Norma Torres

Norma Torres
Official portrait, 2023
Norma Torres
Born	Norma Judith Barillas 4 4, 1965
Birthplace	Escuintla, Guatemala
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, former 9-1-1 dispatcher
Known for	U.S. Representative for California's 35th congressional district
Education	National Labor College (BA)
Spouse(s)	Louis Torres
Children	3
Website	[https://torres.house.gov/ Official site]

Norma Judith Torres (née Barillas; born April 4, 1965) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 35th congressional district since January 3, 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, Torres has built a political career that stretches from local government in Pomona, California, through the California State Legislature, to the United States Congress. Born in Escuintla, Guatemala, Torres immigrated to the United States as a child, and her personal journey from Central American immigrant to member of Congress has shaped much of her legislative focus on immigration, public safety, and Central American affairs. Before entering politics, she worked as a 9-1-1 emergency dispatcher, an experience that informed her later advocacy for emergency communications systems and public safety. Torres served on the Pomona City Council from 2001 to 2006, as Mayor of Pomona from 2006 to 2008, in the California State Assembly from 2008 to 2013, and in the California State Senate in 2013 and 2014 before winning election to Congress. She is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition, where she serves as Chair of the Housing, Infrastructure, and Transportation Task Force.

Early Life

Norma Judith Barillas was born on April 4, 1965, in Escuintla, a city in southern Guatemala. She grew up during a period of political instability and civil conflict in Guatemala. As a young child, Torres experienced the violence and insecurity that pervaded Guatemalan society during the country's decades-long civil war.

Torres immigrated to the United States as a child, arriving in the country at the age of five. The experience of fleeing Guatemala and beginning a new life in the United States as a young immigrant profoundly influenced Torres's worldview and later political priorities. In interviews, Torres has spoken about the hardships her family faced during and after their migration, including the challenges of adapting to a new country and navigating life without economic security.

Torres settled in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, an area east of Los Angeles that is home to large Latino communities. The region's demographic makeup and the experiences of its immigrant populations would become central to Torres's later political career.

Before entering public service, Torres worked as a 9-1-1 emergency dispatcher. This role placed her at the front lines of emergency response, handling calls from individuals in crisis situations, including victims of domestic violence, accidents, and other emergencies. Torres has cited her experience as a dispatcher as a formative period in her life, one that exposed her to the failures and needs of public safety systems and motivated her to seek change through political engagement. The dispatching work also gave Torres firsthand insight into the challenges facing emergency communication infrastructure, a subject she would later champion in Congress through her involvement with the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus.

Education

Torres attended Mt. San Antonio College and Rio Hondo College, both community colleges in the greater Los Angeles area. She subsequently earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the National Labor College, an institution affiliated with the AFL–CIO that focused on providing higher education to working adults and labor union members. Torres's educational path through community colleges to a bachelor's degree obtained while working reflected the experience of many non-traditional students in the United States, particularly those from immigrant and working-class backgrounds.

Career

Pomona City Council and Mayorship

Torres entered elected office for the first time in 2000, winning a seat on the Pomona City Council representing the 6th district. She took office on January 8, 2001, succeeding Willie White. During her time on the City Council, Torres focused on issues affecting the Pomona community, including public safety, neighborhood improvement, and services for residents.

On April 3, 2006, Torres became the Mayor of Pomona, succeeding Edward Cortez. As mayor, she served as the chief elected official of a city with a population of approximately 150,000 in the Inland Empire. Her tenure as mayor lasted until December 1, 2008, when she was succeeded by Elliot Rothman following her election to the California State Assembly. Torres's service at the municipal level provided her with experience in local governance, budgeting, and community engagement that she carried into her subsequent state and federal positions.

California State Assembly

Torres was elected to the California State Assembly in 2008, representing the 61st Assembly district. She took office on December 1, 2008, succeeding Nell Soto. Following redistricting in 2012, Torres represented the 52nd Assembly district for the remainder of her tenure in the lower house of the California Legislature.

During her time in the Assembly, Torres worked on legislation related to public safety, labor issues, and the needs of the Inland Empire region. Her background as a 9-1-1 dispatcher informed her interest in emergency services policy. Torres served in the Assembly until May 20, 2013, when she moved to the California State Senate. She was succeeded in the Assembly by Freddie Rodriguez.

California State Senate

On May 20, 2013, Torres took office as a member of the California State Senate, representing the 32nd Senate district. She succeeded Gloria Negrete McLeod, who had been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Torres's time in the state Senate was relatively brief, as she soon began pursuing a seat in the U.S. Congress. She served in the Senate until November 30, 2014. Following redistricting, her seat was succeeded by Tony Mendoza.

U.S. House of Representatives

Election to Congress

In 2014, Torres ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in California's 35th congressional district, a district that encompasses portions of the Inland Empire including parts of San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County. The seat had been held by Gloria Negrete McLeod, who chose not to seek reelection. Torres's campaign emphasized her personal story as a Guatemalan immigrant, her experience in local and state government, and her commitment to the working families of the district.

Torres won the general election and took office on January 3, 2015, becoming the first Guatemalan-born member of the United States Congress.

Tenure and Legislative Focus

In Congress, Torres has focused on a range of issues, with particular emphasis on immigration policy, Central American affairs, public safety, housing affordability, and the needs of her Inland Empire constituents. She has been a member of several caucuses and committees that align with these priorities.

