Tony Mendoza (California)
Tony Mendoza (Democratic Party) was a member of the California State Senate, representing District 32. He assumed office in 2014. He left office on February 22, 2018.
Mendoza (Democratic Party) ran for election to the California State Senate to represent District 32. He lost in the primary on June 5, 2018.
Mendoza also ran in a special election to the California State Senate to represent District 32. He lost in the special primary on June 5, 2018.
Mendoza is a former Democratic member of the California State Senate, representing District 32 from 2014 to 2018. He resigned on February 22, 2018, due to sexual misconduct allegations against him. To read more, click here.
Mendoza previously served in the California State Assembly, representing District 56 from 2006 to 2012. He also served as a member of the Artesia City Council.
Biography
Mendoza's professional experience includes working as a fourth-grade teacher at Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School. He has served as a board member of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, representative of the California Teachers Association, representative of the National Education Association, and member of the board of directors for United Teachers Los Angeles.[1]
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
Mendoza was removed from some of his committee assignments in November 2017 due to sexual misconduct allegations. To read more click here.
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| California committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Budget and Fiscal Review |
| • Education |
| • Governmental Organization |
| • Insurance, Chair |
| • Transportation and Housing |
| • Legislative Audit |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Mendoza served on the following committees:
| California committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Business, Professions, and Economic Development |
| • Education |
| • Labor and Industrial Relations, Chair |
| • Transportation and Housing |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Mendoza served on these committees:
| California committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media |
| • Elections and Redistricting |
| • Rules |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Mendoza served on these committees:
| California committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Banking and Finance |
| • Elections and Redistricting |
| • Rules |
Sponsored legislation
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
2018
California State Senate special election
A special primary election for the position of California State Senate District 32 was called for June 5, 2018. Vanessa Delgado (D) and Rita Topalian (R), the top two vote-getters, advanced to the special general election that was held on August 7, 2018.[2][3] Delgado won the seat.[4]
To qualify for the race, candidates had to pay a filing fee by April 12, 2018, or they must have submitted petition signatures by March 13, 2018. [5]
The seat became vacant following Tony Mendoza's (D) resignation on February 22, 2018, due to sexual misconduct allegations against him. To read more about those allegations and his response, click here.
Mendoza filed to run for the special election along with 10 other candidates. A total of nine Democrats and two Republicans filed.[6]
General election
Special general election for California State Senate District 32
Vanessa Delgado defeated Rita Topalian in the special general election for California State Senate District 32 on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Vanessa Delgado (D) | 52.4 | 26,635 | |
 | Rita Topalian (R) | 47.6 | 24,240 | |
| Total votes: 50,875 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Special nonpartisan primary for California State Senate District 32
The following candidates ran in the special primary for California State Senate District 32 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | ||
 | Bob Archuleta (D) | |
| Rudy Bermudez (D) | ||
| ✔ | Vanessa Delgado (D) | |
 | John Paul Drayer (D) | |
| Darren Joseph Gendron (D) | ||
 | Tony Mendoza (D) | |
| Vivian Romero (D) | ||
| Vicky Santana (D) | ||
| Ion Sarega (R) | ||
 | Ali Taj (D) | |
| ✔ | | Rita Topalian (R) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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California State Senate regular election
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for California State Senate District 32
Bob Archuleta defeated Rita Topalian in the general election for California State Senate District 32 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bob Archuleta (D) | 66.9 | 177,054 |
| Rita Topalian (R) | 33.1 | 87,520 | |
| Total votes: 264,574 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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 Senate District 32
The following candidates ran in the primary for California State Senate District 32 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rita Topalian (R) | 24.4 | 28,979 |
| ✔ | | Bob Archuleta (D) | 17.4 | 20,652 |
| Vanessa Delgado (D) | 15.7 | 18,709 | ||
| Tony Mendoza (D) | 10.0 | 11,917 | |
| Ion Sarega (R) | 9.7 | 11,577 | ||
| Vicky Santana (D) | 6.9 | 8,236 | ||
| Ali Taj (D) | 5.3 | 6,349 | |
| Vivian Romero (D) | 4.6 | 5,495 | ||
| Rudy Bermudez (D) | 4.6 | 5,455 | ||
| David Castellanos (D) | 1.3 | 1,541 | ||
| Total votes: 118,910 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2014
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the California State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014. Tony Mendoza (D) and Mario A. Guerra (R) defeated Carlos R. Arvizu (D), Sally Morales Havice (D) and Irella Perez (D) in the blanket primary. Mendoza defeated Guerra in the general election.[7][8][9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Tony Mendoza |
52.3% | 67,593 | |
| Republican | Mario A. Guerra | 47.7% | 61,718 | |
| Total Votes | 129,311 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |
Mario A. Guerra |
44.5% | 29,096 | |
| Democratic | Tony Mendoza |
31.8% | 20,804 | |
| Democratic | Sally Morales Havice | 11.2% | 7,325 | |
| Democratic | Irella Perez | 10.5% | 6,873 | |
| Democratic | Carlos R. Arvizu | 2% | 1,280 | |
| Total Votes | 65,378 | |||
2012
Mendoza was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.
