Esmeralda Soria

Esmeralda Soria
Esmeralda Soria
Member of the California State Assembly; from the 27th district
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; December 5, 2022
Preceded by	Adam Gray (redistricted from 21st)
Member of the Fresno City Council; from the 1st district
	In office; January 6, 2015 – December 5, 2022
Preceded by	Blong Xiong
Succeeded by	Annalisa Perea
Personal details
Born	April 22, 1982 (age 42); Visalia, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Terance Frazier (m. 2021)
Education	University of California, Berkeley (BA); University of California, Davis (JD)

Esmeralda Zamudio Soria (born April 22, 1982)^[1] is an American politician and adjunct professor who is serving in the California State Assembly for the 27th district since 2022. Previously, she served as a member of the Fresno City Council from 2015 to 2022, with Soria serving as Council President from 2015 to 2022.

Early life and education

Soria was born and raised in Visalia to two immigrant parents from Michoacán, Mexico. She became interested in politics at a young age as her parents had valued education and giving back to their community. Soria graduated from University of California, Berkeley and University of California, Davis as well as attending Harvard University's Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Leadership Program.

Political career

Soria began working at the California State Capitol after graduating from UC Berkeley and later interned at the White House. Soria was elected to the Fresno City Council in 2014, being the only woman on the council. She was elected president of the Council in 2018, becoming the first Latina council president in Fresno city history.

In 2020, Soria announced that she would challenge moderate Democrat Jim Costa for the U.S. House of Representatives.^[2] She stated that she had felt that "nothing had changed" about the problems in Costa's district since his election in 2004.^[3]^[4] She lost the primary to Costa and Republican Kevin Cookingham.^[5]

In 2021, Soria stated that she had been considering running for California State Assembly, as she was set to term out after the end of her term.^[6] In January 2022, she launched her campaign for the State Assembly's 27th district.^[7] In the election, she and Mark Pazin advanced in the primary, and Soria defeated Pazin in the general election after a tight race.^[8]

Personal life

Soria is married to developer Terance Frazier, with the two being married in Sayulita, Mexico.^[9]

Electoral history

California's 16th congressional district, 2020
Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jim Costa (incumbent)	41,228	37.5
	Republican	Kevin Cookingham	38,652	35.2
	Democratic	Esmeralda Soria	23,484	21.4
	Democratic	Kimberly Elizabeth Williams	6,458	5.9
Total votes			109,822	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Jim Costa (incumbent)	128,690	59.4
	Republican	Kevin Cookingham	88,039	40.6
Total votes			216,729	100.0
	Democratic hold

2022 California's 27th State Assembly district election
Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Esmeralda Soria	20,395	40.1
	Republican	Mark Nicholas Pazin	17,801	35.0
	Republican	Amanda Fleming	8,541	16.8
	Democratic	Mike Karbassi	4,107	8.1
	Libertarian	Randall Pellissier (write-in)	4	0.0
Total votes			50,848	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Esmeralda Soria	45,721	51.3
	Republican	Mark Nicholas Pazin	43,335	48.7
Total votes			89,056	100.0
	Democratic hold

References

^ Parker, Sue (March 2023). "The Assembly List of MEMBERS, OFFICERS, COMMITTEES AND THE RULES" (PDF). California State Assembly.
^ Tavlian, Alex (July 11, 2019). "It's official: Esmeralda Soria is challenging Costa in 2020". The San Joaquin Valley Sun. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
^ Blood, Michael R. (February 1, 2020). "Some House challengers eager to push California further left". Associated Press.
^ Jeremy B. White (February 12, 2020). "'She is tired of waiting her turn': Costa stares down liberal challenger". Politico.
^ "Tight race between Democratic Congressman Jim Costa, Republican Kevin Cookingham for District 16". KFSN-TV. March 16, 2020.
^ Taub, David (December 14, 2021). "Soria Considering Assembly Run. Tulare Sheriff Boudreaux for Congress?". GV Wire.
^ Houghton, John (January 21, 2022). "Esmeralda Soria launches State Assembly campaign". KSEE.
^ "Mark Pazin concedes to Esmeralda Soria in very tight race for Assembly District 27". KFSN-TV. November 21, 2022.
^ Taub, David (November 22, 2021). "City Councilmember Soria and Developer Frazier Wed in Mexico". GV Wire.

External links

[1] Parker, Sue (March 2023). "The Assembly List of MEMBERS, OFFICERS, COMMITTEES AND THE RULES" (PDF). California State Assembly.

[2] Tavlian, Alex (July 11, 2019). "It's official: Esmeralda Soria is challenging Costa in 2020". The San Joaquin Valley Sun. Retrieved July 11, 2019.

[3] Blood, Michael R. (February 1, 2020). "Some House challengers eager to push California further left". Associated Press.

[4] Jeremy B. White (February 12, 2020). "'She is tired of waiting her turn': Costa stares down liberal challenger". Politico.

[5] "Tight race between Democratic Congressman Jim Costa, Republican Kevin Cookingham for District 16". KFSN-TV. March 16, 2020.

[6] Taub, David (December 14, 2021). "Soria Considering Assembly Run. Tulare Sheriff Boudreaux for Congress?". GV Wire.

[7] Houghton, John (January 21, 2022). "Esmeralda Soria launches State Assembly campaign". KSEE.

[8] "Mark Pazin concedes to Esmeralda Soria in very tight race for Assembly District 27". KFSN-TV. November 21, 2022.

[9] Taub, David (November 22, 2021). "City Councilmember Soria and Developer Frazier Wed in Mexico". GV Wire.

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