Robert Rivas was sworn in as the 71st Speaker of the California State Assembly during a special session Friday at the Capitol.
“California is still the greatest state in the union,” Rivas, a Hollister Democrat who represents the 29th Assembly District, said. “But if we do not act with greater urgency, it will get more and more difficult to build a good life here. We are responsible for protecting the building blocks of Californians’ everyday lives.”
Surrounded by family, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Central Coast Democrat vowed to fight for a “once and future California Dream.”
Raised in farmworker housing on the rural Central Coast by his single mother and grandparents, Rivas will add a new outlook to a role traditionally held by members from the urban corridors of power in Los Angeles or the Bay Area, according to his supporters. They frequently point to his rise as an illustration of the California dream.
Legislators, dignitaries and community leaders—including eight former Speakers as well as civil rights icon Dolores Huerta—witnessed California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero deliver the oath in front of more than 400 people in the Assembly chambers.
“It was my privilege to attend the swearing-in ceremony for Speaker Robert Rivas, a tireless leader in the fight to build a better future for all Californians,” Pelosi said. “California leads the nation: defending reproductive freedom, taking on climate action and expanding access to health care. With Speaker Rivas at the helm in Sacramento, the Assembly will build on our legacy of progress and tackle the tough challenges facing working families in our beloved Golden State.”
“Robert Rivas is the embodiment of the California Dream,” Huerta said in a statement. “Rising from farmworker housing to becoming Speaker of the California Assembly, Robert is an ally to workers and underserved communities and will continue to be a champion for all Californians.”
Nearly two dozen farmworkers from Rivas’ district attended as honored guests and were seated at lawmakers’ desks for the event.
As an Assemblymember, Rivas’ first-term legislative achievements include securing enactment of the first-in-the-nation Covid-19 Farmworker Relief Package, which included efforts related to agricultural workplace safety, access to PPE and testing, temporary housing, and access to healthcare and the courts.
He also championed the Farmworker Housing Act, which streamlines the process to build housing for farmworkers and their families. Rivas also won passage of the $89 million Golden State Teacher Grant Program, which provides $20,000 scholarships to teachers who commit to teach high-need subjects—such as STEM, special education and bilingual education—in schools facing a shortage of qualified teachers.
“As your Speaker, I will ensure the California Dream that elevated me, that has elevated so many of us, can elevate future generations,” Rivas said. “That is our responsibility. That is our mission. We will get it done. And we will get it done together.”
Alexei Koseff of CalMatters contributed to this story.
