Prior to his election in 2018,Gabriel served as a board member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and the League of Conservation Voters. He also was appointed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky to the Los Angeles County Commission on Local Governmental Services. [13]
California Assembly
Following Matt Dababneh's resignation from the California State Assembly after numerous charges of sexual harassment,effective December 31,2017,Gabriel announced his candidacy in a special election to replace him in California's 45th State Assembly district. [5] Gabriel won the special election on June 5,2018,earning 65.7 percent of the vote. He was sworn into office on June 11. He won reelection to his first full term in the November 2018 General Election against Justin Clark,winning with 70.3 percent of the vote.
Shortly after assuming office,Gabriel was appointed to the State Assembly Leadership as Assistant Majority Whip under Majority Whip Todd Gloria. He also was elected by his colleagues as Vice Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus under Chair Ben Allen.
Legislation
During his first full term in the State Assembly,Gabriel authored nine bills that were signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom,including legislation to expand legal services for low-income Californians in civil cases and to establish a Nonprofit Security Grant Program to improve the physical security of nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of violent attacks or hate crimes. [14] [15]
Constitutional Rights
Gabriel was a principal co-author of the constitutional amendment to protect reproductive freedom in the California Constitution. [16] He also co-authored the constitutional amendment to protect marriage equality in the California Constitution. [17]
Public Safety
In 2019,Gabriel co-founded a legislative working group that hosted former congresswoman and gun control advocate Gabrielle Giffords,the Brady Campaign,and Moms Demand Action with the purpose of discussing gun control in California and enacting more than a dozen new gun safety measures. [18]
In 2023,Gabriel authored the Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Act,a first-in-the-nation measure which taxes gun industry profits to fund gun violence prevention and school safety in communities across California. [19] This legislation was supported by a coalition of more than 100 gun safety groups but was strongly opposed by the National Rifle Association and the California Rifle &Pistol Association. [20] Governor Newsom signed the bill into law on September 26,2023. [21] Gabriel also authored legislation [22] prohibiting the sale of DIY machine guns,which Governor Newsom signed on October 10,2025. [23]
In 2025,following the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire,which both struck Los Angeles County,Gabriel introduced legislation strengthening penalties for looting and impersonation of first responders during wildfires and other emergencies. [24] Governor Newsom signed the bill as part of a package of legislation supporting recovery and rebuilding efforts. [25]
Food Safety &Ultraprocessed Foods
In 2023,Gabriel authored the California Food Safety Act,a bipartisan measure to ban red dye no. 3,potassium bromate,brominated vegetable oil,and propylparaben from foods sold in California. [26] The bill received significant national and international press coverage [27] and was described as a “truly historic win for consumers”. [28] The bill passed the legislature on a bipartisan vote in both houses and was signed into law by Governor Newsom on October 7,2023. [29]
In 2024,Gabriel authored the California School Food Safety Act,first-in-the-nation legislation which prohibits California public schools from serving foods containing six synthetic food dyes linked to behavioral harm to children. [30] The legislation passed with bipartisan support and was signed by Governor Newsom on September 28,2024. [31]
In 2025,Gabriel authored the Real Food,Healthy Kids Act,landmark legislation that provides the first-ever statutory definition of ultra-processed food and will phase out the most harmful ultra-processed foods from California schools. [32] Governor Newsom signed the bill into law at a signing ceremony on October 8,2025,where he celebrated the law as a first-in-the-nation measure to ensure California students have access to healthy meals made from real foods,not harmful chemical additives. [33]
Environmental Protection
Gabriel is consistently ranked as one of the Legislature’s most committed environmentalists. A former Board Member of the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters,he has championed efforts to address climate change [34] ,expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure [35] ,encourage water conservation [36] ,and protect California’s precious natural resources.
Supporting Small Businesses
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic,Gabriel authored several measures cutting red tape [37] and helping struggling neighborhood restaurants safely expand outdoor dining [38] .
Housing and Homelessness
Gabriel has worked extensively on legislation to address housing and homelessness in California. He has authored bills to support homeless veterans [39] ,increase accountability for homelessness funding and programs [40] ,and deliver more affordable housing. [41]
