Abel Maldonado

Abel O. Maldonado Jr.(born August 21, 1967) is an American politician who served as the 48thlieutenant governor of Californiafrom April 27, 2010 to January 10, 2011. As of 2024, Maldonado is the last member of theRepublican Partyto serve as Lieutenant Governor of California.

Abel Maldonado
Official portrait, 2010
48thLieutenant Governor of California
In office April 27, 2010 – January 3, 2011
Governor	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Preceded by	Mona Pasquil(acting)
Succeeded by	Gavin Newsom
Member of theCalifornia State Senate from the15thdistrict
In office December 6, 2004 – April 27, 2010
Preceded by	Bruce McPherson
Succeeded by	Sam Blakeslee
Member of theCalifornia State Assembly from the33rddistrict
In office December 7, 1998 – November 30, 2004
Preceded by	Tom J. Bordonaro Jr.
Succeeded by	Sam Blakeslee
Mayor ofSanta Maria
In office 1996–1998
Preceded by	Robert Bunch
Succeeded by	Joe Centeno
Personal details
Born	(1967-08-21)August 21, 1967 Santa Maria, California,U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Laura Maldonado
Education	California Polytechnic State University
Signature

Elected to theSanta MariaCity Council in 1994, Maldonado then served as mayor of Santa Maria from 1996 to 1998, when he was elected to theCalifornia State Assembly.He served in that body from 1998 to 2004 and then in theCalifornia State Senatefrom 2004 to 2010, running unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination forCalifornia State Controllerin2006.Maldonado was the first Republican in the State Senate to vote for the budget during the budget deadlock in 2007. He represented a swing district in the Senate and is considered a moderate.

On November 23, 2009, then-GovernorArnold Schwarzeneggerannounced Maldonado as his nominee for lieutenant governor to fill the vacancy created by DemocratJohn Garamendi's election to theUnited States House of Representatives.Maldonado was sworn into office on April 27, 2010 and was defeated in the2010 lieutenant gubernatorial electionby Democratic San Francisco MayorGavin Newsom.

Maldonado ran forCalifornia's 24th congressional districtin the2012 elections,but was defeated by incumbent DemocratLois Capps.In May 2013, he announced that he was running for governor in the2014 election,but dropped out in January 2014 after unsuccessful fundraising efforts and campaign missteps. In 2017, Maldonado was considered for the role ofUnited States secretary of agriculturebyDonald Trump,but was ultimately not nominated.

Early life and education

Maldonado was born inSanta Maria, California,the eldest son of immigrant Mexican farm workers. His family eventually acquired a smallfamily farm,where they grewstrawberries.After Maldonado graduated fromSanta Maria High School,his family used their earnings from the farm to send him toCalifornia Polytechnic State UniversityinSan Luis Obispo,where he studiedcrop science,but dropped out before completing his degree.Maldonado then returned to his family's farm and helped his family grow the half-acre strawberry farm into a 6,000-acre (24 km²) farm, employing 250 people, with produce shipped around the world.

Early political career

Santa Maria city politics

After months of attempting to obtain a building permit from the city of Santa Maria to construct a cooling facility on the farm, Maldonado grew disillusioned with the city bureaucracy and decided to run for the Santa MariaCity Councilin 1994 at the age of 26. In 1996, at the age of 28, Councilman Maldonado successfully ran formayor,defeating the incumbent Mayor Robert Gordon Bunch and retiree George Hobbs 40%-39%-21%, a margin of 70 votes.

California Assembly

Elections

In 1998, at the age of 31, Mayor Maldonado was elected to theCalifornia State Assemblywith 60% of the vote in the 33rd District, representingSan Luis Obispo Countyand westernSanta Barbara County.Maldonado was re-elected in 2000 with 65% of the vote and in 2002 with 63% of the vote.

Tenure

During his Assembly tenure, Maldonado was named "Hero of the Taxpayer" by theAmericans for Tax Reform.He led issues such as seat belts in school buses and California Workers Compensation Reform.

Committee assignments

He was on the Business and Professions committee.

California Senate

Elections

In 2004, Maldonado was elected to theCalifornia State Senateby a margin of 53% to 43% over his Democratic opponent,San Luis Obispo CountySupervisor Peg Pinard, in a district evenly divided betweenDemocratsand Republicans. The 15th District includedSan Luis Obispo County,most ofMonterey County,easternSanta Cruz County,portions of northwestern Santa Barbara County, and portions of southwesternSanta Clara County.

Tenure

In March 2005, a San Luis Obispo weekly newspaper revealed that Maldonado had received $30,987 in gifts from an organization representing California's power industry.Those gifts included multiple trips toAustralia,AfricaandEurope.The story suggested that the gifts might have motivated Maldonado to object to a seismic safety bill that could potentially have threatenedDiablo Canyon Power Plant's license to operate. According to the story, Maldonado snapped at the reporter, "“I have never, ever, ever connected monetary resources with a bill or a special company in my area. For somebody to even suggest that is disappointing."

Maldonado signed a "No New Taxes" pledge before his election which he later claimed to regret as he cast a vote for higher taxes.

In February 2009, Maldonado was initially among the Republican senators rejecting a series of bills designed to close the $41 billion state budget deficit, but he later joined the Democrats in supporting the measures.

