EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Last November, voters overwhelmingly chose Caroline Menjivar to represent the newly drawn 20th district in the state Senate. Menjivar beat Daniel Hertzberg, the son of the long-time California politician Bob Hertzberg, by 15 points.
She spoke with “Inside the Issues” host Alex Cohen about her historic position in the state legislature.
“I shouldn’t be here honestly. My victory is still considered shattering glass ceilings,” Sen. Menjivar said.
Before entering politics, Menjivar served in the Marine Corps for seven years. During this time, she was forced to hide her relationship with her then-girlfriend, now wife, because of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
Once she completed active duty service, Menjivar worked as an emergency medical technician and earned her master’s degree in social work. Afterwards, she worked in the Los Angeles mayor’s gender equity office.
The new lawmaker is the first open LGBTQ legislator to represent the San Fernando Valley in the state Senate. Now that she has a seat at the table in California’s legislature, she hopes to help youth find pride and comfort in their sexuality.
“I want to be a leader in bringing that representation to the Valley in ways of pride, in ways of opening doors to my LGBTQ+ youth, being supportive of opening up a LGBTQ+ center in the Valley because that doesn’t exist at all.”
Menjivar said that even though she has an untraditional background for a state legislator, she felt driven by her community to run for the senate seat.
“I put on my Marine Corps hat. The determination and the fight were there, and all I needed was the community to push me and lift me up to the finish line and they did,” she added.
During her first year in office, the new lawmaker plans to prioritize affordable housing solutions for Californians struggling with homelessness and housing insecurity. Menjivar said she experienced housing instability in her late teens when her mother lost her house during the 2008 financial crisis.
“I think so many single parents and so many people of color have gone through it,” she said. “ And I want to make sure that no one else has to go through that because it’s terrifying.”
Senator Menjivar recently co-authored Assembly Bill 309 with Assembly member Alex Lee, which would allow California to pursue more social housing options. Social housing projects make it easier for mixed-income residents to live in locations close to public transportation, parks and city centers.
She hopes the legislation will make it easier for renters throughout the state to find affordable housing options.
As Menjivar continues to settle into her new role in the state legislature, she said she’s enthusiastic to be a member of the most diverse class of legislators in California history.
“I get to participate and celebrate in various identities and the excitement can be felt in Sacramento and it’s an excitement that I want to make sure does not die off and we push for the 2024 election to further increase those numbers.”
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