Mike Gipson
Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson was proudly born and raised in the Watts community of Los Angeles. Assemblymember Gipson always knew that he wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of those he encountered. He understands that his “why” is to serve. His upbringing and the foundation provided by his parents, who both only had a high school education, inspired Assemblymember Gipson's dedication to leading others. His father, a truck driver and union organizer, and mother, who cleaned the homes of wealthy families, provided lessons early in Assemblymember Gipson’s life that led him to believe that “I am my brothers’/sisters’ keeper.” His parents taught him to trust and believe in God and that hard work will always pay off.
Assemblymember Gipson’s undeniable passion for public service propelled him to run and get elected to the Carson City Council in 2005. He served as Mayor Pro Tempore, for nearly a decade, before running for the California State Assembly in 2014, where he has served ever since. Today, Assemblymember Gipson represents the new 65th Assembly District which includes the areas of Watts, Willowbrook, Compton, Carson, North Long Beach, Harbor Gateway North & South, Harbor City, Wilmington, and San Pedro.
Since joining the Legislature, Assemblymember Gipson has been a true leader for his community and among his peers. In 2015, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon appointed Assemblymember Gipson to serve as his right hand in the influential role of Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair, where he sets the agenda for the largest Democratic Caucus in the history of the California State Assembly. Assemblymember Gipson also Chairs the Select Committees on Police Reform; Infectious Diseases; and is a member of the Select Committees on Domestic Violence, Foster Care, Gasoline Supply, Social Housing, Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship, and Ports. Assemblymember Gipson is also an active member of the California Legislative Black Caucus and the incoming Chair of the 76th Council of State Governments West (CSG West), which currently represents 13 states in the U.S.
Assemblymember Gipson also serves on Standing Committees such as Governmental Organizations; Insurance; Business and Professions; Transportation; and Rules. He has championed groundbreaking legislation to ban “ghost guns” in the state of California; expand access to mobile stroke units; reduce barriers to employment; significant police reform bills that now prohibit chokeholds; ban restraints that lead to “positional asphyxiation;” and eradicate “police gangs.”
Assemblymember Gipson is a diligent champion for his district in providing resources and funding for essential programs in communities that have been historically underserved. In 2022, Assemblymember Gipson secured nearly $4 billion in state funding for various district projects. Assemblymember Gipson secured $5.5 million for youth services for the Watts community in the form of increased recreational opportunities and a 4-acre arts and culture campus. A new Pathways in Technology Early College High School educational institution in Compton will serve as a place for the community to get Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics jobs and skills that were only made possible by a $3.5 million budget allocation he secured. An additional $1 million was awarded to the Wilmington Boys & Girls Club to help this essential community asset continue to run and make improvements to safety and transportation. He also championed $110 million to fund a state-of-the-art art Goods Movement Workforce Training Campus in the Los Angeles Harbor Region, which will deliver an increased supply of well-paid, trained workers to the industry. To address the pressing mental health issues many young adults face, Assemblymember Gipson also successfully spearheaded $10 million to fund peer-to-peer mental health services in K-12 schools throughout California.
Most notably, Assemblymember Gipson’s work in the areas of police reform, education, social justice, health, and housing have resulted in several awards that include “Legislator of the Year” by the California Association of Black Lawyers; the “2021 Champions for Adults with Sickle Cell Disease” by the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation; the “Outstanding Legislator” award by the Community College League of California; and “Legislator of the Year” again by the Children’s Law Center, among many others.
Assemblymember Gipson currently resides in Carson with his wife, Le Cresha Gipson. They have two sons, Devon and Jordan, and three beautiful biracial grandchildren: Faafetai Ole Alofa Gipson, Cataleya Acevedo-Gipson, and Amore Gipson. A hit-and-run motorist killed their third son, D’Ance, who was only three years old.
