Rob Rivas
71st Speaker of the California State Assembly
Assumed office
June 30, 2023
Preceded byAnthony Rendon
Member of the California Assembly
Assumed office
December 3, 2018
Preceded byAnna Caballero
Constituency30th district (2018–2022)
29th district (2022–present)
Personal details
Born (1980-01-02) January 2, 1980
Henderson, Nevada, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationCalifornia State University, Sacramento (BA)
San Jose State University (MPA)

Robert A. Rivas (born January 2, 1980) is an American politician currently serving as the 71st speaker of the California State Assembly. A Democrat, he represents the 29th Assembly District, which encompasses the Pajaro and Salinas valleys of the Central Coast. Prior to being elected to the State Assembly, he served on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors. Rivas was first elected to the State Assembly in November 2018, easily defeating Republican Neil G. Kitchens.[1]

On May 27, 2022, Rivas announced he had votes to become the next Speaker of the California State Assembly, challenging incumbent speaker Anthony Rendon.[2][3] Rendon challenged Rivas's claim, with the two meeting to talk about the challenge, later releasing a joint statement that Rendon would be the leader at least until the end of the legislative session.[4] On November 10, 2022, the Assembly voted to make Rivas the next Speaker in 2023, alongside re-electing current speaker Rendon for the 2022–23 year.[5] He assumed office on June 30, 2023.[6]

His brother, Ricardo Rivas, is on the California Coastal Commission. Ricardo Rivas was nominated to the commission in 2021 by President pro Tempore of the State Senate, Toni Atkins.[7]

Electoral history

2018 California State Assembly election
California's 30th State Assembly district election, 2018
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert Rivas 30,379 45.5
Republican Neil G. Kitchens 20,099 30.1
Democratic Peter Loera-Muñoz 7,099 10.6
Democratic Catrina Gomez 5,003 7.5
Democratic Bill Lipe 4,217 6.3
Total votes 66,797 100.0
General election
Democratic Robert Rivas 74,707 67.3
Republican Neil G. Kitchens 36,368 32.7
Total votes 111,075 100.0

References

  1. ↑ Moore, Michael (May 30, 2018). "Civil rights icon stumps for Rivas". Gilroy Dispatch.
  2. ↑ Neely, Christopher (August 11, 2022). "Assemblymember Robert Rivas is confident he will become the next Speaker. Can he hold on?". Monterey County Weekly.
  3. ↑ "Democrat Robert Rivas says he has votes to become California Assembly speaker". The Orange County Register. May 27, 2022.
  4. ↑ Zavala, Ashley (August 2, 2022). "Anthony Rendon on being California Speaker: 'This is not my last month'". KCRA-TV.
  5. ↑ Gutierrez, Melody (November 10, 2022). "California Assembly elects new leader after showdown over speaker post". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ↑ Koseff, Alexei (November 10, 2022). "A speakership deal: Rendon, Rivas agree on handover". CalMatters.
  7. ↑ Staff, BenitoLink (November 19, 2021). "San Benito County native Rick Rivas appointed to the California Coastal Commission". BenitoLink.
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