Blanca Pacheco

Democratic State Assembly Member, District 64

Blanca Nieves Pacheco was born on April 17, 1974, in Lompoc, California, and is now based in Downey. She is the daughter of a nurse and a public school bus driver, and grew up in a working-class neighborhood that shaped her commitment to community service and hard work.

Before her election to the California State Assembly, Pacheco had an extensive career in law and local government. She served as a member of the Downey City Council and became the first Latina to be elected as Mayor of Downey, serving two terms from 2020 onward. During her tenure in local government, she was also President of the League of California Cities Los Angeles Division and chaired the Housing, Community, and Economic Development Policy Committee.

Pacheco was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2022 and assumed office on December 5, 2022. She represents District 64, which includes parts of southeastern Los Angeles County and northern Orange County, encompassing Downey, Norwalk, Whittier, and La Mirada.

Education

Pacheco earned her bachelor's degree in political science with a specialization in Chicano/a studies from UCLA in 1998. She furthered her education at Loyola Law School and has been a licensed attorney since 2003.

Political Experience

In the California State Assembly, Pacheco holds significant leadership roles. She chairs the Assembly Rules Committee and the Select Committee on Regulatory Authority, and serves on the Judiciary, Appropriations, Governmental Organization, Local Government, and other select committees focused on cybersecurity, Latina inequities, and domestic violence.

One of her notable legislative achievements includes authoring AB 64, which allows Californians to include diacritical marks—such as accents, tildes, and umlauts—on vital records including birth, marriage, and death certificates. This law was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and reflects her commitment to serving California's diverse communities.

Prior to her legislative career, Pacheco worked as an attorney specializing in municipal law, estate planning, probate, and evictions. She operated an independent legal practice from 2006 to 2018 and worked with law firms including Realty Executives in Pico Rivera and Olivarez Madruga Lemieux O'Neill, LLP, in El Monte.