The Maria Elena Durazo District 26 election marks a major shift in Los Angeles politics, as candidates compete to fill one of the most influential Latino leadership seats in California.
Eight candidates will appear on the ballot this June 2 to compete for the seat being vacated by State Senator María Elena Durazo in California’s District 26. Few departures have left such a significant void. The legendary Latina leader in Sacramento has chosen to run instead for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, District 1.
Durazo is not just another state senator completing a term. Nor is she an ordinary leader. A lifelong activist, her name carries weight and recognition—María Elena Durazo is always spoken in full, reflecting the breadth and authority of her political career.
Sacramento is no stranger to her presence. Her influence and respect there have been undeniable—though she could just as easily have risen to prominence in Washington or any other center of power in the country or beyond. Her political stature is matched by a long history of activism in defense of underserved communities, including labor, union, and civil rights struggles.
“She shaped the political power of Los Angeles. She was like ‘the boss’—her voice was heard, respected, and taken seriously. Many politicians rose with her support. She operated like a chess player, placing each piece exactly where it needed to be,” a Latino politician told Parriva, speaking on condition of anonymity due to involvement in upcoming local elections.
The officially registered candidates for the seat are:
*Paul A. Bowers (Democrat, retired teacher)
*Juan Camacho (Democrat, civil rights advocate)
*Wendy Carrillo (Democrat, healthcare advocate)
*Sara Hernandez (Democrat, affordable housing advocate)
*Maebe Pudlo (Democrat, Silver Lake Neighborhood Councilmember)
*Sarah Rascón (Democrat, environmental protection director)
*Claudia Agraz (Republican, construction project administrator)
*Sang “Sam” Shin Masog (Republican, pastor)
The top two vote-getters will advance to a November runoff, unless one candidate secures a majority on June 2.
None of them has the political experience, the alliances, or the background that María Elena does—so from the outset, that weight will fall on the shoulders of the winner.
Her Story: A Legacy in Civil Rights History
María Elena Durazo’s own introduction reads like a passage from a textbook—or a poem:
A farmworker organizer.
A student activist.
A sweatshop organizer and union reformer.
A national immigration leader.
A Democratic National Committeewoman.
President of the LA County Federation of Labor.
A State Senator.
Arrested more than 13 times for leading nonviolent protests for civil and workers’ rights.
“Nonviolence is the only way to move us forward.”
A next-generation grandmother with courage, vision, and wisdom.
“We do the most good for the most people when we empower them to earn what they need for their families.”
Durazo was born the seventh of eleven children to migrant farmworker parents. As a child, she traveled with her family across California and Oregon, following crop cycles and experiencing firsthand the harsh and exploitative conditions faced by migrant laborers.
Despite those challenges, she forged a path toward higher education and civil rights activism. She became the first in her family to attend college, graduating from Saint Mary’s College of California, where she also became active in the Chicano movement.
In addition to her union leadership, Durazo has served on numerous civic boards and commissions. She was appointed by Mayor Tom Bradley to the Los Angeles Commission on Airports, by Mayor Richard Riordan to the Parks and Recreation Commission, and also served on the California Coastal Commission.
Her career began as a union organizer with the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, later rising to leadership within UNITE HERE Local 11 and ultimately becoming a California State Senator.
As the representative for District 26, Durazo advanced an agenda focused on labor rights, immigrant protections, affordable housing, healthcare, and environmental protection. Her legislative efforts have been especially notable in defending immigrants during periods of heightened enforcement by ICE.
Durazo has not issued any public endorsements among the candidates seeking to succeed her.
María Elena Durazo: Denial of Healthcare Program Is ‘A Betrayal of Immigrant Communities’
