Roybal-Allard, a ‘Trailblazer’ and ‘Champion for California,’ to Retire

WASHINGTON — Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif., the first Mexican American woman and the first Latina Democrat elected to Congress, will not seek re-election in 2022.

In a statement released Monday night, Roybal-Allard said serving her constituents “has been the single most distinguished honor of my life.”

But she went on to say that after 30 years in the House of Representatives “the time has come for me to spend more time with my family. Therefore, I have decided not to seek reelection.”

Her intention not to run was first reported by The Hill Monday afternoon. With her announcement, she became the 23rd House Democrat to announce they are not running for reelection.

Earlier in the day, Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., a centrist who currently leads the Blue Dog Democrats, shocked many with her announcement she won’t seek reelection, and a third Democrat, Rep. Albio Sires, of New Jersey, has told local media in his home state that he will also forgo a reelection bid. 

Like all of her departing colleagues, Roybal-Allard said she would “continue to work for the people of my district in the new year and long after I leave public office.”

Roybal-Allard was first elected to Congress in 1993 in a district that then had the largest Hispanic majority of any district in the country.

Though the district maintained its Hispanic majorities through two redistrictings, after the 2000 census and again following the 2010 census, things changed significantly this year.

A new congressional district map approved late Monday night by the state’s independent redistricting commission appears likely to maintain a Democratic majority in the state’s congressional caucus, but it also had to account for the state losing a House seat due to stagnant population growth.

As a result, Roybal-Allard and Rep. Alan Lowenthal were drawn into a single shared seat in southern Los Angeles County. 

Lowenthal has also announced his intention to retire rather than seek reelection, but his departure from the race opened the door for Robert Garcia, the first Hispanic and openly gay mayor of Long Beach, to enter the race.

That meant Roybal-Allard already faced the prospect of squaring off against a tough challenger in the state’s June 7 primary.

Among those who reacted with sadness at Roybal-Allard’s announcement was House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn.

DeLauro called her colleague “a trailblazer” in Congress — noting that she was the first Latina on the Appropriations Committee and the first woman to chair the Congressional Hispanic Caucus — and was “a champion for the people of California.”

“It has been my privilege to have a front row seat to her work for decades,” DeLauro said.

“As chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee, Rep. Roybal-Allard has carried out a difficult assignment with grit and grace,” she continued. “Her deep knowledge of the issues, her close relationship with advocates, and her unyielding focus on a fair immigration system and a nation where our border, ports, skies and cyberspace are protected have been critical to the success of Congress’ appropriations work. 

“Her leadership as author of the Dream and Promise Act has been so critical in providing hope to millions of young people striving to fully participate in our society. And her founding of the Immigration Women’s Working Group has helped ensure that women’s voices are heard in this critical debate and that women’s interests are served by our nation’s immigration policies,” DeLauro said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Roybal-Allard “an absolute force for progress in the hallowed halls of Congress.” 

“Whether rallying the nation behind our dreamers, wielding the power of the purse as an appropriator or delivering for her beloved Southern California community, Rep. Roybal-Allard has long been a trusted voice for her constituents and respected leader within our caucus,” Pelosi said.

“Roybal-Allard’s unyielding commitment to our immigrant communities is in her DNA: not only following in the footsteps of her legendary father, but blazing a trail as the first Mexican-American woman elected to the Congress,” Pelosi continued. “The godmother of the Dream Act, she has been fearless in her decades-long fight to deliver a pathway to citizenship. 

“As a ‘cardinal’ at the helm of Appropriations’ powerful subcommittee on Homeland Security, she has been a relentless champion for asylum seekers and unaccompanied children — fighting to uphold our nation’s promise of liberty and justice for all,” Pelosi said. “And for years, she has worked tirelessly to improve maternal health in Latino communities: ensuring mothers have more of the folic acid they need for a safe pregnancy and preventing dangerous birth defects so that babies can have a healthy start.”

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue.