Senator Suzette Valladares Announced as Next GOP Senate Caucus Whip

California Republican Party leadership continued change on Monday with the announcement that Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita) is to be the new GOP Senate Caucus whip.

Valladares moves up to the top spots in party leadership after only a few years of elected office. A Republican National Committee employee and executive director of Southern California Autism Speaks in the late 2010s, Valladares ran for and won the Democratic leaning 38th Assembly district covering L.A. suburbs in 2020, defeating the Democratic candidate. Only two years later in 2022, Valladares ran for and won the 23rd Senate district following a redistricting shakeup of boundaries. Seen as a rising star in the party, Valladares most recently made news for helping launch the California Latino Legislative Caucus following Republicans being barred from the old Latino caucus by Democrats.

Her growing presence amongst California Republican leaders led to her biggest promotion yet on Monday, with Valladares being selected unanimously as the next Republican Party caucus whip.

“Suzette is a proven leader who brings passion and a deep understanding of the struggles California families face,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego) in an announcement on Monday. “As a Latina and a small business owner, she knows firsthand the burdens placed on hardworking Californians by excessive government overreach. I’m excited to have her as part of our leadership team.”

“It’s an honor to be named Senate Republican Whip,” added Senator Valladares. “Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones has done an incredible job bringing the party together, expanding the Republican presence in the Senate and holding the Governor and Democratic Majority accountable. I look forward to working with our caucus and colleagues on both sides of the aisle to prioritize policies that tackle our affordability crisis, expand opportunities for all Californians, and restore public safety in our communities.”

Valladares’ selection comes after a long CAGOP convention weekend in Sacramento where the party saw other major shakeups. Most notably, Corrin Rankin was selected as the next chair of the CAGOP, replacing Jessica Patterson as the leader of the state party. With these new selections, as well as the party needing new inter-party caucuses to help meet the growing demand of diverse lawmakers being elected as Republicans, the CAGOP has shown that they are reaching Californians as well at the state Democratic Party.

“The GOP is showing, with Valladares and Rankin, just how diverse California Republicans really are,” Dana, a Capitol staffer told the Globe Monday. “So the new head of the CAGOP [Rankin] is a black woman from L.A. The Senate Minority leader [Jones] is from San Diego. The Assembly Minority Leader [James Gallagher] is all the way from way North California. And now the new Senate Caucus whip is a Latina woman from outside of L.A.

“Race, gender, geographic location. It doesn’t seem to matter. The CAGOP and party leaders are picking the best people possible, all the while showing up Democrats. I know from a few that they are not happy with this and can’t even call it a gimmick or call them tokens because just so many are moving up. They’re getting scared, and Valladares helped solidify that today.”