# Gloria Romero *candidate · Lieutenant Governor · Republican* — November 3, 2026 General Election (2026-11-03), Los Angeles County, California Research pack generated 2026-10-30T23:52:30+00:00 by ballotscope. Summaries are LLM-generated from the linked originals and may contain errors; check the originals before relying on anything. Sources span 2026-01-12 to 2026-10-03. ## Overview (as of 2026-10-28, from 16 sources) Gloria Romero, a Republican and former Democratic state Senate Majority Leader, faces Democrat Fiona Ma for lieutenant governor on November 3, 2026 [Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero; California lieutenant governor: Who's running and why it matters]. She finished second in the June 2 top-two primary with about 18% of the vote, close behind Ma [Fiona Ma and Gloria Romero advance to lieutenant governor general election; Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero]. Romero served in the Legislature from 1998 to 2010, representing east Los Angeles, and was the first woman to lead the Senate majority; she authored the 'parent trigger' law and the Open Enrollment Act [Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor; GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026); Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero; California lieutenant governor: Who's running and why it matters]. She registered as a Republican in September 2024, endorsed Donald Trump, and in January 2026 announced her run as part of Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton's 'golden ticket', though the two offices are elected separately [Democrat-turned-Republican Gloria Romero announces run for lieutenant governor; Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero]. Her campaign centers on education: restoring merit and standardized tests in UC admissions, cutting remediation, campus safety and antisemitism, and Title IX in women's sports. She also calls for streamlining land and coastal commissions, fire prevention, protecting gas appliances, publishing harassment settlements and setting numeric economic targets [Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor; Lieutenant Governor Candidate Statements (Official Voter Information Guide); GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)]. She is endorsed by the California Republican Party and Reform California [2026 General Election: California lieutenant governor race explainer; California lieutenant governor: Who's running and why it matters]. As of the October 2026 Los Angeles Times guide, she opposes Proposition 40 and strongly supports Proposition 39 [Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero]. ### Record highlights - Elected to the Assembly in 1998 and the Senate in 2001; served in the Legislature until 2010, representing east Los Angeles. [Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor; California election result: Two candidates in tie for lt. governor; Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero] - First woman to serve as California Senate Majority Leader (2005-2008, per CalMatters-produced guides); chaired the Senate Education Committee. [Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor; 2026 General Election: California lieutenant governor race explainer; California lieutenant governor: Who's running and why it matters] - Authored the Parent Trigger and Open Enrollment Act, which her campaign calls the first laws in the nation to give parents authority over chronically failing schools. [Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor; GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026); Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero] - Before the Legislature, she was a college professor, a Los Angeles Community College trustee and a Los Angeles charter reform commissioner. [Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor; Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero] - Finished third in the 2008 primary for state superintendent of public instruction. [California lieutenant governor race: Fiona Ma, Gloria Romero lead on election night] - Co-chaired President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign in California. [Democrat-turned-Republican Gloria Romero announces run for lieutenant governor] - Registered as a Republican in September 2024, then endorsed Donald Trump and spoke at a rally near Coachella. [Democrat-turned-Republican Gloria Romero announces run for lieutenant governor; Fiona Ma and Gloria Romero advance to lieutenant governor general election] - Announced her lieutenant governor run with Steve Hilton on January 12, 2026; finished second in the June 2, 2026 primary. [Democrat-turned-Republican Gloria Romero announces run for lieutenant governor; Fiona Ma and Gloria Romero advance to lieutenant governor general election; Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero] ### Stated positions - Would push the UC Regents to restore standardized tests (SAT or ACT) and merit in admissions; says she joined more than 1,200 UC faculty urging this (July 2026 questionnaire). [Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor; GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] - Supports school vouchers and cutting remedial coursework so students graduate