonta is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.[12]
Personal life
Electoral history
Alameda School Board
California State Assembly
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Mia Bonta | 22,558 | 38.0 | |
| Democratic | Janani Ramachandran | 14,036 | 23.7 | |
| Democratic | Malia Vella | 10,053 | 16.9 | |
| Republican | Stephen Slauson | 5,725 | 9.6 | |
| Democratic | Victor Aguilar | 3,938 | 6.6 | |
| Democratic | James Aguilar | 1,039 | 1.8 | |
| Democratic | Eugene Canson | 1,029 | 1.7 | |
| No party preference | Joel Britton | 750 | 1.3 | |
| Total votes | 59,128 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Mia Bonta | 43,460 | 56.8 | |
| Democratic | Janani Ramachandran | 33,012 | 43.2 | |
| Total votes | 76,472 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Mia Bonta (incumbent) | 69,142 | 100.0 | |
| Republican | Mindy Pechenuk (write-in) | 31 | 0.0 | |
| Total votes | 69,173 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Mia Bonta (incumbent) | 120,863 | 89.9 | |
| Republican | Mindy Pechenuk | 13,504 | 10.1 | |
| Total votes | 134,367 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Mia Bonta (incumbent) | 73,155 | 84.9 | |
| American Independent | Andre Sandford | 4,582 | 5.3 | |
| Republican | Mindy Pechenuk | 4,397 | 5.1 | |
| Republican | Cheyenne Kenney | 4,012 | 4.7 | |
| Total votes | 86,146 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Mia Bonta (incumbent) | 134,073 | 80.3 | |
| American Independent | Andre Sandford | 32,983 | 19.7 | |
| Total votes | 167,056 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
