Marie Alvarado-Gil

Marie Issa Alvarado-Gil (born December 24, 1973) is an American educator and politician who represents California's 4th State Senate district in the California State Senate, following her election in 2022. Elected as a member of the Democratic Party, she joined the Republican Party in August 2024.

Early life and education Alvarado-Gil was born in Mountain View, California, to parents from Jalisco, Mexico. She was placed in foster care by fifth grade and spent part of her youth with her Mexican grandmother who owned a tortilla factory in Mexico. She attended UC Davis, studying animal science. In her third year at the school, Alvarado-Gil pivoted from her education to raise her three children in rural northern California. She later attended the University of San Francisco, where she obtained both a Bachelors degree and a Master of Public Administration.

Political career Alvarado-Gil ran as a Democrat for California's 4th State Senate district in the 2022 California State Senate election. She placed second in the top-two primary, with fellow Democrat Tim Robertson placing first. This guaranteed that the district, which is largely rural and tends to lean Republican, would be represented by a Democrat. She beat Robertson in the general election, earning 52.7% of the vote.

Party change On August 8, 2024, Alvarado-Gil crossed the floor and joined the Republican Party. Upon switching her party affiliation, Alvarado-Gil lost all her committee assignments, and was forced out of the Latino Caucus. Alvarado-Gil is fiscally conservative and had previously voted with Republicans on labor, security and economic legislation; though she had also aligned with the Democratic Party on certain social issues. While the change was welcomed by Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones and Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher, conservative Assemblymember Bill Essayli dubbed her a "RINO for her previous support of liberal priorities and for her endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 United States presidential election." Essayli provided no evidence of an official endorsement by Alvardo-Gil.

Sexual harassment lawsuit On September 5, 2024, Alvarado-Gil's former chief of staff Chad Condit, son of former Congressman Gary Condit, filed a lawsuit against her and the California Senate alleging sexual harassment. The suit alleged Alvarado-Gil had demanded he perform sexual acts on her, eventually firing him in retaliation for his refusal. Through an attorney, Alvarado-Gil called the claim "outlandish" and vowed to fight the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that Condit eventually capitulated to her demands and performed oral sex upon her in a car during a trip to Inyo County, and that she harassed his family as well. His attorneys said the California Senate is conducting an investigation into Condit's claims.

In November of that year, Alvarado-Gil accused Chad Condit of participating in the murder of Chandra Levy, a woman who had an affair with Condit's father. Condit's attorneys strongly denied the allegation.

In July 2025, Alvarado-Gil was formally reprimanded by the Legislature's Workplace Conduct Unit for filing retaliatory complaints against the Condits the year before, where she had alleged ethics violations on their part related to an infrastructure project in Modesto.

2026 re-election

Alvarado-Gil ran for re-election in 2026. She faced two opponents; Democrat Tuolumne County Supervisor Jaron Brandon, and Republican almond farmer Alexandra Duarte, wife of former Congressman John Duarte. Alvarado-Gil lost renomination in the June 2 jungle primary, coming in last place and receiving about 27% of the vote. She is the first California State Senator to lose renomination in the 21st Century.

Electoral history

Results

Personal life Alvarado-Gil was diagnosed with cervical cancer and metastatic thyroid cancer in 2018, defeating both by 2019. Two of her children have special needs.