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Joaquin Arambula

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Joaquin Arambula
Democratic Party
California State Assembly District 31
Tenure
2016 - Present
Term ends
2026
Years in position
9
Compensation
Base salary
$132,703/year
Per diem
$236/day
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 5, 2024
Contact
Official website
Official Facebook
Official X
Official Instagram
Campaign website
Campaign Facebook
Campaign Instagram
Personal Facebook
Personal LinkedIn

Joaquin Arambula (Democratic Party) is a member of the California State Assembly, representing District 31. He assumed office on April 14, 2016. His current term ends on December 7, 2026.

Arambula (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the California State Assembly to represent District 31. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Joaquin Arambula was the first Latino physician elected to the California State Assembly. Arambula was born in Delano, California, and grew up in Fresno, California, where he attended public schools. He graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine and the University of Minnesota Medical School. Following graduation, Arambula returned to Fresno to work as a doctor.[1]

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes yearly updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org

2025-2026

Arambula was assigned to the following committees:

2023-2024

Arambula was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Arambula was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Arambula was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

California committee assignments, 2017
• Budget
• Business and Professions
• Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials
• Higher Education
• Human Services
• Fairs, Allocation, and Classification
• Legislative Budget

Noteworthy events

Arrest for alleged child abuse (2018)

See also: Noteworthy criminal misconduct in American politics (2017-2018)

On December 10, 2018, Fresno police arrested Arambula for alleged child abuse. Arambula was cited with misdemeanor willful cruelty to a child and released.[2] The Fresno Police Department said the accusation came from a Child Protective Services employee calling from Dailey Elementary Charter School. The employee said a child had been injured.[3]

On December 11, Arambula, sitting with his wife, said he spanked his seven-year-old daughter on the buttocks as a way to discipline her. "I disciplined her as a consequence to something she did. This is something that's really rare for us. This is not—it's a tool of last resort," he said in an interview. Arambula said Child Protective Services had decided to allow his daughters, aged 3, 6, and 7, to return to his home.[3]

On March 12, 2019, the Fresno County District Attorney’s office charged Arambula with one count of cruelty to a child by inflicting physical pain or mental suffering. Through his attorney, Margarita Martinez-Baly, Arambula said, "The allegation that I may have harmed one of my daughters is false and unthinkable. While politics may have influenced the decision to file, we are confident that our judicial system will find this allegation to be false."[4]

Arambula took a voluntary leave of absence from the legislature following the district attorney's decision to file charges.[5]

In May 2019, a jury found Arambula not-guilty of child abuse. He returned to the legislature on May 20, 2019.[6]

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2024

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2024

General election

General election for California State Assembly District 31

Incumbent Joaquin Arambula defeated Solomon Verduzco in the general election for California State Assembly District 31 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Joaquin Arambula
Joaquin Arambula (D)
 
60.2
 
69,767
Image of Solomon Verduzco
Solomon Verduzco (R) Candidate Connection
 
39.8
 
46,120

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 115,887
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 31

Incumbent Joaquin Arambula and Solomon Verduzco advanced from the primary for California State Assembly District 31 on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Joaquin Arambula
Joaquin Arambula (D)
 
60.0
 
28,819
✔
Image of Solomon Verduzco
Solomon Verduzco (R) Candidate Connection
 
40.0
 
19,240

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 48,059
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Arambula in this election.

2022

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2022

General election

General election for California State Assembly District 31

Incumbent Joaquin Arambula defeated Dolce Calandra in the general election for California State Assembly District 31 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Joaquin Arambula
Joaquin Arambula (D)
 
60.8
 
44,255
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Dolce Calandra (R)
 
39.2
 
28,557

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 72,812
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 31

Incumbent Joaquin Arambula and Dolce Calandra defeated John Mendoza and Andrew Verhines in the primary for California State Assembly District 31 on June 7, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Joaquin Arambula
Joaquin Arambula (D)
 
55.5
 
23,629
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Dolce Calandra (R)
 
32.6
 
13,858
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
John Mendoza (D)
 
7.6
 
3,242
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Andrew Verhines (Independent) Candidate Connection
 
4.3
 
1,842

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 42,571
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign finance

2020

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2020

General election

General election for California State Assembly District 31

Incumbent Joaquin Arambula defeated Fernando Banuelos in the general election for California State Assembly District 31 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Joaquin Arambula
Joaquin Arambula (D)
 
61.9
 
77,193
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Fernando Banuelos (R)
 
38.1
 
47,551

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 124,744
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 31