2010
Mendoza won re-election to the 56th District seat in 2010. He had no opposition in the June 8 primary. He defeated Republican Henry J. Bestwick in the November 2 general election.[10]
| California State Assembly, District 56 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Tony Mendoza (D)
|
56,943 | |||
| Henry J. Bestwick (R) | 30,111 | |||
2008
In 2008 Mendoza was re-elected to the California State Assembly District 56. Mendoza (D) finished with 78,652 votes while his opponent Roger Garrett (R) finished with 42,040 votes.[11]
| California State Assembly District 56 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Tony Mendoza (D)
|
78,652 | |||
| Roger Garrett (R) | 42,040 | |||
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.
Endorsements
2014
In 2014, Mendoza's endorsements included the following:[12]
- Congresswoman Grace Napolitano
- Congresswoman, Janice Hahn
- Congresswoman Linda Sanchez
- CA State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson
- CA Insurance Commissioner, Dave Jones
- Board of Equalization Jerome Horton
- LAUSD Board President, Dr. Richard Vladovic
- Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg
- Senate President Pro Tem Designee Kevin de Leon
- Senator Lou Correa
- Senator Ed Hernandez
- Senator Ted Lieu
- Senator Fran Pavley
- Senator Norma Torres
- Artesia Mayor Tony Lima
- Artesia City Mayor Pro Tem Miguel Canales
- Artesia City Council Member Victor Manalo
- Artesia City Council Member Ali Sajjad Taj
- Buena Park City Council Member Art Brown
- Buena Park City Council Member Fred Smith
Scorecards
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.
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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of California scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2018
In 2018, the California State Legislature was in session from January 3, 2018 through August 31, 2018.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues.
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- Legislators are scored on "how they voted in accord with CMTA."
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- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the interests of home care providers.
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the California State Legislature was in session from December 5, 2016 through September 15, 2017.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2016, the California State Legislature was in session from January 4 through August 31. The formal session ended on August 31, but constitutionally the session adjourned sine die on November 30.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the California State Legislature was in session from December 1, 2014, through September 12, 2015.
|
Capitol Weekly
Capitol Weekly, California's major weekly periodical covering the state legislature, publishes an annual legislative scorecard to pin down the political or ideological leanings of every member of the legislature based on how they voted on an assortment of bills in the most recent legislative session. The 2009 scores were based on votes on 19 bills, but did not include how legislators voted on the Proposition 1A (2009). On the scorecard, "100" is a perfect liberal score and "0" is a perfect conservative score.[13][14]
On the 2009 Capitol Weekly legislative scorecard, Mendoza was ranked as an 80.[15]
Noteworthy events
Resignation following sexual misconduct investigation (2018)
On February 22, 2018, Mendoza resigned from office. In his resignation statement, he said, “I shall resign my position as Senator with immediate effect as it is clear that Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon will not rest until he has my head on a platter to convince the Me Too Movement of his ‘sincerity’ in supporting the Me Too cause.”[16] On February 21, President Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon (D) authored a resolution to expel Mendoza from the chamber.[17]
On February 20, a state Senate report into Sen. Tony Mendoza's conduct, which was compiled by outside legal firms, was released. It found that it was more likely than not that Mendoza had behaved in "a flirtatious or sexually suggestive manner toward staffers" as an assemblyman from 2006 to 2012 and as a senator from 2014 to 2017. Six women--four of whom were staffers, interns, or fellows--said they “personally experienced unwanted flirtatious or sexually suggestive behavior by Mendoza.” None of the women said that Mendoza said they had a sexual relationship with Mendoza or that he was physically aggressive or sexually crude to them. The women said they feared it would affect their careers if they reported Mendoza.
