The Hill’s 2012 New Members Guide

Rep.-elect Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.-29)

DATE OF BIRTH: March 31, 1963

BIRTHPLACE: Los Angeles 

RESIDENCE: Los Angeles

OCCUPATION: State senator 

EDUCATION: Duke University; Vanderbilt School of Law 

PREVIOUS OFFICE HELD: Los Angeles City Council; California State Assembly

FAMILY: Wife, Norma; three children

Los Angeles City Councilman Tony Cardenas sailed easily to victory in this newly created district. 

Cardenas avoided a tough Democratic challenger when Rep. Howard Berman, whose old district makes up a portion of the new map, decided to run in another district. Cardenas is the first Hispanic to represent the San Fernando Valley in this majority-minority district.  

In the general election, Cardenas faced a conservative third-party candidate. 

He served the maximum three terms in the California State Assembly, where he chaired the Budget Committee. He served on the Lost Angeles City Council for the last eight years, where he worked to stymie gang activities and promote clean energy. In the council, he served on the Business Tax Reform Committee and chaired the Natural Resources Committee and the Gang Violence and Youth Development Committee.