faster (April 2026). [Meet the candidates for California lieutenant governor: 'A job about nothing'] - Seeks transparency on faculty salaries and housing allowances, more student voting seats on the UC Regents, and curbs on UC and CSU tuition increases. [California election result: Two candidates in tie for lt. governor; Fiona Ma and Gloria Romero advance to lieutenant governor general election; GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] - Would press universities to enforce federal agreements on antisemitism and would defend Title IX protections in women's sports. [Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor; Lieutenant Governor Candidate Statements (Official Voter Information Guide); GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] - Opposes eliminating natural gas appliances and favors forest management and fuel reduction to cut wildfire risk. [Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor; GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] - Seeks release of all sexual harassment and abuse settlements by elected officials and an end to Non-Disclosure Agreements in state spending. [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] - Sets goals of a 20% rise in foreign direct investment, 2,500 acres of State Lands redevelopment, $5 billion in private investment, 25,000 jobs and 30% faster permitting by 2028. [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] - Would convene a statewide human sex trafficking task force and a California-Mexico summit. [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] - Opposes Proposition 40, calling it 'asset seizure', and strongly supports Proposition 39 (voter ID) as 'election integrity', as of October 2026. [Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero] - Says she would meet individually with legislators to find common ground and that she and Xavier Becerra 'could work very well together' if he is elected governor. [Meet the candidates for California lieutenant governor: 'A job about nothing'; Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero] ### Where sources disagree - Legislative history: an Inside California Politics overview says she served in the State Assembly from 2001 to 2010, while the Los Angeles Times says she was elected to the Assembly in 1998 and moved to the Senate in 2001, and her campaign says she was first elected to the Senate in 2001. [Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor; Who's running for California lieutenant governor and what does the job look like?; Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero] - Her primary vote share is reported as 18% (NBC San Diego, about 94% counted) and 17.8% (Los Angeles Times); the figures reflect rounding or different counts. [Fiona Ma and Gloria Romero advance to lieutenant governor general election; Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero] ### Gaps - None of her own op-eds or columns were collected, although she has written them; her personal site gloriajromero.com failed to resolve. - No debate or forum transcripts or recordings for the general election were found. - No full interview transcripts; quotes come from reporters' excerpts (Los Angeles Times, CalMatters). - No legislative voting records from her 1998-2010 service were collected. - No campaign-finance filings; the Los Angeles Times fundraising section did not render. - Few sources make substantive criticism of her record or positions; the critical material collected is limited to brief reporting and analysis. - Web search was unavailable for most of this session, so sources were found mainly by following links from stored pages; Ballotpedia's profile page returned no text. ### Arguments for / praise - Steve Hilton says her experience leading a legislative chamber and her Sacramento relationships are a key asset. — *Steve Hilton* [Democrat-turned-Republican Gloria Romero announces run for lieutenant governor] - Romero argues she is an independent voice who has stood up to special interests, including her own former party, on behalf of parents and low-income communities, and that she will treat the office as more than ceremonial. — *Gloria Romero* [Lieutenant Governor Candidate Statements (Official Voter Information Guide); GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026); Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero] - Her campaign describes her as a nationally recognized education-reform leader and 'one of the Legislature's most effective and forceful leaders'. — *Gloria Romero campaign* [Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor] - She is endorsed by the California Republican Party and Reform California. — *California Republican Party, Reform California* [2026 General Election: California lieutenant governor race explainer; California Lieutenant Governor: Who's running in the June 2 primary and why it matters; California lieutenant governor: Who's running and why it matters] ### Arguments against / criticism - CalMatters reports that teachers unions 'vehemently oppose' the school vouchers she supports. — *Teachers unions, per CalMatters* [Meet the candidates for California lieutenant governor: 'A job about nothing'] - NBC San Diego's analysis says that in a deep-blue state she 'could be labeled