Lori R. Saldaña (born November 7, 1958) is an American politician from San Diego, California. She is a former member of the California State Assembly from the 76th Assembly district (central San Diego). She served from 2004 to 2010, when term limits prevented her from seeking re-election. She served as a Democrat. After leaving the Assembly, Saldaña campaigned unsuccessfully for a number of other elected positions. This included the 2012 election for California's 52nd congressional district, the 2016 San Diego mayoral election, the 2018 San Diego County Board of Supervisors election, and the 2022 San Diego City Council District 2. Early life, education, and academic career Lori Saldaña was born in 1958 in San Diego, the third of four daughters born to Virginia and Frank Saldaña. Frank Saldaña served in the Marine Corps and was a reporter for the San Diego Evening Tribune. Saldaña grew up in the Clairemont area of San Diego. After graduation from Madison High School, she attended San Diego State University (SDSU), earning both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a master's degree in Education. Saldaña started her post-graduate life as a coach at San Diego City College, Clairemont High School, and Madison High School. Later, she worked as a professor and administrator in the San Diego Community College District, where she taught Business Information Technology and managed Department of Labor grants used to provide technical skills and training to the student base. She has also taught at her alma mater, San Diego State University. She is the author of Lori Saldaña's Backpacking Primer (1995). California Assembly Elections In 2004, incumbent State Assemblywoman Christine Kehoe of California's 76th State Assembly district decided to retire in order to run for a seat in the California Senate. Saldaña ran for the open seat and won the Democratic primary with a plurality of 41% of the vote. In the general election, she defeated Republican Tricia Hunter, a former Assemblywoman, 54%-41%. In 2006, she won re-election to a second term with 64% of the vote. In 2008, she won re-election to a third term with 64% of the vote. She left the Assembly due to term limits in 2010. Tenure In 2007 Saldaña was named Legislator of the Year by Californians Against Waste for her legislation regarding E-waste. In the 2009 session of the state legislature, Saldana introduced three bills that would restrict California's ballot initiative process: Assembly Bill 6,