Norma Torres
American politician (born 1965)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Norma Judith Torres (née Barillas; born April 4, 1965)[1][2] is an American politician. She is a member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 35th congressional district. Previously, she was a member of the California State Senate representing the 32nd district. She is a member of the Democratic Party.[3]
Norma Torres | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2023 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 35th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Gloria Negrete McLeod |
| Member of the California State Senate from the 32nd district | |
| In office May 20, 2013 – November 30, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Gloria Negrete McLeod |
| Succeeded by | Tony Mendoza (redistricted) |
| Member of the California Assembly | |
| In office December 1, 2008 – May 20, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Nell Soto |
| Succeeded by | Freddie Rodriguez |
| Constituency | 61st district (2008–2012) 52nd district (2012–2013) |
| Mayor of Pomona | |
| In office April 3, 2006 – December 1, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Edward Cortez |
| Succeeded by | Elliot Rothman |
| Member of the Pomona City Council from the 6th district | |
| In office January 8, 2001 – April 3, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Willie White |
| Succeeded by | Steven Bañales |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Norma Judith Barillas April 4, 1965 |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Louis Torres |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Mt. San Antonio College Rio Hondo College National Labor College (BA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Early life and career
Torres was born Norma Judith Barillas in Guatemala.[1] When she was five, she and her uncle came to the United States; her mother died a year later.[4][3] She originally arrived on a tourist visa, but became a legal resident in her teens and gained citizenship in 1992.[5]
Torres worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, and in 1994 led a campaign to require the hiring of bilingual 9-1-1 operators.[6] She was an active member of AFSCME, serving as local 3090's shop steward.[7]
Early political activities
She served on the Pomona city council before being elected the city's mayor in 2006.[5] In 2008, Torres endorsed then-presidential candidate Barack Obama before Hillary Clinton withdrew from the race, and was a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention. She was elected to the State Assembly in November 2008, filling the vacancy left by former legislator Nell Soto, who retired. She earned her bachelor's degree in labor studies from the now-defunct National Labor College in Maryland in 2012.[8][4]
U.S. House of Representatives
Torres was elected to the U.S. House of Representative for California's 35th congressional district in 2014, defeating Christina Gagnier (D) with 63.5% of the vote.[9] She was reelected in 2016, defeating Tyler Fischella (R) with 72.4% of the vote.[9] In 2018, Torres received 69.4% of the vote to defeat Christian Valiente (R),[9] and in 2020, she defeated Republican Mike Cargile with 69.3%.
Tenure
After being reelected to the House in November 2022, Torres accused President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador of interfering in her race. Bukele had urged voters to oppose Torres.[10]
Committee assignments
For the 118th Congress:[11]
Caucus memberships
Political positions
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Abortion
As of 2025, Torres has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and an F grade from the Susan B. Anthony List for her abortion-related voting record.[17][18] She opposed the overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it "devastating" and saying it set back "our country decades, reversing so many years of hard-fought progress" for women.[19]
Personal life
Torres is married to Louis Torres. They live in Pomona, California.[20] They have three sons, including Robert Torres, a former Pomona City Council member.[21]
Electoral history
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Norma Torres | 61,004 | 60.60% | |
| Republican | Wendy Maier | 33,284 | 33.00% | |
| Libertarian | Michael Mendez | 6,517 | 6.40% | |
| Total votes | 100,805 | 100 | ||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Norma Torres (incumbent) | 43,813 | 60.16% | |
| Republican | Ray Moors | 29,009 | 39.84% | |
| Total votes | 72,822 | 100 | ||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Norma Torres (incumbent) | 66,565 | 66.02% | |
| Republican | Kenny Coble | 34,267 | 33.98% | |
| Total votes | 100,832 | 100 | ||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Norma Torres | 15,021 | 44.24% | |
| Republican | Paul Leon | 8,961 | 26.39% | |
| Democratic | Larry Walker | 4,620 | 13.61% | |
| Democratic | Joanne Gilbert | 2,327 | 6.85% | |
| Republican | Kenny Coble | 2,178 | 6.41% | |
| Democratic | Paul Avila | 845 | 2.49% | |
| Total votes | 33,952 | 100 | ||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Norma Torres | 17,996 | 65.68% | |
| Democratic | Christina Gagnier | 4,081 | 14.89% | |
| Democratic | Scott Heydenfeldt | 2,574 | 9.39% | |
| Democratic | Anthony Vieyra | 2,183 | 7.97% | |
| Republican | Benjamin "Ben" Lopez (write-in) | 567 | 2.07% | |
| Total votes | 27,401 | 100 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Norma Torres | 39,502 | 63.45% | |
| Democratic | Christina Gagnier | 22,753 | 36.55% | |
| Total votes | 62,255 | 100 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Norma Torres (incumbent) | 65,226 | 75.57% | |
| Republican | Tyler Fischella | 21,089 | 24.43% | |
| Total votes | 86,315 | 100 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Norma Torres (incumbent) | 124,044 | 73.29% | |
| Republican | Tyler Fischella | 47,309 | 27.61% | |
| Total votes | 171,353 | 100 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Norma Torres (incumbent) | 32,474 | 51.17% | |
| Republican | Christian Valiente | 21,572 | 33.99% | |
| Democratic | Joe Baca | 9,417 | 14.84% | |
| Total votes | 63,463 | 100 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Norma Torres (incumbent) | 103,420 | 69.40% | |
| Republican | Christian Valiente | 45,604 | 30.60% | |
| Total votes | 149,024 | 100 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Norma Torres (incumbent) | 70,813 | 70.78% | |
| Republican | Mike Cargile | 29,234 | 29.22% | |
| Total votes | 100,047 | 100 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Norma Torres (incumbent) | 169,405 | 69.33% | |
| Republican | Mark Cargile | 74,941 | 30.67% | |
| Total votes | 244,346 | 100 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Norma Torres (incumbent) | 37,554 | 54.34% | |
| Republican | Mike Cargile | 17,431 | 25.22% | |
| Republican | Rafael Carcamo | 7,619 | 11.03% | |
| Republican | Bob Erbst | 3,480 | 5.04% | |
| Democratic | Lloyd Stevens | 3,022 | 4.37% | |
| Total votes | 69,106 | 100 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Norma Torres (incumbent) | 75,121 | 57.36% | |
| Republican | Mark Cargile | 55,832 | 42.64% | |
| Total votes | 130,953 | 100 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Norma Torres (incumbent) | 39,051 | 48.18% | |
| Republican | Mike Cargile | 32,082 | 39.58% | |
| Democratic | Melissa May | 6,432 | 7.94% | |
| Republican | Vijal Suthar | 3,491 | 4.31% | |
| Total votes | 81,056 | 100 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Norma Torres (incumbent) | 136,413 | 58.41% | |
| Republican | Mark Cargile | 97,142 | 41.59% | |
| Total votes | 233,555 | 100 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