Torres is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, reflecting her identity as a Latina member of Congress and her focus on issues affecting Hispanic communities in the United States and Latin America. She is also a member of the New Democrat Coalition, a centrist caucus within the Democratic Party that emphasizes economic growth, fiscal responsibility, and pragmatic governance.

Torres has served as Chair of the New Democrat Coalition's Housing, Infrastructure, and Transportation Task Force. In this role, she has advocated for policies to increase housing affordability and reduce costs for working families. In 2025, she supported the New Dems Affordability Agenda, a legislative package aimed at lowering housing costs and expanding access to affordable housing.

Her background as a 9-1-1 dispatcher has continued to shape her legislative interests in Congress. Torres has been involved with the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus, which advocates for the modernization of the nation's emergency communications systems to support next-generation 9-1-1 technology.

Central American Affairs

Torres has been one of the most outspoken members of Congress on issues related to Central America, drawing on her personal experience as a Guatemalan immigrant. She has focused on anti-corruption efforts, human rights, and the root causes of migration from the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

In November 2025, Torres sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him not to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who had been convicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges. Torres argued that pardoning Hernández would undermine efforts to combat corruption and narcotrafficking in Central America.

Immigration and Civil Liberties

Torres has been a vocal critic of immigration enforcement practices she considers excessive or abusive. In February 2026, she released a statement opposing what she characterized as ongoing abuses by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), expressing concern about the impact of enforcement actions on immigrant communities.

Torres has also been active on voting rights issues. In February 2026, she introduced amendments aimed at protecting voters from restrictions under the SAVE Act, legislation she argued could create barriers to the exercise of the franchise by eligible American citizens.

January 6 and Democracy Legislation

On the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol, Torres introduced legislation aimed at defending democratic institutions, ensuring accountability for the events of that day, and preserving the historical record of the insurrection.

Bipartisan Initiatives

Torres has participated in bipartisan legislative efforts during her tenure in Congress. In December 2025, she partnered with Republican Congressman John Rutherford of Florida to introduce the Supporting Blue Envelope Programs Nationwide Act. The legislation sought to support blue envelope programs, which are designed to aid communication between law enforcement and individuals with autism or other developmental disabilities during traffic stops.

Federal Funding for the District

Torres has worked to secure federal funding for communities within her congressional district. In 2026, she announced $5.2 million in federal funding for the City of Ontario, which included $2 million in a federal spending bill. The funding was directed toward local infrastructure and community needs.

State of the Union Guests

Members of Congress frequently invite guests to the annual State of the Union address as a way to highlight issues of importance. In 2026, Torres announced that she would host Linda Hippolyte, a registered nurse and labor leader with United Nurses Associations of California, as her guest at the State of the Union address, underscoring her support for healthcare workers and organized labor.

Personal Life

Torres is married to Louis Torres. The couple has three children. The family resides in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, within the congressional district Torres represents.

Torres became a naturalized citizen of the United States, having immigrated from Guatemala as a child. Her personal story as an immigrant who rose through local, state, and federal levels of American government has been a recurring theme in both media coverage of her career and her own public statements. A 2015 profile in The New York Times highlighted the role that her early experiences with danger and instability in Guatemala, as well as her work as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, played in propelling her toward public service.

Torres has spoken publicly about the challenges she faced as a working mother pursuing education and a career in public service, including her path through community colleges before earning her bachelor's degree from the National Labor College.

Recognition

Torres's election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014 was noted for its historic significance, as she became the first person born in Guatemala to serve in the United States Congress. Her career trajectory from immigrant child to member of Congress has been the subject of media profiles in outlets including The New York Times and The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Within Congress, Torres has held leadership positions in several caucuses and coalitions. She serves as Chair of the New Democrat Coalition's Housing, Infrastructure, and Transportation Task Force, a role that reflects her focus on affordability and infrastructure issues. She is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and has been involved in the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus, drawing on her professional background in emergency communications.

Torres has been profiled by the Federal Communications Commission in its podcast series, where her work on emergency communications and her experience as a 9-1-1 dispatcher were discussed.

Her record of securing federal funding for her district, including the $5.2 million obtained for the City of Ontario in 2026, has been cited as an example of her constituent service work.

Legacy

Norma Torres's career represents a notable arc in American political life: from a child immigrant fleeing instability in Guatemala to a member of the United States Congress. As the first Guatemalan-born person to serve in Congress, her presence in the House of Representatives has provided representation for Central American immigrant communities in the federal legislative process.

Torres's legislative career, spanning city council, mayorship, state assembly, state senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives, reflects a progression through multiple levels of the American political system. Her work on Central American policy, immigration, public safety, housing affordability, and emergency communications has addressed issues with direct relevance to her constituents in the Inland Empire and to broader national debates.

Her background as a 9-1-1 dispatcher prior to entering politics distinguishes Torres from many of her congressional colleagues and has given her a distinctive voice on public safety and emergency services policy. Her involvement with the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus reflects an ongoing commitment to modernizing emergency communications infrastructure.

Torres's bipartisan work, including her collaboration with Republican members on legislation such as the Supporting Blue Envelope Programs Nationwide Act, illustrates her willingness to work across party lines on specific policy issues. Her advocacy on Central American affairs, including her opposition to the potential pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, positions her as a significant congressional voice on hemispheric policy.