Rob Bonta to be the first Filipino American to serve as California’s Attorney General
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 25, 2021) – The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) extends our warmest congratulations to Hon. Assemblymember Rob Bonta for being appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom as California’s next Attorney General and the first Filipino American to serve in the role.
Mr. Bonta’s exceptional career distinguishes him from other candidates in many ways. He has been a champion for immigrant rights, women’s rights, environmental protections, health care access, and language access to voting. He advocated for the California school curriculum to include the role that Filipino Americans played in the California Labor Movement. He previously chaired the Assembly Health Committee, the API Legislative Caucus, and co-chaired the Assembly Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color. Mr. Bonta was also instrumental in advancing NaFFAA’s advocacy to install a contextual Bronze Plaque, which details the critical events in unknown Philippine-American history and completes the historical accuracy of the story inscribed on San Francisco’s Dewey Monument.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Bonta served as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, handling complex litigation that gained him much respect from his peers and client agencies. In 2010, he became a member of the Alameda City Council, receiving the highest number of votes. As a result, he was elected to be Vice Mayor. Afterwards, Mr. Bonta ran for the California State Assembly in 2012 to represent Oakland, Alameda, and San Leandro. His victory was significant, as he became the first Filipino American in all of California history to be elected to the California State Legislature.
NaFFAA celebrates the appointment of Hon. Rob Bonta, and we wish him luck in his confirmation hearings with the California State Assembly and Senate within 90 days. If confirmed, we look forward to seeing him serve as an advocate of criminal justice reform for all Californians, even as they take a firmer stand against the rising violence against Asian Americans.
Since 1997, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) has been the standard-bearer for promoting the welfare and well-being of the four million Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. NaFFAA is the largest non-partisan, non-profit organization and national affiliation of Filipino American institutions, umbrella organizations, and individuals. Its fourteen-member regions cover the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands.
