Joaquin Arambula (born May 17, 1977) is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. He is a Democrat representing the 31st Assembly District, which encompasses southern and western Fresno County, including the cities of Sanger, Reedley, Orange Cove, and the west side of Fresno.
Joaquin Arambula | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 31st district | |
| Assumed office April 14, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Perea |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 17, 1977 Delano, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Relatives | Juan Arambula (father) |
| Education | Bowdoin College (BS) University of Minnesota, Duluth (MD) |
Arambula was elected to the assembly in a 2016 special election to replace former Assemblymember Henry Perea, who resigned to work as a lobbyist for PhRMA.
He is a member of the California Latino Legislative Caucus and the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.[1] Before being elected to the assembly, he was an emergency department physician. He is the son of former 31st District Assemblyman Juan Arambula.
Arambula was arrested on December 10, 2018, on suspicion of willful cruelty to a child, a misdemeanor under California domestic violence statutes.[2][3] The assemblymember thanked the teachers at his daughter's school and police officers “for doing their job” in starting the investigation.[2] One of his daughters had alleged that her father hit her on the face while he was wearing a ring.[4] During trial, photos were shown to jurors that showed a 1-inch bruise on the child's right temple.[4] On the witness stand during his trial, his daughter largely described the incident as an accident.[5] In May 2019, a Fresno jury found Arambula not guilty.[5]
Electoral history
edit2016 California State Assembly
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Joaquin Arambula (incumbent) | 31,600 | 57.7 | |
| Republican | Clint Olivier | 19,605 | 35.8 | |
| Democratic | Ted Miller | 3,582 | 6.5 | |
| Total votes | 54,787 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Joaquin Arambula (incumbent) | 62,404 | 63.8 | |
| Republican | Clint Olivier | 35,454 | 36.2 | |
| Total votes | 97,858 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2018 California State Assembly
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Joaquin Arambula (incumbent) | 24,128 | 59.5 | |
| Republican | Lupe Espinoza | 16,431 | 40.5 | |
| Total votes | 40,559 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Joaquin Arambula (incumbent) | 54,921 | 64.8 | |
| Republican | Lupe Espinoza | 29,771 | 35.2 | |
| Total votes | 84,692 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2020 California State Assembly
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Joaquin Arambula (incumbent) | 38,317 | 61.7 | |
| Republican | Fernando Banuelos | 23,743 | 38.3 | |
| Total votes | 62,060 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Joaquin Arambula (incumbent) | 77,193 | 61.9 | |
| Republican | Fernando Banuelos | 47,551 | 38.1 | |
| Total votes | 124,744 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
edit- ^ "Legislative Progressive Caucus". assembly.ca.gov. California State Assembly. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ a b Luna, Taryn (December 12, 2018). "California Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula says he was arrested after spanking his daughter". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ Luna, Taryn (December 12, 2018). "Fresno Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula is arrested on child cruelty charge". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
- ^ a b Luna, Taryn (4 May 2019). "Child cruelty case against California legislator begins in Fresno". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ a b Luna, Taryn (18 May 2019). "Few left unscathed in Arambula trial, which cleared lawmaker of child cruelty charge". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 March 2021.