Suzette Martinez Valladares

Valladares was born in Sylmar, Los Angeles and graduated from Sylmar High School. She earned an associate degree from the College of the Canyons and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from California State University, Northridge.[2]

From 2009 to 2012, Valladares served as the district representative for Congressman Buck McKeon. In 2014, she was a candidate for the 36th district in the California State Assembly. In 2014 and 2015, she worked as the California Director of Hispanic Initiatives for the Republican National Committee. From 2015 to 2018, she was the executive director of Southern California Autism Speaks. In 2018, she was a candidate for California's 25th congressional district.[3] before withdrawing from the race to run for state assembly.

In 2020, Valladares became one of two Republican nominees for the 38th district in the California State Assembly after incumbent Democrat Christy Smith announced that she would not seek re-election and instead focus on her run for the United States House of Representatives against Mike Garcia. Valladares placed first in the nonpartisan blanket primary and defeated fellow Republican Lucie Lapointe Volotzky in the November general election.[4][5]