Art Torres

Art Torres
Chair of the California Democratic Party
In office 1996–2009
Preceded by	Bill Press
Succeeded by	John L. Burton
Member of the California State Senate from the 24th district
In office December 6, 1982 – November 30, 1994
Preceded by	Alex P. Garcia
Succeeded by	Hilda Solis
Member of the California State Assembly from the 56th district
In office December 2, 1974 – November 30, 1982
Preceded by	Charles H. Warren
Succeeded by	Gloria Molina (redistricted)
Personal details
Born	(1946-09-24) September 24, 1946 (age 77)[1] Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Yolonda Nava (divorced) [2]
Domestic partner	Gonzalo Escudero
Children	5
Residence	San Francisco
Education	University of California, Santa Cruz (BA) University of California, Davis (JD)

Arthur A. Torres^[3] (born September 24, 1946) is an American former politician who served as a member of the California State Legislature. He is the vice chair of the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee, the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). CIRM, established in 2005 following the passage of Proposition 71, is charged with allocating US$3 billion to California universities and research institutions to support and advance stem cell research. He is a colon cancer survivor and serves on the Board as a patient advocate.

He is also a member of the Board of Regents of the University of California.^[4]

Torres served as the chairman of the California Democratic Party from 1996 to 2009.^[4] He was the first Latino in the California Democratic Party to have been nominated for statewide office when he won the Democratic primary for insurance commissioner in 1994. He is openly gay. He is the father of a son and daughter.