Bilal Ali "Bill" Essayli is an American lawyer and politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. He is the first Muslim elected to the California State Assembly. A Republican, he represents California's 63rd State Assembly district, which includes Canyon Lake, Corona, Eastvale, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Norco, Riverside, Temescal Valley, and Woodcrest.[2]
Bill Essayli
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| Member of the California State Assembly from the 63rd district | |
| Assumed office December 5, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Anthony Rendon (redistricting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bilal Ali Essayli (1985-11-24) November 24, 1985 (age 38)[1] Corona, California |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Chapman University School of Law |
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Essayli's parents are immigrants from Lebanon who fled to the country to escape its civil war.[3]
Essayli is the first member of his family to graduate from college. He received his undergraduate degree from the Kellogg Honors College of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Chapman University School of Law.[4]
Essayli served as an intern in the White House Counsel's Office in 2008. He then worked in private practice, where he focused on employment law. Then he joined the Riverside County District Attorney's office as a prosecutor. He then became an Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California. Among the cases he worked on was the 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino.[5]
In 2018, Essayli ran for the California State Assembly against incumbent Democrat Sabrina Cervantes. He lost the election, but made a strong showing, which raised his local profile.
In 2022, Essayli ran for the state Assembly in the newly created 63rd Assembly District. He defeated Eastvale Mayor Clint Lorimore in the primary and businesswoman Fauzia Rizvi in the general election.
Essayli is the first Muslim in history to be elected to the California State Assembly.[6]
| Primary election | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
| Democratic | Fauzia Rizvi | 33,456 | 40.0 | ||
| Republican | Bill Essayli | 28,659 | 34.2 | ||
| Republican | Clint Lorimore | 21,598 | 25.8 | ||
| Total votes | 83,713 | 100% | |||
| General election | |||||
| Republican | Bill Essayli | 82,613 | 58.6 | ||
| Democratic | Fauzia Rizvi | 58,346 | 41.4 | ||
| Total votes | 140,959 | 100% | |||
| Republican win (new seat) | |||||
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