Robert A. Rivas (born January 2, 1980) is an American politician currently serving as the 71st

speaker of the California State Assembly The speaker of the California State Assembly is the speaker (politics), presiding officer and highest-ranking member of the California State Assembly, controlling the flow of legislation and committee assignments. The speaker is nominated by th ...

. A

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

, 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 San Benito County (; ''San Benito'', Spanish for " St. Benedict"), officially the County of San Benito, is a county located in the Central Coast region of California. Situated in the California Coast Ranges, the county had a population of 64 ...

Board of Supervisors. Rivas was first elected to the State Assembly in November 2018, easily defeating Republican Neil G. Kitchens. On May 27, 2022, Rivas announced he had votes to become the next

Speaker of the California State Assembly The speaker of the California State Assembly is the speaker (politics), presiding officer and highest-ranking member of the California State Assembly, controlling the flow of legislation and committee assignments. The speaker is nominated by th ...

, challenging incumbent speaker

Anthony Rendon Anthony Michael Rendon (, ; born June 6, 1990) is an American baseball third baseman for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played for the Washington Nationals and was a member of the Nationals' 2019 World S ...

. 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. 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. He assumed office on June 30, 2023. Rivas is a member of the

California Legislative Progressive Caucus The California Legislative Progressive Caucus is a California political organization composed of progressive members of the California State Assembly The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature (the ...

. His brother, Ricardo Rivas, is on the

California Coastal Commission The California Coastal Commission (CCC) is a state agency within the California Natural Resources Agency with quasi-judicial control of land and public access along the state's of coastline. Its mission as defined in the California Coastal Ac ...

. Ricardo Rivas was nominated to the commission in 2021 by President pro Tempore of the State Senate,

Toni Atkins Toni Gayle Atkins (born August 1, 1962) is an American politician who served as the 51st president pro tempore of the California State Senate from 2018 to 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the 69th speaker of the ...

Electoral history

2018 California State Assembly election

2022 California State Assembly election

References

External links

*
Campaign website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rivas, Robert 1980 births Living people 2024 United States presidential electors California State University, Sacramento alumni Democratic Party county supervisors in California Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in California People from Hollister, California San Jose State University alumni Speakers of the California State Assembly 21st-century members of the California State Legislature