Norma Torres
StateCalifornia
Term startJanuary 3, 2015
PredecessorGloria Negrete McLeod
State senate 1California State
District 132nd
Term start 1May 20, 2013
Term end 1November 30, 2014
Predecessor 1Gloria Negrete McLeod
Successor 1Tony Mendoza (redistricted)
Office 2Member of the California State Assembly
Term start 2December 1, 2008
Term end 2May 20, 2013
Predecessor 2Nell Soto
Successor 2Freddie Rodriguez
Constituency 261st district (2008–2012)
52nd district (2012–2013)
Office 3Mayor of Pomona
Term start 3April 3, 2006
Term end 3December 1, 2008
Predecessor 3Edward Cortez
Successor 3Elliot Rothman
Office 4Member of the Pomona City Council
from the 6th district
Term start 4January 8, 2001
Term end 4April 3, 2006
Predecessor 4Willie White
Successor 4Steven Bañales
Birth nameNorma Judith Barillas
Birth dateApril 4, 1965 (age 61)
Birth placeEscuintla, Guatemala
PartyDemocratic
SpouseLouis Torres
EducationMt. San Antonio College (attended)
Rio Hondo College (attended)
National Labor College (BA)
WebsiteHouse website
Campaign website

Norma Judith Torres (née Barillas; born April 4, 1965)[1][2] is an American politician. She is a member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 35th congressional district. Previously, she was a member of the California State Senate representing the 32nd district. She is a member of the Democratic Party.[3]

Early life and career

Torres was born Norma Judith Barillas in Guatemala.[1] When she was five, she and her uncle came to the United States; her mother died a year later.[4][3] She originally arrived on a tourist visa, but became a legal resident in her teens and gained citizenship in 1992.[5]

Torres worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, and in 1994 led a campaign to require the hiring of bilingual 9-1-1 operators.[6] She was an active member of AFSCME, serving as local 3090's shop steward.[7]

Early political activities

She served on the Pomona city council before being elected the city's mayor in 2006.[5] In 2008, Torres endorsed then-presidential candidate Barack Obama before Hillary Clinton withdrew from the race, and was a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention. She was elected to the State Assembly in November 2008, filling the vacancy left by former legislator Nell Soto, who retired. She earned her bachelor's degree in labor studies from the now-defunct National Labor College in Maryland in 2012.[8][4]

U.S. House of Representatives

Torres was elected to the U.S. House of Representative for California's 35th congressional district in 2014, defeating Christina Gagnier (D) with 63.5% of the vote.[9] She was reelected in 2016, defeating Tyler Fischella (R) with 72.4% of the vote.[9] In 2018, Torres received 69.4% of the vote to defeat Christian Valiente (R),[9] and in 2020, she defeated Republican Mike Cargile with 69.3%.

Tenure

After being reelected to the House in November 2022, Torres accused President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador of interfering in her race. Bukele had urged voters to oppose Torres.[10]

Committee assignments

For the 119th Congress:[11]

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Abortion

As of 2025, Torres has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and an F grade from the Susan B. Anthony List for her abortion-related voting record.[17][18] She opposed the overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it "devastating" and saying it set back "our country decades, reversing so many years of hard-fought progress" for women.[19]

Personal life

Torres is married to Louis Torres. They live in Pomona, California.[20] They have three sons, including Robert Torres, a former Pomona City Council member.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ Chief Clerk of the California State Assembly, Secretary of the California State Senate, "2009-10 California Legislature", State of California, archived from the original on November 16, 2010, retrieved August 11, 2011
  2. ^ Kevin Freking A child of Guatemala seeks a seat in Congress
  3. ^ "Biography". house.gov. n.d. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  4. ^ Huetteman, Emmarie (February 15, 2015). "Dangers Propelled Norma Torres to Move to U.S., Then to Politics". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  5. ^ Kevin Freking (September 6, 1994). "A child of Guatemala seeks a seat in Congress". Associated Press. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  6. ^ "Congresswoman Norma Torres". Federal Communications Commission. 2019-04-17. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  7. ^ "911 dispatchers keep saving lives, despite staffing shortages". AFSCME New Jersey. 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  8. ^ "Biography". Congresswoman Norma Torres. 2012-12-11. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  9. ^ "California's 35th Congressional District". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  10. ^ Sesin, Carmen (November 28, 2022). "State Department says Salvadorans' attempts to 'directly influence' a U.S. congressional election are 'unacceptable'". NBC News. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "Norma J. Torres (California (CA)), 119th Congress Profile". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved 2026-04-25.
  12. ^ "Caucus Members". Black Maternal Health Caucus. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Members". Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Members". New Democrat Coalition. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  15. ^ "Members". Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Archived from the original on May 15, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  16. ^ "Members". Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  17. ^ "Congressional Record". NARAL Pro-Choice America. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Norma Torres". SBA Pro-Life America. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  19. ^ "Register". No. 1540343959653961728. Retrieved 28 June 2022. – via Twitter
  20. ^ Yingling, Jennifer (7 November 2018). "Torres". The Hill. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  21. ^ "About Norma | U.S. Congresswoman Norma Torres of California's 35th District". torres.house.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-04.

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