as a MAGA candidate' for endorsing Trump, and that her conservative positions on gender identity may be a liability with voters. — *NBC 7 San Diego* [Fiona Ma and Gloria Romero advance to lieutenant governor general election] - GrowSF recommends voting for her opponent, Fiona Ma, though it gives no assessment of Romero's own record or positions. — *GrowSF* [California Lieutenant Governor — November 2026 Election] ## Analysis of their own words (as of 2026-10-28) Coverage: Three samples, all position_statement: the GrowSF candidate questionnaire (S1, written answers due 2026-07-01, the longest and most substantive), her undated paid statement in the Secretary of State's official voter guide (S2), and her undated campaign website (S3, a biography and platform written mostly in the campaign's third-person voice). All are prepared, campaign-period texts from 2026. Missing: any unscripted speech (interview or debate transcripts), her op-eds and columns (none could be retrieved in this session; her personal site gloriajromero.com failed to resolve), any legislative floor statements or writing from her 1998-2010 legislative career, and anything dated after July 2026. Reported interview quotes in news coverage were not used as samples. Romero's expressed views are conservative on education, energy, social and governance issues, and she frames them as opposition to 'one-party rule' by Democrats in Sacramento (S1, S2). On education she favors school choice and parental rights, merit-based university admissions with restored standardized testing, and K-16 integration (S1, S3). She opposes limits on natural gas appliances and questions climate-driven mandates (S1), supports fuel reduction and forest management for wildfire prevention and tapping 'untapped energy reserves' (S1, S3), and backs Title IX protections framed around women's sports (S1, S2, S3). She emphasizes campus antisemitism, human trafficking, waste and fraud, and transparency about harassment settlements and NDAs (S1). On economic development she sets business-friendly goals - lighter regulation, faster permitting, foreign direct investment, port modernization - while also naming clean energy among target industries (S1). She describes herself as a former 'JFK Democrat' and an 'independent voice' (S1). Articulation: **adequate**. Judged on prepared texts only; no unscripted speech was available. The questionnaire (S1) is organized as a numbered priority list and gives specific, measurable targets (a 20% rise in foreign direct investment, 2,500 acres, $5 billion, 25,000 jobs, 30% faster permitting), named mechanisms (a Ports Competitiveness Task Force, a Port Project Dashboard, campus scorecards) and a clear account of the office's formal powers. Against that, several factual premises are asserted without support (for example the 1.7 million outmigration estimate and Los Angeles as 'one of the nation's largest trafficking hubs'), some answers rely on slogans and exclamations ('Enough!', 'I intend to be a dog on a bone on this issue'), a few passages have drafting slips ('my extensive experience and knowledge that that I have'), and some priorities (natural gas appliances, animal welfare, sex trafficking) are only loosely tied to the office's powers. The SoS statement (S2) and website (S3) are clear but general and slogan-heavy. Consistency: **adequate**. Her core themes - education reform and merit, campus antisemitism, Title IX in women's sports, an active rather than ceremonial office, and criticism of one-party rule - recur across all three samples, and no contradictory positions appear. The basis is small (three samples, all from the 2026 campaign), so consistency over time cannot be judged from her own words; her 2024 switch from the Democratic to the Republican Party is described in her own explanation (S1, S2) but no earlier-dated sample of her views is available to compare. One tension within S1: it calls the office 'more than a ceremonial office' that can 'deliver measurable results', yet also says 'The Lieutenant Governor's office may not write legislation'. No change of policy position appears in the samples. - University admissions and academic standards: Would push the UC Regents to restore standardized tests (SAT/ACT) and merit as significant admissions factors, and cut remediation. - "I will advocate for restoring merit-based admissions in California's public universities by ensuring academic achievement once again becomes a significant factor in admissions decisions." [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] (2026-07-01) - "This will include reintroduction of use of standardized tests, such as the SAT or the ACT, as one component of a college admission package." [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] (2026-07-01) - "If you’re admitted to college, you should be able to do college-level work." [Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor] (undated) - Campus safety and antisemitism: Would press universities to enforce federal agreements on antisemitism and civil-rights protections for all students. - "California's universities must vigorously enforce federal agreements addressing antisemitism and ensure every campus protects students equally." [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] (2026-07-01) - "fight