| Born and raised in Watts, Los Angeles, Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson has dedicated his life to public service. Inspired by his parents-a truck driver and union president father and a hardworking mother-he learned the values of faith, hard work, and community responsibility.
Gipson's passion for leadership led him to the Carson City Council in 2005, where he served as Mayor Pro Tempore before being elected to the California State Assembly in 2014. He currently represents the 65th Assembly District, covering Watts, Compton, Carson, North Long Beach, Wilmington, and surrounding areas.
A respected leader in the Legislature, Gipson was the longest-serving Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair (2015-2023) and now chairs the Revenue and Taxation Committee. He also chairs the Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement and serves on multiple committees addressing domestic violence, workforce development, homelessness, and restorative justice. He is an active member of the California Legislative Black Caucus and Vice-Chair of the Council of State Governments National (CSG).
Gipson has championed significant legislation, including bans on "ghost guns" police chokeholds, and "excited delirium" diagnoses, as well as reforms to improve stroke care and employment access. His advocacy has secured nearly $4 billion in state funding, including-
$5.5 million for youth recreation and an arts campus in Watts
$3.5 million for a STEM-focused high school in Compton
$1 million for Wilmington Boys & Girls Club safety improvements
$110 million for a Goods Movement Workforce Training Campus in LA Harbor
$10 million for peer mental health services in K-12 schools
$2.5 million for a psychiatric hospital in South LA
$25 million to keep MLK Jr. Community Hospital open
His work has earned numerous awards, including "Legislator of the Year" from the California Association of Black Lawyers and the Children's Law Center.
Gipson resides in Carson with his wife, LeCresha, their sons Devon and Jordan, and five grandchildren. His third son, D'Ancee, was tragically killed in a hit-and-run at age three. |