CFA Names Senator Connie Leyva, Assemblymember Miguel Santiago as Legislators of the Year

CFA is excited to announce our 2022 Legislators of the Year: state Senator Connie Leyva and Assemblymember Miguel Santiago. Both elected officials are aligned with anti-racism and social justice reforms.

Sen. Leyva (D-Chino), the chair of the Senate Education Committee and the Senate Democratic Caucus, is a lifelong activist standing up for working people and families. Leyva, a leader of the labor movement, became the first woman president of the California Labor Federation, which represents more than 2.1 million workers across the state. In the legislature, she has been a fearless and unwavering champion for public higher education and racial, gender, and social justice issues.

Leyva has led many historic fights for Californians, like preventing sexual harassment and discrimination cases, ensuring pay for domestic workers, expanding healthcare to all Californians, just to name a few. Recently, she has supported CFA’s efforts to call for an investigation into Title IX issues within the CSU.

Assemblymember Santiago (D-Los Angeles) is deeply committed to public higher education and has spent his career fighting for racial and social justice causes. He was vocal and instrumental in our contract fight, never hesitating to advocate for our fair contract.

Santiago has led the charge to protect undocumented Californians and immigrants both local and nationally against the Trump Administration. He has worked in the legislature to provide housing for unhoused members of our communities and stimulate more affordable housing. Santiago, the chair of the Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee, has led efforts to pass Broadband For All.

CFA honored Sen. Leyva and Assemblymember Santiago this week at our annual Lobby Days event.