Editor’s Note: The following Q&A was conducted as part of the story “As Trump takes office, Valley Latino legislators talk immigration and the road ahead.”
Esmeralda Soria represents state Assembly District 27, which includes parts of Merced, Madera and Fresno counties.
A daughter of farmworkers and a former Fresno City Council member, Soria has built much of her political career by advocating for the needs of working-class families.
Despite an election cycle in which Valley counties voted in favor of Donald Trump for president, Soria, a Democrat, secured another term in the state Assembly, underscoring the strength of her connection with local voters.
In an interview with The Merced FOCUS, Soria shared her thoughts on the next four years under a Trump presidency, her district’s priorities, and her leadership approach.
What do you see as the most significant challenges facing Latino communities under the Trump administration, particularly regarding immigration and economic policies? How do you plan to address them?
Assemblymember Soria: Our Latino families are concerned about the same things other families are concerned with on a daily basis. They are concerned about the cost of living, health care access, safe communities, and a quality education for their children. These are the issues facing our Latino communities today, and now we have the added challenge of the national narrative on our immigrant families.
What specific steps are you taking to advocate for the needs and rights of Latino constituents? Are there any partnerships or coalitions you’re building to amplify their voices at the state or national level?
Assemblymember Soria: Since taking office in 2022, I have been working around the clock advocating for our Latino families, which make up nearly 70% of our district. Together, we’ve fought to deliver millions in funding to the Central Valley for public safety, student housing, parks, community centers, and agriculture.
Together we’ll be reopening the Madera Community Hospital and secured $57 million to do it. We secured $20 million for Planada, a small and rural farmworker community devastated from the 2023 floods, and we’ve fought hard to secure investments to build the UC Merced Medical School. In a year where every county in my district showed up strongly for President-elect Trump, they also strongly voted to re-elect an incumbent Democrat and daughter of farm workers such as myself — something I’m incredibly proud of.
How has Trump’s presidency shaped your approach to leadership, and what strategies will you employ to navigate the next four years while ensuring the wellbeing of your community?
Assemblymember Soria: My approach will remain the same: listen to my community, work with my community, and work hard to deliver for my community. Here’s the bottom line — I will continue to work with anyone who shares our values when it comes to serving our Latino communities. I’ll work with anyone and everyone who’s willing to create more jobs, build more affordable housing, and who’s interested in lowering the cost of living for our hard-working communities. Now more than ever, we must work harder to ensure ALL families can achieve the American and California dream.
