Hon. Suzette Valladares

Suzette’s is an unlikely Republican story. She grew up in the San Fernando Valley, the granddaughter of a farmworker who worked alongside Cesar Chavez in the vineyards near Bakersfield. She was blessed with loving parents who valued education, family and community responsibility.

In high school, she was told, “you’re Latina, therefore you are a Democrat.” But then she heard then-Vice President Al Gore speak at a local high school. Suzette quickly realized that she did not believe in the values he espoused. It was then that she was drawn to the Republican Party ideals of liberty, limited government, self-reliance, and quality of life – the same values Suzette’s parents had instilled in her.

After college, she went to work as a District Representative for former local Congressman Buck McKeon. During that time she was honored as a “SCV 40 under Forty” by the Santa Clarita Business Journal. In 2012, Suzette left the public sector and became Executive Director of Southern California Autism Speaks. Her career is based on serving others, with a passion for early childhood education and advocacy.

Suzette was elected to the Assembly with 76% of the vote in November 2020 and is running for re-election to represent the greater Santa Clarita Valley. She was selected to serve as the Vice Chair of the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee as well as on the Budget, Rules, Communications and Conveyance and Higher Education Committees.