A committee indicated that it might pursue arecall campaignagainst Maldonado because of his vote on the budget. The same threat was made against other Republicans in the "Sacramento Six", but none of the recall campaigns came to anything. (Most of the recall energy was directed againstAnthony Adams.)

In response to his critics, includingSteve Poizner,Maldonado said, "Since the budget was passed, you have gone around the state criticizing it and the role six Republicans played in its passage. Your recent statements condemningPropositions 1A-1Fare very frustrating. During the budget debate, which lasted over 100 days, I heard from thousands of Californians who took the time to give me their input on the state budget. But I never heard from you. "

Committee assignments

In December 2006, he was named Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

• Budget and Fiscal Review
• Education
• Health
• Veterans Affairs
• Food and Agriculture (Vice Chair)
• Human Services (Vice Chair)

2006 state controller election

Main article:2006 California State Controller election

In 2005, Maldonado declared his candidacy for the office of California State Controller after ControllerSteve Westlydecided to run forgovernor.Maldonado was defeated in the June 6, 2006 Republican primary byTony Strickland.

Following his loss, Maldonado publicly criticized GovernorArnold Schwarzeneggerfor not supporting his campaign more forcefully, suggesting that Schwarzenegger did not care aboutHispanics,when he told theLos Angeles Timesthat "[w]hen [Schwarzenegger] needs Latinos, Latinos are always there for him. When Latinos need him, the answer's been no."Maldonado issued a public apology for the comment. He also maintained that he would not run for any further political office after his state Senate service; he was re-elected to the Senate in 2008 with 63% of the vote.

Lieutenant governor

Nomination

Lt. Governor Maldonado giving a speech, 2010

On November 3, 2009, Lieutenant GovernorJohn Garamendiresigned to take a seat in Congress. On the November 23, 2009, episode ofThe Jay Leno Show,Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that he was nominating Maldonado as lieutenant governor. Schwarzenegger cited Maldonado's "bipartisanship and postpartisanship...He makes decisions based on what's best for the people rather than what's best for the party. He has helped us, many times, pass a budget, which was very important. And he comes from an immigrant family..."

Maldonado needed to be confirmed by a majority vote of the State Senate and a majority vote of the State Assembly within 90 days of the nomination in order to take office as lieutenant governor. In a statement released by the Governor's office, Schwarzenegger called Maldonado a "true partner" and cited his willingness "to reach across the partisan divide" and "commitment to creating a transparent, accountable government" in California.

Tenure

On February 11, 2010, Maldonado was confirmed as lieutenant governor by the state Senate by a 26-7 vote. However, his nomination was not approved by the State Assembly. Needing 41 votes (in the 80-seat Assembly) for confirmation in the lower chamber, he received 37 votes in favor, with 35 votes against.

Based upon the vote in the Legislature, Governor Schwarzenegger considered having Maldonado sworn into office, which may have set up a legal battle with Democrats. Instead, Schwarzenegger resubmitted the nomination of Maldonado on February 17. Maldonado received confirmation from the Assembly on April 22, 2010 by a 53-21 vote and from the Senate on April 26, 2010 by a 25-7 vote. He was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor on April 27, 2010.

2010 election

Main article:2010 California lieutenant gubernatorial election

Maldonado ran for the Republican nomination for the office in June and won with 43.4% of the vote. Maldonado was defeated on November 2, 2010 byDemocraticSan FranciscoMayorGavin Newsom.

Career since 2010

2012 congressional campaign

Main article:2012 United States House of Representatives elections in California

In 2011, Maldonado announced his intention to challenge U.S. RepresentativeLois Capps,aDemocrat,for her seat in theU.S. House of Representativesin the2012 elections.

Maldonado was defeated by Capps in the election by a 55.2% to 44.8% margin.

2014 run for governor

Main article:2014 California gubernatorial election

On May 20, 2013, Maldonado announced he would seek the Republican nomination for the2014 California gubernatorial election.

On June 28, 2013, Maldonado came out in support of the Supreme Court's ruling that cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California, and said that same-sex couples should be afforded the same rights and protections as heterosexual couples. Although Maldonado had supportedProposition 8in 2008, he reversed his position in 2011 when a cousin revealed that he was gay. He also said his four children helped change his position.

Maldonado withdrew from the race on January 16, 2014. His campaign was beset by problems: he accused Governor Brown of things that occurred years before he was elected, he struggled to raise money, his campaign's senior staff left in September 2013, and his campaign failed to gain traction after the entry of fellow RepublicansTim DonnellyandNeel Kashkariinto the race.In announcing his withdrawal, Maldonado said: "Now is not my time... I know it's cliché to say I am not running so I can spend more time with my family. Everybody says that. But the truth is, that is, a major factor in my decision today. I have missed some birthdays, family holidays and even anniversaries. From this day forward [my wife] now controls my schedule."

Potential Trump administration appointment

In January 2017, it was reported by CNN that Maldonado was an early frontrunner to serve asUnited States secretary of agriculturein the cabinet of then-President-electDonald Trump.His potential nomination was supported by theNational Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.However,Sonny Perduewas ultimately chosen for the role instead,a move that was criticized by former Governor Schwarzenegger.

Personal life

He is married to Laura Maldonado and has four children.

See also

• List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States

External links

• Project Vote Smart
• AppearancesonC-SPAN
• Join California Abel Maldonado