Angela Romero | |
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Minority Leader of the Utah House of Representatives | |
Assumed office January 17, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Brian King |
Member of the Utah House of Representatives | |
Assumed office January 1, 2013 | |
Preceded by | David Litvack |
Constituency | 26th district (2013–2023) 25th district (2023–present) |
Personal details | |
Born | Tooele, Utah, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Education | University of Utah (BA, MPA) |
Website | Campaign website |
Angela Romero[1] is an American politician and the Democratic leader of the Utah House of Representatives representing the 25th District since January 1, 2023. Prior to redistricting, she represented the 26th District since January 1, 2013.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Romero was born and raised in Tooele, Utah. She is Chicana and Assiniboine.[3] She attended the University of Utah where she earned a bachelor's degree in political science and later a master's degree in public administration.[4]
Political career
[edit]Romero was first elected in November 2012.[4] During the 2016 legislative session, she served on the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, the House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee, the House Ethics Committee, the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, and the House Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Interim Committee, Native American Legislative Liaison Committee.[5]
NHCSL leadership
[edit]On February 26, 2018, Romero was elected First Vice President of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL).[6] And, in March 2022, she was elected President Elect of the NHCSL for a two-year term, expected to be followed by service as President for the 2024-25 term.[7]
As part of that NHCSL leadership role, Romero represented Utah in several meetings and events at the White House. She met with Vice President Kamala Harris, on Hispanic policy priorities in March 25, 2022.[8] They met again on August 5, 2022 to discuss fighting for abortion rights.[9] And, Romero participated in the signing ceremony of the Respect for Marriage Act on December 13, 2022.[10]
House minority leader
[edit]On November 22, 2022, Romero was elected Minority Leader for the 2023-24 term, succeeding Brian King.[11][12][13] Romero's leadership team became the first all-women leadership team (of a minority or majority party) in the Utah House of Representatives,[14] joining the also first-ever all-women Utah Senate Democratic leadership team elected 12 days earlier.[15] At the same time, Romero joined Luz Escamilla in becoming the first Latinas to be elected Minority Leaders in the Utah Legislature.[16]
2016 sponsored legislation
[edit]Bill Number | Bill Title | Status |
---|---|---|
HB0105 | Human Trafficking Revisions | Governor signed - 3/23/2016 |
HB0148S01 | Protective Order Amendments | Governor signed - 3/23/2016 |
HB0172S01 | Public Assistance Benefits Amendments | Governor signed - 3/21/2016 |
HB0188 | Paid Family Leave | House/ filed - 3/10/2016 |
HB0206S01 | Human Trafficking Safe Harbor Amendments | Governor signed - 3/21/2016 |
HB0234 | Adoptive and Foster Parents Amendments | House/ filed - 3/10/2016 |
Romero passed four of the six bills she proposed, giving her a 66% passage rate. She did not floor sponsor any legislation during 2016.[17]
Elections
[edit]- 2014 Romero was unopposed in the Democratic convention. She faced Republican nominee Spencer Barclay in the general election, where she won with 2,977 votes (72.8%).[18]
- 2012 When District 26 incumbent Democratic Representative David Litvack left the Legislature and left the seat open, Romero was chosen by the Democratic convention over appointed incumbent Brian Doughty, who had been redistricted from District 30, and won the three-way November 6, 2012 general election with 4,926 votes (65.4%) against Republican nominee Andres Paredes and Green candidate Mark Dee Whitaker.[18]
Personal life
[edit]Romero and her son, Cio, live in the Glendale neighborhood where she also works as the Community Programs Manager for the Sorenson Unity Center.[19] She is a Catholic.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ "Angela Romero's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
- ^ "Angela Romero (D)". Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah State Legislature. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ ANGELA ROMERO[permanent dead link], Center for Documentary Expression and Art, October 16, 2010, Retrieved on October 9, 2015.
- ^ a b "Angela Romero". Philipsburg, MT: Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
- ^ "Committees". le.utah.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
- ^ Chambless, Ross (6 March 2018). "Rep. Angela Romero Elected First Vice President of National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators". Utah House Democrats. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ Arredondo, Gloria (28 July 2022). "In Conversation: State House Rep. Angela Romero". The West View. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ Lauder, Thomas Suh; Moore, Maloy; Stiles, Matt (31 October 2022). "What's on Kamala Harris' calendar? Tracking the vice president's public events". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ Bojórquez, Kim (8 August 2022). "VP Harris meets with Utah's Rep. Romero about abortion rights". Axios Salt Lake City. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ @NHCSL (13 December 2022). "Today all our loving relationships are safer" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 February 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Mills, Glen [@GlenMillsABC4] (22 November 2022). "@utahhousedems elects a new leadership team" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 February 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Winslow, Ben [@BenWinslow] (22 November 2022). "JUST IN: @utahhousedems have elected their leadership" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 February 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ @utahhousedems (22 November 2022). "The Utah House Democratic Caucus has elected its new leadership team!" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 February 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Winslow, Ben [@BenWinslow] (22 November 2022). "Like @UTSenateDems, the @utahhousedems have another first" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 February 2023 – via Twitter.
Like @UTSenateDems, the @utahhousedems have another first. The House Minority Caucus has elected an all-women leadership team.
- ^ Winslow, Ben [@BenWinslow] (10 November 2022). "JUST IN: @SenatorLuz elected Senate Minority Leader" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 February 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Winslow, Ben [@BenWinslow] (22 November 2022). "Also historic?" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 February 2023 – via Twitter.
@RepAngelaRomero and @SenatorLuz , I believe, are the first Latinas to be elected Minority Leaders in the #utleg.
- ^ a b "2016 -- Legislation(House Of Representatives)". le.utah.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
- ^ a b "2014 General Election Report". Salt Lake City, Utah: Lieutenant Governor of Utah. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- ^ "Angela Romero". Salt Lake City, UT: Angela Romero. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
- ^ "With Utah Legislature's Mormon supermajority, is it representative of the people?". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
External links
[edit]- Official page Archived 2017-11-23 at the Wayback Machine at the Utah State Legislature
- Campaign site
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Angela Romero at Ballotpedia
- Angela Romero at the National Institute on Money in State Politics