Alberto Torrico
Alberto Torrico serves as Majority Leader of the California State Assembly. Called a “rising voice” by the San Jose Mercury News, Majority Leader Torrico proudly represents the Silicon Valley’s 20th Assembly District.
The son of Asian and Latino immigrants, Majority Leader Torrico is the first legislator in the history of California to join two ethnic caucuses – the Latino Caucus and the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus. Serving two terms as Chair of the API Caucus, Majority Leader Torrico played a pivotal role in expanding the membership to the highest level in its history. Torrico also blazed a new trail when he became the first person in his family to attend college. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Santa Clara University. He then received a law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and spent the next decade fighting to guarantee basic rights for working men and women.
Since his election to the Legislature in 2004, the Democratic Majority Leader has earned a reputation for hard work, tough decision making, and a passion for justice. His undeterred commitment to improving the lives of all Californians has earned him the respect of his colleagues from both sides of the aisle.
In his effort to improve the lives of all Californians, Mr. Torrico has authored bills to save abandoned newborns, increase funding for higher education, protect innocent renters, create affordable housing, extend health care benefits to foster children, and restrict the use of pesticides in day care centers. He is currently authoring bills that would fundamentally reform state government, and transform California’s dysfunctional prison system.
Over the past five years, Majority Leader Torrico has held various leadership positions in the State Assembly. Immediately after his first election to the Legislature, Mr. Torrico was named chair of the Assembly Committee on Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security (PERSS). As Committee Chair, he successfully led the fight against Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposals to privatize public pensions and to eliminate benefits to the widows of fallen police officers and firefighters.
Because of his effective advocacy on behalf of all Californians, Majority Leader Torrico has been named Legislator of the Year by a number of organizations, including:
- California State Firefighters’ Association
- Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC)
- California State Student Association
- American Electronics Association (AEA)
- Neighborhood Grocers Association
- California Association of Bilingual Educators
- Asian Pacific Islanders Community Action Network (APIsCAN)
Striving to improve the lives of local underserved children, Majority Leader Torrico and his wife Raquel founded a non-profit organization. To date, Raquel’s Kids has provided over 600 needy children with health insurance, and over 50 new computers have been installed in local elementary and middle schools
The 20th Assembly District includes the cities of Fremont, Newark, Union City and Milpitas, as well as portions of San Jose, Pleasanton, Hayward and Castro Valley. Alberto and Raquel are the proud parents of Mateo (8 years old) and Amy-Elyzabeth (4 years old).