Incumbent Joaquin Arambula and Fernando Banuelos advanced from the primary for California State Assembly District 31 on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Joaquin Arambula
Joaquin Arambula (D)
 
61.7
 
38,317
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Fernando Banuelos (R)
 
38.3
 
23,743

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 62,060
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2018

General election

General election for California State Assembly District 31

Incumbent Joaquin Arambula defeated Lupe Espinoza in the general election for California State Assembly District 31 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Joaquin Arambula
Joaquin Arambula (D)
 
64.8
 
54,921
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Lupe Espinoza (R)
 
35.2
 
29,771

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 84,692
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 31

Incumbent Joaquin Arambula and Lupe Espinoza advanced from the primary for California State Assembly District 31 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Joaquin Arambula
Joaquin Arambula (D)
 
59.5
 
24,128
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Lupe Espinoza (R)
 
40.5
 
16,431

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 40,559
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

General election

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2016

Elections for the California State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2016, for candidates filing with signatures. The deadline for candidates using a filing fee to qualify was March 11, 2016.[7]

Incumbent Joaquin Arambula defeated Clint Olivier in the California State Assembly District 31 general election.[8][9]

California State Assembly, District 31 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Joaquin Arambula Incumbent 63.77% 62,404
     Republican Clint Olivier 36.23% 35,454
Total Votes 97,858
Source: California Secretary of State


Incumbent Joaquin Arambula and Clint Olivier defeated Ted Miller in the California State Assembly District 31 Blanket primary.[10][11]

California State Assembly, District 31 Blanket Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Joaquin Arambula Incumbent 57.68% 31,600
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Clint Olivier 35.78% 19,605
     Democratic Ted Miller 6.54% 3,582
Total Votes 54,787

Special election

See also: California state legislative special elections, 2016

A special election for the position of California State Assembly District 31 was called for April 5. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 11.[12][13]

The seat was vacant following Henry T. Perea's (D) resignation on December 31, 2015.[14]

Joaquin Arambula (D) defeated Ted Miller (D) and Clint Olivier (R) in the special election. Since Arambula received more than 50% of vote, he avoided the runoff election that was scheduled for June 7th.[15][16]

California State Assembly, District 31, Special Primary election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJoaquin Arambula 53.8% 19,621
     Republican Clint Olivier 40.3% 14,708
     Democratic Ted Miller 5.9% 2,152
Total Votes 36,481

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Joaquin Arambula did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Joaquin Arambula did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Joaquin Arambula did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Joaquin Arambula campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024California State Assembly District 31Won general$404,241 $468,276
2022California State Assembly District 31Won general$742,270 $770,856
2020California State Assembly District 31Won general$700,712 N/A**
2016California State Assembly, District 31Won $818,426 N/A**
Grand total$2,665,649 $1,239,132
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in California

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2025.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2024.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2023.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2022.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2021.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2020.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2019.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2018.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2017.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2016.

See also

2024 Elections

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External links

Candidate

California State Assembly District 31
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    Officeholder

    California State Assembly District 31
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ California State Assembly, "Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula," accessed September 27, 2019
    2. ↑ GWire, "Assemblyman Arambula Arrested for Suspected Child Abuse," December 11, 2018
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fresno Bee, "Arambula says he was only trying to discipline his daughter after recent child abuse arrest," December 12, 2018
    4. ↑ The Fresno Bee, "DA files child abuse charge against Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula," March 12, 2019
    5. ↑ The Fresno Bee, "Arambula charged with child abuse, takes leave from California Assembly," March 12, 2019
    6. ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Few left unscathed in Arambula trial, which cleared lawmaker of child cruelty charge," May 18, 2019
    7. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed April 18, 2017
    8. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for the November 8, 2016, General Election," accessed September 7, 2016
    9. ↑ California Secretary of State, "2016 General Election results," accessed December 23, 2016
    10. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for Voter-Nominated Offices," accessed April 4, 2016
    11. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Statement of Vote," accessed August 22, 2016
    12. ↑ The Fresno Bee, "Gov. Brown sets April 5 special election to fill Perea’s 31st District Assembly seat," accessed January 6, 2016
    13. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Special Election Calendar," accessed January 6, 2016
    14. ↑ The Sacramento Bee, "Assemblyman Henry Perea to resign," December 1, 2015
    15. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Final Official Election Results - Assembly District 31," accessed May 19, 2016
    16. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Candidates for April 5, 2016, Special Primary Election," accessed February 16, 2016

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