The report did not find evidence that three staffers who said were fired by the state Senate were terminated due to their reporting of Mendoza's behavior.[18]
Mendoza responded by criticizing the investigation, saying he was not allowed to review the report's findings or offer an explanation for the events described. He said, "I am particularly disheartened and extremely concerned, as member of the Senate should be over the extreme lack of due process that has been afforded during the entire investigatory process..."[19] Mendoza also urged his colleagues to not expel him, saying that was a punishment typically reserved for criminal charges.[20]
On November 9, 2017, the Sacramento Bee reported that Mendoza had invited a female staffer—who was temporarily under his supervision and seeking a full-time job—into his home after a party at a nightclub. The report also said that two Senate aides who reported his behavior with the woman to the Senate Rules Committee staff were fired afterward. State Senate officials denied that there was a connection between the firings and the allegations of inappropriate behavior. When asked by the Bee about his behavior with the woman, Mendoza said that he would offer assistance to any person seeking employment in the Senate and that he would never knowingly abuse his power or make a female employee uncomfortable.[21]
Later on November 9, Senate Secretary Danny Alvarez said allegations that Mendoza acted inappropriately were being investigated internally.[22]
On November 27, the Senate Rules Committee voted to strip Mendoza of his chairmanship of the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee and his positions on the state Commission for Economic Development and the California Workforce Development Fund, pending an investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations against him. In response, Mendoza said, "I understand the Rules Committee's decision to relieve me from the committee chairmanship to remove any perception of bias during its investigation of the unsubstantiated allegations against me."[23]
On December 14, California Senate Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon (D), Mendoza's one-time roommate, said Mendoza should take a leave of absence from the Senate while misconduct claims against him were being investigated. Mendoza released a statement saying that he would not leave the Senate.[24]
On January 3, 2018, the Sacramento Bee reported that Adriana Ruelas, Mendoza's former legislative director, filed a discrimination complaint against Mendoza and the California State Senate. In the complaint, she said that she and two other staffers were fired in retaliation for reporting sexual misconduct against Mendoza.[25]
Also on January 3, Mendoza agreed to take a one-month paid leave of absence from the California State Senate. He said that he would return on either February 1 or when the investigation into his conduct concluded (whichever came first). Mendoza’s announcement came after a closed-door session with Senate Democrats. According to the Los Angeles Times, they were considering expelling Mendoza.[26]
On January 17, a group of Democratic Party delegates from Mendoza's state Senate district turned in petition signatures that, if validated, would make Mendoza go through a formal process to receive the Democratic Party's endorsement in the 2018 elections. Mendoza said, “I am disappointed that a small group of some Democrats have decided to act unilaterally and prematurely on the basis of allegations against me in the media to oppose my endorsement by the Democratic Party."[27]
On January 25, the state Senate Rules Committee unanimously voted to extend Mendoza's leave of absence by up to 60 days or when the investigation into his actions concluded. Mendoza said, "I am disappointed at the Senate’s action today. The ad-hoc action today is now part of the pattern that contradicts the Senate’s commitment to reform and to an open, transparent and fair process as its action today was adopted without any notice to me."[28]
On January 27, Mendoza was denied pre-endorsement from the Democratic Party, meaning he would need to seek an endorsement at the state convention in February 2018. He received votes from 58 percent of delegates, which was less than the 70 percent required for pre-endorsement.[29] Two days after he resigned, Mendoza attended the California Democratic Party Convention and said he would seek re-election to his seat.[30]
See also
- State legislative elections, 2018
- California State Senate District 32
- California state legislative special elections, 2018
- California State Senate elections, 2018
- California State Senate
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- California State Senate
- Campaign website
- Facebook page
- Campaign contributions via Follow the Money
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 7, 2014
- ↑ CBS Sacramento, "Special Election Set To Replace California State Sen. Tony Mendoza," March 8, 2018
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "State Senate District 32 - Districtwide Results," accessed June 6, 2018
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "State Senate District 32 - Districtwide Results," accessed August 8, 2018
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Special Election Calendar: Special Primary Election June 5, 2018, California State Senate, 32nd District (Tony Mendoza)," accessed March 9, 2018
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Special Primary Election - June 5, 2018: Official Certified List of Candidates," April 18, 2018
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2014 Primary election candidate list," accessed March 27, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed July 15, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed December 14, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2008 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ tonymendoza.net "Endorsements," accessed May 7, 2014
- ↑ Capitol Weekly, "Capitol Weekly's Legislative Scorecard," December 17, 2009
- ↑ Fox and Hounds Daily, "Random Thoughts on the Political Scene," December 18, 2009
- ↑ Capitol Weekly, "2009 Capitol Weekly State Legislative Scorecard (Archived)," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "California senator resigns amid harassment allegations," February 22, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "California Senate leader introduces resolution to expel Sen. Tony Mendoza," February 21, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Senate investigation concludes Tony Mendoza ‘more likely than not’ made inappropriate advances on staffers," February 21, 2018
- ↑ Twitter, "Melanie Mason, accessed February 20, 2018
- ↑ Capitol Public Radio, "Report: California Senator Tony Mendoza ‘More Likely Than Not’ Made Sexual Advances Toward Six Women," February 20, 2018
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "She wanted a job and said California senator invited her home. He fired aides who knew.," November 9, 2017
- ↑ The Union Democrat, :California investigates senator's behavior to female staffer," November 9, 2017
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "State Sen. Tony Mendoza booted from leadership posts pending sexual harassment investigation," November 27, 2017
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "Senate asks Tony Mendoza to take a leave of absence – he says no," December 14, 2017
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "Former aide to Tony Mendoza files complaint against California Senate," January 3, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "State Sen. Tony Mendoza takes leave of absence during investigation of misconduct accusations," January 3, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Activists work to block the California Democratic Party from endorsing Sen. Tony Mendoza, who faces harassment probe," January 17, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "State Senate panel votes to extend Sen. Tony Mendoza's leave of absence until harassment investigation is completed," January 25, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Under investigation in Sacramento, state Sen. Tony Mendoza fails to get early endorsement of Democrats," January 27, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Tony Mendoza, who resigned facing expulsion, will run again for his Senate seat without Democratic Party approval," February 24, 2018
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Norma Torres (D) |
California State Senate District 32 2014-2018 |
Succeeded by Vanessa Delgado (D) |
| Preceded by - |
California State Assembly District 56 2006–2012 |
Succeeded by Manuel Perez (D) |
