Joaquin Arambula

Dr. Joaquin Arambula is a Democrat and emergency room physician representing Assembly District 31, which encompasses much of Fresno and surrounding Central Valley communities ^[1,2]. The first Latino physician elected to the California State Assembly, Arambula brings a medical perspective to policymaking and has focused his legislative career on health care access, addressing physician shortages, and birth defect prevention -- the last of which represents meaningful with pro-life priorities ^[3,4]. He is the son of former Assemblymember Juan Arambula, and he and his wife Elizabeth are raising three daughters in Fresno ^[2,5]. With a 21% CFC Biblical Values Scorecard rating, Arambula's voting record has consistently diverged from the California Family Council's worldview framework on the sanctity of life (Chapter 6), parental authority in education (Chapter 8), and religious liberty (Chapter 9).

Dr. Joaquin Arambula (born May 17, 1977) was born in Delano, California -- the heart of the farmworker movement -- and grew up in Fresno, where he attended public schools ^[1,2].

Arambula entered the California State Assembly in April 2016 through a special election to replace Henry Perea, who had resigned the seat ^[1,5]. He has won re-election in every subsequent cycle, most recently defeating Republican Solomon Verduzco in November 2024 ^[1]. His district includes much of the City of Fresno along with the rural cities of Fowler, Sanger, Selma, Orange Cove, and Parlier, as well as unincorporated communities in southern and eastern Fresno County ^[2,3].

Their 18.9% Biblical Values Scorecard rating across 74 scored floor votes reflects consistent divergence from CFC's worldview framework. Their voting record has supported abortion access expansion over the sanctity of human life, government-directed education over parental authority and school choice, and progressive social mandates over religious liberty protections.

Arambula's personal life reflects the family-centered values he speaks about publicly. He and his wife Elizabeth are raising three daughters in Fresno, and his decision to return to the Central Valley after medical school rather than pursue a more lucrative career elsewhere speaks to his commitment to his home community ^[2,3].