antisemitism on our campuses" [Lieutenant Governor Candidate Statements (Official Voter Information Guide)] (undated) - Title IX and women's sports: Supports Title IX protections framed around fairness in women's athletics. - "I will stand for equal opportunity for women by supporting Title IX protections, preserving fairness in women's athletics" [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] (2026-07-01) - "defend Title IX for our daughters in sports" [Lieutenant Governor Candidate Statements (Official Voter Information Guide)] (undated) - Energy and gas appliances: Opposes state policies that would eliminate natural gas appliances and rejects climate-based mandates she calls ideological. - "I will oppose efforts to eliminate access to natural gas appliances through state policy." [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] (2026-07-01) - "Government should provide options—not mandates based on non-science based ideological claims regarding climate change." [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] (2026-07-01) - Wildfire and land/coastal commissions: Favors vegetation management and fuel reduction, faster rebuilding, and restructuring commissions she views as captured by special interests. - "California must once again prioritize proven forest management practices, including vegetation management, fuel reduction, and undergrowth removal where scientifically appropriate to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk." [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] (2026-07-01) - "rein in politicized commissions that have failed to protect our water, farmland, and way of life" [Lieutenant Governor Candidate Statements (Official Voter Information Guide)] (undated) - Economic development, ports and State Lands: Sets numeric goals: a 20% rise in foreign direct investment, redevelopment of 2,500 acres of State Lands sites, $5 billion in private investment, 25,000 jobs and 30% faster permitting by 2028; proposes a ports task force and project dashboard. - "My goal would be to increase annual foreign direct investment by at least 20 percent by the end of my term" [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] (2026-07-01) - "I would seek to reclaim land that has already been developed and transform it into sites for advanced manufacturing, port modernization, battery storage, hydrogen infrastructure, offshore wind support facilities, and other strategic industries." [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] (2026-07-01) - "These positions provide a real opportunity to improve higher education, strengthen California's economy, modernize our ports and infrastructure, protect our coast, and restore accountability in state government." [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] (2026-07-01) - Government transparency and harassment settlements: Seeks release of all sexual harassment and abuse settlements by elected officials and an end to NDAs in state contracting and spending; would use the Senate presidency to promote fair confirmation processes. - "I seek the release of all sexual harassment and sex abuse settlements by California elected officials." [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] (2026-07-01) - "In addition, I intend to seek an end to the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements in contracting, budgeting, and expenditure of state monies." [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] (2026-07-01) - Human trafficking: Would convene a statewide task force on sex trafficking and a California-Mexico summit. - "As Lieutenant Governor, I will convene a California Task Force on Human Sex Trafficking" [GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026)] (2026-07-01) Limitations: All samples are prepared campaign materials from 2026; the campaign website (S3) is largely third-person. None show Romero speaking unscripted or answering follow-up questions, and none of her columns or op-eds could be retrieved, so her long record of published commentary is not represented. The analysis cannot assess her legislative record, only how she describes it, and cannot verify her statistics. Undated web pages may have been edited at any time. ## Timeline (newest first) - **2026-10-03** — Published: California lieutenant governor: Who's running and why it matters (LAist) - **2026-10-01** — Published: Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero (Los Angeles Times) - **2026-10-01** — LA Times publishes general-election guide with candidate interviews (Los Angeles Times) - **2026-07-21** — Published: California Lieutenant Governor — November 2026 Election (GrowSF) - **2026-07-21** — GrowSF endorsement updated for the general election (GrowSF) - **2026-07-01** — Published: GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026) (GrowSF) - **2026-07-01** — Questionnaire responses due to GrowSF for the general election (GrowSF) - **2026-06-10** — Published: Fiona Ma and Gloria Romero advance to lieutenant governor general election (NBC San Diego) - **2026-06-10** — NBC News projects Romero and Ma advance (NBC San Diego) - **2026-06-03** — Published: California lieutenant governor race: Fiona Ma, Gloria Romero lead on election night (KGET / Inside