Palm Springs Councilmember Lisa Middleton running for State Senate in 2024
Palm Springs City Councilmember Lisa Middleton is running for State Senate in 2024. Middleton announced her campaign on Tuesday.
She spoke one-on-one with News Channel 3's Peter Daut about her campaign.
"Couple of things that are absolutely prominent for me is bringing daily rail service to the Coachella Valley and to the San Grogonio Pass. That will make it possible for individuals who currently cannot commute into metropolitan Southern California for work," Middleton said.
You can watch the full interview in the player at the top of the article
She will be running for California's 19th State Senate District. The newly drawn 19th State District covers parts of the Coachella Valley and San Bernardino County, including Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, and La Quinta. Other notable cities include Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley, Banning, etc.
Middleton was elected to the Palm Springs City Council in 2017, making her the first transgender person elected to a non-judicial political office in California. She was re-elected to a four-year term in 2020.
In 2022, she made history by becoming the first transgender Mayor in California's history.
If elected to the Senate, Middleton would make history again as the first out transgender person to serve in the California Legislature.
Middleton has a long history as a public servant and community activist even before her time on the city council.
Middleton spent 36 years with California's State Compensation Insurance Fund. At her retirement, she was the senior vice president of Internal Affairs with executive responsibility for internal audits, fraud investigation, public records, and governance. She was also a member of California's Fraud Assessment Commission, which she chaired in 2010.
Locally, she served as a member of the Palm Springs Planning Commission and as chairwoman of the Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs. She is a member of the board of directors of the Equality California Institute and the Desert LGBTQ Center. In 2014 she was the Center's interim executive director.
Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates on this election.
