Jenny Oropeza

Who was Jenny Oropeza?

Jennifer Ann "Jenny" Oropeza was the California State Senator for the 28th district which includes the cities of Carson, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance; the Los Angeles communities of Cheviot Hills, Bel Air, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, Lennox, Mar Vista, Marina del Rey, Palms, Playa del Rey, Rancho Park, San Pedro, West Los Angeles, Westchester, Wilmington and Venice; and part of the city of Long Beach.

Oropeza was elected to her first term in the California State Senate in November 2006 and garnered 62 percent of the vote. Oropeza died less than two weeks before the November 2, 2010 election, in which she had been expected to easily win reelection. Her name remained on the ballot in the 28th Senate District. Oropeza posthumously won reelection on November 2, 2010.

She served in the California State Assembly for six years prior to her time in the Senate. Oropeza ran for California's 37th Congressional seat in a June 2007 special election following the death of Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald but lost the primary to Laura Richardson. Oropeza and Tom Mullins married in August 1977.