Culver City Observer -

Today, former California Speaker of the State Assembly John A. Pérez announced that he is running for the 34th Congressional District, which is being vacated by U.S. Congressman Xavier Becerra.

Pérez released the following statement announcing his run:

“In the aftermath of November’s election nationwide, two facts are clearer than ever. The first is that we need to fight harder than ever to protect the progress we’ve made. The second is that California is the one place in the country where Democrats know how to win, and the one place in the country where government is working.

"I am proud to have played a role in enacting some of the most impactful legislation in the country to help poor and working class families, as well as the middle class on issues from college affordability to job training to public education, environmental justice, equality and more. I'm running for Congress to take these California values and our state's visionary approach to the national level.

"California needs leadership who will stand up against Donald Trump, but also leadership that will fight for the poor, the middle class, for job creation, and for a vision that can help us win all across the country. These are a few of the reasons why I’m running for Congress.”

Pérez previously represented large swaths of the 34th Congressional district while serving in the State Assembly.

The assemblyman is a University of California (UC) Regent, where he fights for college affordability and serves as a voice on behalf of students and parents. From 2010-2014, Pérez served as Speaker of the California State Assembly.

Pérez made history both by being the longest serving Speaker of the Assembly in the era of term limits, and by being the first openly LGBT leader of a State Legislative chamber in California. As a legislative leader, he also spearheaded efforts in 2012 to win an unprecedented super majority in the State Assembly.

While in the State Assembly, Pérez authored legislation that created Covered California, the state's healthcare exchange stemming from the Affordable Care Act, as well as the Middle Class Scholarship Act, that dramatically reduced public university tuition costs. During the height of the Great Recession, Speaker Emeritus Pérez inherited a $64 billion structural state deficit, and by the end of his tenure as Speaker, California was running a significant surpluses. Prior to his career as an elected official, Speaker Emeritus Pérez worked as a union organizer. He grew up in El Sereno and Highland Park.