Ed Hernandez

Edward Paul Hernández (born October 17, 1957) is an American politician who previously served in the California State Senate. A Democrat, he represented the 24th Senate district from 2010 until he was redistricted to the 22nd Senate district, which he would represent until 2018.

Ed Hernández
Member of the California State Senate
In office
December 6, 2010 – November 30, 2018
Preceded byGloria Romero
Succeeded bySusan Rubio
Constituency24th district (2010–2014)
22nd district (2014–2018)
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 57th district
In office
December 4, 2006 – November 30, 2010
Preceded byEd Chavez
Succeeded byRoger Hernández
Personal details
Born
Edward Paul Hernandez

(1957-10-17) October 17, 1957
Montebello, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDiane Hernández
Children2
EducationCalifornia State University, Fullerton (BS)
Indiana University, Bloomington (OD)

Prior to his election to the State Senate, he served in the California State Assembly, representing the 57th Assembly district from 2006 until 2010. Hernandez was a member of the California Latino Legislative Caucus.

Hernandez ran for Lieutenant Governor in 2018. He narrowly lost to U.S. Ambassador to Hungary Eleni Kounalakis.

Personal life and career

Hernández, a grandson of immigrants is a native of La Puente and he graduated from Bassett High School. Hernández earned his B.A. degree from California State University, Fullerton and he earned his O.D. degree from Indiana University. In 2000 and 2001, Hernández served as president of the California Optometric Association. Prior to serving in the Assembly, he was President of the California Board of Optometry.

Hernández is married to Diane, also an optometrist. He has one daughter from that marriage, and one from a previous marriage. The Hernández family resides in Azusa.

Political career
Hernandez with Monterey Park, California city officials in October 2015, from left to right: City Clerk Vincent Dionicio Chang, City Council Member Teresa Real Sebastian, Mayor Peter Chan, Hernández, City Council Member Hans Liang

Legislature elections

Hernández ran for the California State Assembly's 57th district in the 2006 elections, winning with 63% of the vote against Republican Holly Carver. In 2008, he was reelected with 66.3% against Republican challenger Victor Saldana.

In 2010, Hernández chose to not run for a third term in the Assembly and instead ran for the California Senate, to represent the 24th Senatorial district. He ran unopposed in the 2010 general election, succeeding former Majority Leader of the California Senate Gloria Romero. Following redistricting in 2014, he ran for the 22nd district in the 2014 elections, garnering 64.8% of the voteagainst Republican challenger Marc Rodriguez.

State Senate

Hernández chaired the Senate Health Committee between 2011 and 2017.[1] He was the primary author for various laws affecting healthcare which were passed and codified in the California Health and Safety Code. An optometrist, he served as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health.[2]

He was also involved in implementing the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Hernández authored and introduced Senate Constitutional Amendment No.5 (SCA5),[3] which proposed an amendment to the Constitution of the State to repeal portions of California Proposition 209, in order to allow the State of California to consider race in student admissions. It was passed in the California Senate on Jan. 30, 2014.[4] Proposition 209 prohibits state government institutions from considering race, sex, or ethnicity, specifically in the areas of public employment, public contracting, and public education. Proposition 209 is considered by others to be a proposition which has resulted in low minority enrollment,[5] and to have been driven by racial divisions.[6] However, following resistance from various citizen groups, including Asian American groups, Senator Hernandez withdrew his measure from consideration.

2018 Lieutenant Governor election
Main article: 2018 California lieutenant gubernatorial election

In 2016, Hernández announced that he would run to replace Gavin Newsom as lieutenant governor in 2018. Hernandez was term-limited from running in the State Senate in the 2018 Senate elections, as he was elected prior to the extension of term limits enacted in 2012.

In the blanket primary, Hernández won 20.6% of the vote, coming in second to former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary Eleni Kounalakis. He only carried a majority of two counties: Imperial County and Los Angeles County.

In the general election, Hernández was defeated by Eleni Kounalakis, after he won 43.45% of the vote. He only carried five counties in the state: Glenn, Kings, Madera, Merced, and Imperial counties.

References
  1. "Before Ed Hernandez fought drug companies he took a lot of their money". www.sacbee.com. Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on 2017-10-09.
  2. "WesternU lecture by Sen. Hernandez to focus on health care changes". Western University of Health Sciences. 2013-03-20. Archived from the original on 2013-10-23. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
  3. "Senate Constitutional Amendment No. 5 (May 30, 2013)". 2014-02-25.
  4. "Senate Vote on SCA 5 (Jan 30, 2014)". 2014-02-24.
  5. "California Proposition 209: Minority Enrollments Down In UC Schools Despite Diversity Efforts".
  6. "The Revolution against Affirmative Action in California: Racism, Economics, and Proposition 209" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-04-24. Retrieved 2014-04-24.
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