Suzette Martinez Valladares

Suzette Martinez Valladares
File:Suzette Valladares State Assembly.jpg
Member of the California State Assembly from the 38th district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 7, 2020
Preceded by	Christy Smith
Personal details
Born	December 21, 1980 (age 40) Sylmar, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	College of the Canyons (AA) California State University, Northridge (BA)

Suzette Martinez Valladares (born December 21, 1980) is an American politician who is a member of the California State Assembly from the 38th district. Elected in 2020, she assumed office on December 7, 2020.

Early life and education

Valladares was born in Sylmar, Los Angeles and graduated from Sylmar High School. She earned an associate degree from the College of the Canyons and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from California State University, Northridge.

Career

From 2009 to 2012, Valladares served as the district representative for Congressman Buck McKeon. In 2014, she was a candidate for the 36th district in the California State Assembly. In 2014 and 2015, she worked as the California Director of Hispanic Initiatives for the Republican National Committee. From 2015 to 2018, she was the executive director of Southern California Autism Speaks. In 2018, she was a candidate for California's 25th congressional district. before withdrawing from the race to run for state assembly.

In 2020, Valladares became one of two Republican nominees for the 38th district in the California State Assembly after incumbent Democrat Christy Smith announced that she would not seek re-election and instead focus on her run for the United States House of Representatives against Mike Garcia. Valladares placed first in the nonpartisan blanket primary and defeated fellow Republican Lucie Lapointe Volotzky in the November general election.