California Politics) - **2026-06-03** — Published: State Treasurer Fiona Ma leading in wide-open lieutenant governor race (Local News Matters) - **2026-06-03** — Published: Democrat Ma and Republican Romero in a Close Race for Lieutenant Governor (KQED) - **2026-06-02** — Romero second in primary-night returns (KGET / Inside California Politics) - **2026-06-02** — Early primary returns show Romero and Ma leading (Local News Matters) - **2026-06-02** — Published: California election result: Two candidates in tie for lt. governor (CalMatters) - **2026-06-02** — Primary election; Romero among top two in early returns (CalMatters) - **2026-06-02** — Primary election held (KQED) - **2026-05-29** — Published: Who's running for California lieutenant governor and what does the job look like? (FOX 5 San Diego) - **2026-05-07** — Published: California Lieutenant Governor: Who's running in the June 2 primary and why it matters (LAist) - **2026-05-04** — Published: 2026 General Election: California lieutenant governor race explainer (KPBS) - **2026-04-30** — Published: Meet the candidates for California lieutenant governor: 'A job about nothing' (CalMatters) - **2026-01-12** — Published: Democrat-turned-Republican Gloria Romero announces run for lieutenant governor (Los Angeles Times) - **2026-01-12** — Romero announces lieutenant governor run with Steve Hilton (Los Angeles Times) - **2024-09** — Romero registers as a Republican (Los Angeles Times) - **2024** — Leaves Democratic Party and becomes a Republican (Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor) - **2012** — Co-chairs Obama re-election campaign in California (Los Angeles Times) - **2001** — Elected to the State Senate (Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor) ## Sources ### California lieutenant governor: Who's running and why it matters - LAist · voter guide · published 2026-10-03 · stance: neutral - LAist's general-election guide (with CalMatters, published October 3 and updated October 19, 2026) explains the office and profiles Romero and Ma. - Explains the office's duties, including that the Senate tie-breaking vote has not been used since 1996. - Romero: nearly 12 years as a Democratic legislator, Republican since 2024, differs with Democrats on school choice, COVID-19 policies and gender identity. - Key endorsements: California Republican Party, Reform California. - Reference: Romero campaign site - Reference: California Republican Party endorsements ### Your guide to the California lieutenant governor race: Ma vs. Romero - Los Angeles Times · voter guide · published 2026-10-01 · stance: neutral - The Los Angeles Times' October 1, 2026 guide to the Ma-Romero race reports primary results, biographies, how each would approach the job, their positions on Propositions 40 and 39, and how they would work with opponents, with quotes from interviews with the Times. - Romero had 17.8% in the primary; Ma 19.1%. - The California Republican Party endorses Romero, who campaigns with Hilton on a 'golden ticket'. - Romero served in the Legislature from 1998 to 2010, became a Republican in 2024, and lives in El Sereno. - She opposes Prop. 40, calling it 'asset seizure' and 'a death march'. - She strongly supports Prop. 39 (voter ID): 'It's really about election integrity.' - She says she knows Xavier Becerra and 'he and I could work very well together'. - Reference: LA Times: Romero announces run ### California Lieutenant Governor — November 2026 Election - GrowSF · endorsement · published 2026-07-21 · stance: support - GrowSF, a San Francisco advocacy group, recommends voting for Fiona Ma over Gloria Romero in the November 2026 lieutenant governor race. The page says nothing substantive about Romero beyond listing her as the Republican candidate and linking her questionnaire. - GrowSF calls Ma 'the clear choice' in the general election. - It lists Romero as Republican with profession 'Senator' and links her questionnaire. - Its reasons concern Ma's record and plans; it does not critique Romero's positions. - Reference: Romero GrowSF questionnaire ### GrowSF candidate questionnaire: Gloria Romero (November 2026) - GrowSF · position statement · published 2026-07-01 · stance: support - Gloria Romero's long-form written answers to GrowSF's candidate questionnaire for the November 2026 general election (due July 1, 2026). She lists seven priorities, led by an education reform agenda (restoring standardized tests and merit in UC admissions, campus safety and antisemitism, Title IX, cutting waste), and gives measurable targets for ports, State Lands Commission redevelopment and foreign direct investment. - Priorities in order: education reform; accountability in state government (Senate confirmations); wildfire and coastal policy; protecting natural gas appliances; an economic growth plan; a human sex trafficking task force; animal welfare. - She says she joined more than 1,200 UC faculty urging the Regents to restore the SAT, and calls test-blind admissions 'the soft bigotry of low expectations'. - Her 'out there' proposal: release all sexual harassment and abuse settlements by elected officials and end Non-Disclosure Agreements in state spending. - She sets goals to raise foreign direct investment at least 20% by the end of her term and, by 