Rex Richardson

Rex Richardson (born August 18, 1983) is an American politician from California who has served as the mayor of Long Beach, California since 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, Richardson previously served as a councilmen of the Long Beach City Council, representing the 9th District From 2014 until 2022.

Rex Richardson
29th Mayor of Long Beach
Assumed office
December 20, 2022
Preceded byRobert Garcia
Vice Mayor of Long Beach
In office
August 2, 2016 – December 20, 2022
Preceded bySuja Lowenthal
Succeeded byCindy Allen
Member of the Long Beach City Council
from the 9th district
In office
July 15, 2014 – December 20, 2022
Preceded bySteven Neal
Succeeded byJoni Ricks-Oddie
Personal details
Born (1983-08-18) August 18, 1983
Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseNina
Children2
EducationCalifornia State University, Dominguez Hills

Early life and career

Richardson was born on August 18, 1983, at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.[1] His father was a member of the United States Air Force and his mother worked for General Motors as a welder on their assembly line.[2] His parents divorced when he was three or four years old, and he and his siblings relocated with their mother, living in Michigan, Minnesota, and Missouri before settling in Pickens County, Alabama, before moving to California when he was 11 years old. He graduated from Covina High School and enrolled at California State University, Dominguez Hills. He served as student body president, but dropped out of college without graduating to take a job as a community organizer for the Service Employees International Union Local 721.[1]

In 2010, Steve Neal, the member of the Long Beach City Council for the ninth district, hired Richardson as his chief of staff and tasked him with organizing community groups in the district. In 2014, Neal ran for the California Assembly, and Richardson was elected to the city council to succeed him.[1] In 2015, he rolled out the My Brother's Keeper Challenge to Long Beach.[3] He was elected vice mayor of Long Beach in 2016.[4] Richardson returned to college through remote learning in 2020, and completed his bachelor's degree from Cal State Dominguez Hills.[1]

Mayor of Long Beach

Election
See also: 2022 Long Beach, California, mayoral election

Richardson announced his candidacy for the mayoralty of Long Beach in January 2022, upon Robert Garcia's retirement to run for the United States House of Representatives.[5] He received the endorsements of Senator Alex Padilla,[6] Governor Gavin Newsom,[7] and the outgoing Mayor Garcia.[8]

In the June 7 primary election, Richardson and fellow councilor Suzie Price received the most votes, but since no candidate received a majority of the votes, the election advanced to a runoff. Richardson would win the runoff election on November 8, 2022, becoming the first Black mayor of Long Beach.[9][10]

Tenure

Richardson was sworn in on December 20, 2022.[11]

Personal life

Richardson and his wife, Nina, have two daughters.[12] They live in North Long Beach.[1]

Electoral history
2022 Long Beach, California, mayoral election[13]
Candidate Votes  %
Rex Richardson 33,791 44.11%
Suzie Price 28,331 36.98%
Joshua Rodriguez 6,286 8.21%
Raul Cedillo 4,563 5.96%
Franklin Sims 2,121 2.77%
Deborah Mozer 1,511 1.97%
Total votes 76,603 100%
2022 Long Beach, California, mayoral runoff election[14]
Candidate Votes  %
Rex Richardson 62,751 56.61%
Suzie Price 48,098 43.39%
Total votes 110,849 100.00%

References
  1. Pignataro, Anthony (October 16, 2022). "Compare Your Candidates: Rex Richardson wants to be mayor. Who is he?". Long Beach Post News. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  2. "Councilman Rex Richardson Announces Campaign for Mayor of Long Beach". January 6, 2022.
  3. "Vice Mayor Richardson at White House My Brother's Keeper Summit: 'It Has to Be Personal' • Long Beach Post News". lbpost.com.
  4. "Rex Richardson elected vice mayor of Long Beach". Press-Telegram. July 20, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  5. Saltzgaver, Harry (January 3, 2022). "Vice Mayor Rex Richardson makes it official: He’s running for mayor of Long Beach – Press Telegram". Presstelegram.com. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  6. courtesy (September 9, 2022). "Senator Alex Padilla endorses Rex Richardson for Mayor of Long Beach". Orange County Breeze. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  7. courtesy (August 17, 2022). "Governor Gavin Newsom endorses Rex Richardson for Long Beach Mayor". Orange County Breeze. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  8. "Election 2022: Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia endorses Rex Richardson to succeed him on Nov. 8". Press Telegram. September 23, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  9. "Election results show Richardson, Price leading in Long Beach mayoral race • Long Beach Post News". lbpost.com.
  10. "Long Beach to elect first Black mayor, Rex Richardson, after opponent concedes". Los Angeles Times. November 15, 2022.
  11. "Rex Richardson sworn in as Long Beach's first Black mayor". CBS News.
  12. "Vice Mayor Rex Richardson Welcomes Home Healthy Baby Daughter • Long Beach Post News". lbpost.com.
  13. "Election Results". results.lavote.gov.
  14. "Election Results - LONG BEACH CITY GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION Mayor". results.lavote.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
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