Alan Lowenthal

Alan Lowenthal is a Jewish American and Democratic politician and a U.S. congressman representing California’s 47th congressional district.

Born March 8, 1941, Congressman Alan Lowenthal was raised in the Queens Borough of New York City. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and his Ph.D. from Ohio State University, he moved to Long Beach, California in 1969 where he taught Community Psychology at California State University, Long Beach until 1998.

Congressman Lowenthal successfully ran for Long Beach City Council in 1992, where he served for six years. He then continued his leadership in Sacramento, first serving three terms as a State Assembly member, then two terms as a State Senator.

While a State Assembly member, and as a founding member of the Assembly's Bipartisan Caucus, he paved the way for creation of California’s first ever independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, which took the power of redistricting out of the hands of politicians and gave it back to the people. In addition, Lowenthal led legislative efforts to revamp the state's K-12 and higher education systems. He championed the College Promise Partnership Act to help K-12 students better transition to college. The passage of his Student Success Act also helped higher education students by introducing significant reforms to the state community college system that focused on increasing graduation and transfer rates.

In 2012, Lowenthal was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the newly created 47th District after defeating Republican Gary DeLong. He won his reelection campaigns in 2014 and 2016. 

In Congress, he currently serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He is the Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. As a member of Natural Resources he also serves on the Subcommittee on Federal Lands. As a member of Transportation and Infrastructure, he serves on the Highways and Transit, the Water Resources and Environment, and the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation subcommittees.

Representing one of the most ethnically diverse districts in the nation, Congressman Lowenthal has championed human rights in Congress, not just at home, but throughout the world. He has also brought his strong support for LGBT rights to Washington, where he became the first Congress member to permanently fly the Pride flag outside his office. In addition, he has continued his long history of fighting for environmental protections, with a new mission to bring the issue of climate change to the front in Congress as chair of the more than 60-member Safe Climate Caucus.

He and his ex-wife Bonnie Lowenthal – who was elected to the California State Assembly in 2008 – have a son Daniel who serves as an elected judge to the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He is married to Deborah Malumed, MD.

Sources: Alan Lowenthal
“Alan Lowenthal,” Wikipedia.