2028, approve redevelopment of 2,500 acres of State Lands sites, leverage $5 billion in private investment, support 25,000 jobs and cut permitting times by 30%. - She proposes a California Ports Competitiveness Task Force and a public Port Project Dashboard. - She says she would work with 'Governor Steve Hilton' on extraordinary sessions to review spending. - She describes herself as uniquely qualified as 'the only candidate in this race who has never sexually harassed a staff member'. ### Fiona Ma and Gloria Romero advance to lieutenant governor general election - NBC San Diego · news · published 2026-06-10 · stance: neutral - NBC 7 San Diego reports Romero and Ma advanced to the general election, with Romero at 18% and Ma at 19.1% at about 94% counted. It summarizes Romero's pledges and the political hurdles it says she may face. - Romero promises education and government accountability and wants to curb UC and CSU tuition increases. - It describes her as Hilton's running mate and notes she endorsed Trump in 2024. - It says she 'could be labeled as a MAGA candidate' and that her conservative positions on gender identity may be a liability. - When switching parties she blamed Democratic gender identity policies, especially on notifying parents. ### California lieutenant governor race: Fiona Ma, Gloria Romero lead on election night - KGET / Inside California Politics · news · published 2026-06-03 · stance: neutral - Inside California Politics/FOX40 (via KGET) election-night report: Romero was second behind Ma. It gives a brief Romero biography. - Romero served in the Legislature from 1998 to 2010 and was the first woman Senate majority leader. - She finished third in the 2008 primary for state superintendent and has since advocated for charter schools. - She switched to the Republican Party in 2024 and supports Steve Hilton, described as Trump-backed. ### State Treasurer Fiona Ma leading in wide-open lieutenant governor race - Local News Matters · news · published 2026-06-03 · stance: neutral - Local News Matters teaser on primary-night returns noting Romero, 'a longtime former legislator hailing from Los Angeles', was the sole prominent Republican and among the early leaders. The article body is behind a sign-in wall. - Romero and Ma were leading early returns. ### Democrat Ma and Republican Romero in a Close Race for Lieutenant Governor - KQED · news · published 2026-06-03 · stance: neutral - KQED's republication of CalMatters' June 2026 primary-night story. Romero, the leading Republican, and Ma were near 20% each in early returns; Romero seeks transparency on faculty salaries and housing allowances and more student representation on the UC Regents. - Romero is the leading Republican. - She switched parties in 2024 after 12 years as a Democratic legislator. - Her higher-education proposals concern salary transparency and student representation. - Reference: CalMatters original ### California election result: Two candidates in tie for lt. governor - CalMatters · news · published 2026-06-02 · stance: neutral - CalMatters primary-night coverage: Romero, the leading Republican, and Ma were virtually tied near 20% each in early returns. Romero seeks greater transparency about faculty salaries and housing allowances and more student representation on the UC Regents. - Romero is described as the leading Republican. - She spent 12 years representing east Los Angeles as a Democrat and switched parties in 2024. - She seeks transparency about faculty salaries and housing allowances and more student seats on the UC Board of Regents. - Reference: CalMatters race preview ### Who's running for California lieutenant governor and what does the job look like? - FOX 5 San Diego · news · published 2026-05-29 · stance: neutral - Inside California Politics/FOX40 (via FOX 5 San Diego) overview of the primary field with a short Romero biography. - It says Romero served in the State Assembly from 2001 to 2010 and was the first woman Senate majority leader. - She switched to the Republican Party in 2024 and supports Steve Hilton. - Reference: Romero's platform ### California Lieutenant Governor: Who's running in the June 2 primary and why it matters - LAist · voter guide · published 2026-05-07 · stance: neutral - LAist's June-primary voter guide (CalMatters content) profiling the full field, including Romero's background and endorsements. - Romero: former longtime Democratic lawmaker, Republican since 2024, first woman Senate majority leader (2005-2008). - Hilton asked her to be 'on the ticket' with him. - Key endorsements: California Republican Party, Reform California. - Reference: California Republican Party endorsements - Reference: Reform California voter guide ### 2026 General Election: California lieutenant governor race explainer - KPBS · voter guide · published 2026-05-04 · stance: neutral - KPBS republication of CalMatters' lieutenant governor explainer (first published May 4, updated September 14, 2026), with a short neutral Romero profile and her top endorsements. - Romero served nearly 12 years in the Legislature as a Democrat and registered as a Republican in 2024. - She differs with Democrats on school choice, COVID-19 policies and gender identity. - Senate majority leader 2005-2008, the first woman in that