Mark González

Mark J. Gonzalez is an American politician who has served in the California State Assembly since 2024. Before his election to the Assembly, he chaired the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and was a presidential elector. His résumé also includes work on the presidential campaigns of Tom Steyer and Joe Biden. In 2024, Gonzalez stepped down from the county chairmanship while running to succeed Miguel Santiago in the Assembly. Gonzalez is openly gay.

THE JOB BEFORE THE JOB

Gonzalez worked on Tom Steyer’s presidential campaign before moving to Biden’s campaign. In September 2020, Biden chose him to be a state director for his presidential campaign. Gonzalez therefore held roles in two presidential campaigns, first working for Steyer and then serving as a state director for Biden.

In January 2021, U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez appointed Gonzalez as one of California’s 55 electors.

Before his election to the Assembly, Gonzalez also served as chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. His pre-Assembly political career included the two presidential campaigns, the elector appointment and the county chairmanship.

THE JUMP

In 2024, Gonzalez announced that he would run to succeed Miguel Santiago in the California State Assembly election. In March 2024, while the campaign was underway, Gonzalez stepped down as chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.

In the primary election, he placed first ahead of fellow Democrat John Yi. Gonzalez has been a member of the California State Assembly since 2024. His Assembly service began in the same year that he ran for the seat and left the county party chairmanship.

WHAT TO KNOW

Gonzalez’s political career before the Assembly included work for the Steyer and Biden presidential campaigns, appointment by Gomez as a California elector and service as chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.

His 2024 Assembly campaign followed those presidential campaign roles and the 2021 elector appointment. During the Assembly race, he ended his service as county party chair. He then placed first in the primary ahead of Yi and entered the Assembly in 2024.

Gonzalez is openly gay. He is a former county Democratic Party chair and presidential campaign worker who now serves in the California State Assembly.