Laura Richardson

Who is Laura Richardson?

Laura Richardson is an American politician who was the U.S. Representative for California's 37th congressional district from 2007 to 2013. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Her district was reorganized following the 2010 United States Census, but during Richardson's time in office it encompassed the inland section of Long Beach, Carson, Compton and Signal Hill, as well as parts of other municipalities.

She previously represented the 55th district in the California State Assembly for the 2007 term until she was elected to the House of Representatives for California's 37th congressional district in a special election on August 21, 2007, to fill the vacancy resulting from the death of Juanita Millender-McDonald. She was reelected to represent that district in 2008 and 2010. Following the decennial reorganization of Congressional districts in 2012, the 37th Congressional District was moved to another part of the state and the newly created 44th Congressional District encompassed a slim majority of her previous district, prompting her to move her permanent residence into the new district and run against fellow incumbent Democrat Rep.