Meet Rudy

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Born and raised in the Central Valley, Rudy grew up working in the fields and in construction with his family. That’s where he learned the value of hard work and the value of a hard-earned dollar.

After graduating from South High School, Rudy went to UCLA where he majored in Political Science and History. Rudy worked two jobs to put himself through school and eventually became the first in his family to graduate from college.

After college Rudy returned to the Central Valley and worked as a counselor helping local kids from working families, like the one he grew up in, get into college.

In 2010 Rudy ran for city council and became the first Latino elected in Bakersfield’s 112 year history. In 2012, Rudy was elected to the California Assembly, a position he held for ten years (2012-2022). As a member of the Assembly Rudy authored 78 bills that were signed into law, and brought over $353 million in direct funding to the Central Valley. Funding that invested in a cancer treatment hospital expansion, nursing programs, energy innovation centers for clean jobs, welding training programs, new fire trucks, police stations, 911 dispatch and emergency centers, safe drinking water wells & treatment plants, over $100 million to each of our local colleges and universities, and a pedestrian bridge for students to get to school safely.

Rudy won key victories that increased wages for workers and farmworkers, lowered costs, made life-saving medications more affordable, delivered funding to protect and expand access to healthcare, water infrastructure and public safety. Rudy knows that our paychecks don’t go as far as they used to, that’s why he voted to bring down costs for Valley families and stood up to his own party as the only Assembly Democrat to vote NO on the gas tax.

When Kern Medical Hospital was at risk of closing, Rudy championed legislation to keep the hospital open, ensuring that one of the region's only trauma centers remained available. Additionally, Rudy secured funding to create the very first Valley Fever Institute in the state right here in the Valley.

Rudy’s has been honored as ‘Legislator of the Year’ by the California Police Chiefs Association, the California 911 Emergency Dispatchers Association and the California Manufacturing and Technology Association. Rudy has been honored by the Future Farmers of America for his leadership role in saving FFA in the state and he has also been honored for his work for Veterans by the American Legion and named “Guardian of Small Business” by the NFIB.

Now, Rudy is running for Congress to help working families keep more from each paycheck in their pocket.