Marie Alvarado-Gil

Marie Alvarado-Gil
Member of the California State Senate
from the 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 5, 2022
Preceded byJim Nielsen
Personal details
Born (1973-12-24) December 24, 1973 (age 50)
Mountain View, California
Political partyRepublican (since 2024)
Democratic (until 2024)
Children6 (3 biological, 3 step)
ResidenceAmador County, California
EducationUniversity of California
University of San Francisco (BA, MPA)
OccupationEducator

Marie Alvarado-Gil (born December 24, 1973)[1] is an American educator and politician who represents California's 4th State Senate district in the California State Senate, following her election in 2022. Elected as a member of the Democratic Party, she joined the Republican Party on August 8, 2024.

Early life and education

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Alvarado-Gil was born in Mountain View to parents from Jalisco, Mexico. She was placed in foster care by fifth grade and spent part of her youth with her Mexican grandmother who owned a tortilla factory in Mexico.[2]

She attended UC Davis, studying animal science. In her third year at the school, Alvarado-Gil pivoted from her education to raise her three children in rural northern California.[3] She later went to the University of San Francisco, where she obtained both a Bachelor and a Master of Public Administration.[4]

Political career

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Alvarado-Gil ran as a Democrat for California's 4th State Senate district in the 2022 California State Senate election. She placed second in the top-two primary, with fellow Democrat Tim Robertson placing first. This guaranteed that the district, which is largely rural and tends to lean Republican, would be represented by a Democrat.[5]

Party change

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On August 8, 2024, she crossed the floor and joined the Republican Party.[6][7] Upon switching her party affiliation, Alvarado-Gil lost all her committee assignments, and was forced out of the Latino Caucus.[8] Alvarado-Gil is fiscally conservative and had previously voted with Republicans on labor legislation. However, she had also aligned with the Democratic party by being "pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ+ rights and anti-Trump".[9] While the change was welcomed by Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones and Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher, conservative Assemblymember Bill Essayli dubbed her "opportunistic" and a "RINO" for her previous support of liberal priorities and for her endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 United States presidential election.[10]

Sexual harassment lawsuit

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On September 5, 2024, Alvarado-Gil's former chief of staff Chad Condit, son of former Congressman Gary Condit, filed a lawsuit against her and the California Senate alleging sexual harassment. The suit alleged Alvarado-Gil had demanded he perform sexual acts on her, eventually firing him in retaliation for his refusal.[11] Alvarado-Gil, through an attorney, called the claim "outlandish" and vowed to fight the lawsuit.[12][13]

Electoral history

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2022 California's 4th State Senate district election[14][15]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tim Robertson 48,880 22.1
Democratic Marie Alvarado-Gil 41,262 18.7
Republican George Radanovich 37,793 17.1
Republican Steven Bailey 37,129 16.8
Republican Jeff McKay 34,773 15.7
Republican Jack Griffith 10,337 4.7
Republican Michael Gordon 6,202 2.8
Republican Jolene Daly 4,652 2.1
Total votes 221,028 100.0
General election
Democratic Marie Alvarado-Gil 129,277 52.6
Democratic Tim Robertson 116,425 47.4
Total votes 245,702 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

Personal life

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Alvarado-Gil was diagnosed with cervical cancer and metastatic thyroid cancer in 2018, defeating both by 2019. Two of her children have special needs.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Marie Alvarado-Gil". CalMatters. 5 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b Stapley, Garth (January 8, 2024). "Meet Marie Alvarado-Gil, Stanislaus' new state senator; her surprising political ascent". Modesto Bee. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  3. ^ ""Campaign website"".
  4. ^ "Marie Alvarado-Gil's official biography".
  5. ^ MacLean, Alex (November 15, 2022). "Alvarado-Gil declares victory in California Senate District 4 race". The Union Democrat. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  6. ^ Zavala, Ashley (August 8, 2024). "Democratic California State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil is switching parties". KCRA.
  7. ^ Trân Nguyễn (August 9, 2024). "California lawmaker switches party to join GOP, criticizes Democratic leadership". latimes.com.
  8. ^ Nixon, Nicole (August 15, 2024). "A California lawmaker switched to the Republican party. What happened to her bills?". Sacramento Bee.
  9. ^ "Northern California state senator switches to Republican Party after years as a Democrat". CBS News. August 9, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  10. ^ Sheeler, Andrew (August 21, 2024). "California lawmaker blasts newly GOP Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil as a 'fake Republican'". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  11. ^ Leonard, Christian (September 7, 2024). "Former chief of staff to California state senator sues her over sexual harassment, retaliation". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  12. ^ Korte, Lara (September 6, 2024). "California state senator's former staffer sues lawmaker for alleged sexual harassment". Politico. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  13. ^ Ahmad, Aydian (September 6, 2024). "California State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil accused of sexual harassment by former employee". KTXL. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  14. ^ "Primary Election - Statement of the Vote, June 7, 2022" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  15. ^ "2022 California General Election Results - State Senate Districts". California Secretary of State.
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