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Mia Bonta

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Mia Bonta
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 18th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 7, 2021
Preceded byRob Bonta
Personal details
Born
Mialisa Tania Villafañe

(1972-01-26) January 26, 1972 (age 52)
New York City, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseRob Bonta
Children3, including Reina
EducationYale University (BA, JD)
Harvard University (MEd)

Mialisa "Mia" Tania Bonta (née Villafañe; born January 26, 1972) is an American politician serving as a member of the California State Assembly. A member of the Democratic Party, she represents the 18th Assembly District, which consists of Oakland, Alameda, and Emeryville.[1][2]

Early life and education

Bonta was born to Puerto Rican parents.[3] Some of her ancestors came to Puerto Rico from Ghana via the Atlantic slave trade.[4] She is the daughter of a divorced working mother in the Bronx. She attended Yale University, where she met Rob Bonta as a freshman.[5] Bonta earned a Master of Education degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education before attending Yale Law School with Rob Bonta.[6][7][8]

Career

Mia Bonta is the CEO of Oakland Promise, a nonprofit cradle-to-college support program focused on the city's low-income students.[9] In 2018, she was elected to the Alameda School Board. In 2021 she was elected as a member of the California State Assembly from the 18th district.[10]

During her special election campaigns, Bonta's opponents claimed that she benefited from her husband's position and name, and pointed to money she has received from gambling interests that may be intended to influence Rob Bonta.[11] In the primary, Bonta finished first place with 38% of the vote, and in the runoff, she defeated human rights attorney Janani Ramachandran by 56% to 44%.

Bonta is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.[12]

Personal life

She has three children with her husband, Rob Bonta.[9] Their daughter, Reina, is a filmmaker and plays soccer for Brazilian club Santos FC and the Philippines national team.[13][14]

Elections

California's 18 State Assembly district special election, 2021
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mia Bonta 22,558 38.0
Democratic Janani Ramachandran 14,036 23.7
Democratic Malia Vella 10,053 16.9
Republican Stephen Slauson 5,725 9.6
Democratic Victor Aguilar 3,938 6.6
Democratic James Aguilar 1,039 1.8
Democratic Eugene Canson 1,029 1.7
No party preference Joel Britton 750 1.3
N/A Nelsy Batista (write-in) 13 0.0
N/A Other write-in candidates 187 0.3
Total votes 59,328 100.0
General election
Democratic Mia Bonta 43,460 56.8
Democratic Janani Ramachandran 33,012 43.2
Total votes 76,472 100.0
Democratic hold
2022 California's 18th State Assembly district election[15][16]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mia Bonta (incumbent) 69,142 100%
Republican Mindy Pechenuk (write-in) 31 0.0
Total votes 69,173 100%
General election
Democratic Mia Bonta (incumbent) 120,863 89.9
Republican Mindy Pechenuk 13,504 10.1
Total votes 134,367 100%
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ "Mia Bonta Sworn in to State Assembly District 18 and the Newest Member of the California Legislative Black Caucus". Los Angeles Sentinel. September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  2. ^ Ruggiero, Angela (April 14, 2021). "Wife of East Bay Assemblyman Rob Bonta announces run for his seat". The Mercury News. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  3. ^ "Californian Reina Bonta on playing for Brazil's Santos FC and the Philippines: 'Experiencing something very special'". May 23, 2023.
  4. ^ Barrow, Genoa (May 4, 2023). "Leader 'Identifies' Opportunities For Collaboration". The Sacramento Observer. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  5. ^ Rosenhall, Laurel (February 19, 2020). "For California lawmakers, charity can begin at home". CalMatters. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  6. ^ "Courage California Voter Guide". progressivevotersguide.com. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  7. ^ "Mia Bonta". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  8. ^ Cowan, Jill (March 25, 2021). "Meet Rob Bonta, California's New Attorney General". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Garofoli, Joe (June 13, 2021). "Mia Bonta explains how a name shaped her - and it isn't Bonta". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  10. ^ DeBolt, David (September 1, 2021). "Updated: Mia Bonta declares victory in East Bay state Assembly race". The Oaklandside. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  11. ^ Garofoli, Joe (June 23, 2021). "'Legalized corruption' and a 'tinge of sexism.' Strong words fly in East Bay Assembly race". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  12. ^ "Legislative Progressive Caucus". assembly.ca.gov. California State Assembly. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Arevalo, Donnabelle (September 29, 2022). "'Lahi': Reina Bonta Talks About How The Multi-Generational Fil-Am Experience Inspired Directorial Debut". Asian Journal. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  14. ^ Guban, Danica Maglian (October 4, 2022). "Filipinas footballer Reina Bonta's debut film screens in Hawai'i Int'l Film Fest". GoodNewsPilipinas.com. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  15. ^ "Primary Election - Statement of the Vote, June 7, 2022" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  16. ^ "General Election - Statement of the Vote, November 8, 2022 - State Assembly" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
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