role. - Top endorsements: California Republican Party, Reform California. - Reference: Romero campaign site - Reference: California Republican Party endorsements - Reference: Reform California voter guide ### Meet the candidates for California lieutenant governor: 'A job about nothing' - CalMatters · news · published 2026-04-30 · stance: neutral - CalMatters' April 30, 2026 primary preview of the lieutenant governor race. For Romero, it reports her support for school vouchers and for cutting remedial coursework, her legislative background and 2024 party switch, and how she would work with a Democratic supermajority. - Romero described the office as 'the Seinfeld of state government'. - She supports school vouchers, which teachers unions oppose, and slashing remedial coursework. - She represented east Los Angeles for 12 years as a Democrat until 2010 and switched parties in 2024. - She said she would meet individually with each colleague to find overlapping priorities. - Reference: LA Times: Romero announces joint ticket with Hilton ### Democrat-turned-Republican Gloria Romero announces run for lieutenant governor - Los Angeles Times · news · published 2026-01-12 · stance: neutral - The Los Angeles Times reports Romero's January 12, 2026 announcement that she is running for lieutenant governor on a 'golden ticket' with Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton, with quotes from an interview with her and from Hilton about her party switch and goals. - Romero switched to the Republican Party in September 2024, after what she called a 'political coup' to replace Biden as nominee; she then endorsed Trump and spoke at a rally near Coachella. - She co-chaired Obama's 2012 re-election campaign in California and broke with Democrats over school choice. - She said her party was 'so beholden to the teachers union'. - She said the lieutenant governor role 'should not' be a sleepy perch and that education 'is in my blood'. - Hilton said her experience leading a legislative chamber is a key asset. - The Times notes statewide offices do not have running mates; each is elected separately. - Reference: LA Times 2026 lieutenant governor guide ### Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor - Gloria Romero for Lieutenant Governor · position statement · published undated · stance: support - Romero's campaign website gives her biography and a platform focused on education (merit-based admissions, campus safety for Jewish students, Title IX and women's sports), community college fraud oversight, K-12 integration with higher education, and fire safety and streamlined land and coastal commissions. - Biography: first elected to the State Senate in 2001, representing East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley; first woman Senate Majority Leader; Chair of the Senate Education Committee; earlier Assembly Majority Whip and LA Community College trustee. - Authored the Parent Trigger and Open Enrollment Act; PhD from UC Riverside; professor emerita at Cal State LA. - Left the Democratic Party in 2024, citing its 'abandonment of working-class families and parental rights'. - Calls community colleges 'the Ellis Islands of higher education' and pledges oversight of application fraud. - Pledges fire prevention, faster rebuilding, streamlined commissions and work with federal partners on 'untapped energy reserves'. ### Gloria J. Romero - Gloria Romero · position statement · published undated · stance: support - ### Gloria J. Romero - Ballotpedia · voter guide · published undated · stance: neutral - ### Lieutenant Governor Candidate Statements (Official Voter Information Guide) - California Secretary of State · position statement · published undated · stance: support - The Secretary of State's official voter guide page for lieutenant governor reprints Gloria Romero's paid candidate statement. Romero criticizes 'one-party rule' in Sacramento, cites her record as Senate Majority Leader and author of school-choice reforms, and pledges to restore education standards, write an economic plan, rein in commissions, defend Title IX in women's sports and fight antisemitism on campuses. The page also describes the office and carries Fiona Ma's statement. - Romero says she served as Senate Majority Leader, fought for transparency, authored school-choice reforms and stood up for survivors of violence and sexual harassment. - She says the state budget is 'bloated with bureaucracy and waste' and that 'one-party rule has failed us'. - She says she 'walked away from monopoly one-party rule'. - She says the office 'should not be a ceremonial title or a parking spot for failed career politicians'. - Pledges: restore education standards, a 'bold economic plan', rein in 'politicized commissions', defend Title IX for 'our daughters in sports', fight antisemitism on campuses. - She urges readers to 'Stand with Reform California'. ### California lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 - Ballotpedia · voter guide · published undated · stance: neutral - ## Suggested use Ask me neutral questions about this subject using the material above. Distinguish what the sources say from your own background knowledge, cite the source titles you rely on, and say when information may be out of date given the dates shown.