{{Short description|American politician (born 1974)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Like resume|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Andreas Borgeas | image = Official portrait cropped borgeas 4623 llsed1 2.jpg | state_senate = California State | district = 8th | term_start = December 3, 2018 | term_end = December 5, 2022 | predecessor = Tom Berryhill | successor = Angelique Ashby | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|3|7}} | birth_place = Arizona, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | spouse = Anna Hadjinlian | children = 2 | education = California State University, Fresno (BA)<br />Georgetown University (JD)<br />Panteion University (PhD) | website = {{url|borgeas.cssrc.us|Official website}} }}
'''Andreas Borgeas''' (born March 7, 1974) is an American attorney, politician, and academic who served as a member of the California State Senate from the 8th district, which included parts of the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada. Prior to being elected to the state Senate, he was a member of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. He represented all or portions of Amador, Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Sacramento, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties.<ref name="cssrc_borgeas" /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Edinger|first1=Marie|date=December 15, 2020|title=State Senator Andreas Borgeas named Chairman of Agriculture Committee|url=https://kmph.com/news/local/state-senator-andreas-borgeas-named-chairman-of-agriculture-committee|website=KMPH}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Borgeas is a native of Arizona. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from California State University, Fresno, a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law School, and a PhD in international affairs from Panteion University.<ref name="votesmart_borgeas"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=KU Andreas Borgeas {{!}} Capitol Morning Report|url=https://capitolmr.com/ku-andreas-borgeas/|access-date=2021-12-10|website=capitolmr.com}}</ref> He conducted his PhD field research in, and published extensively on, China and the neighboring Central Asian republics.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web |title=Biography |url=https://borgeas.cssrc.us/biography |website=Senator Andreas Borgeas |language=en |date=October 9, 2012 |access-date=April 25, 2019 |archive-date=April 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425070535/https://borgeas.cssrc.us/biography |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Career == === Academics and law === Borgeas conducted his PhD field research in, and published extensively on, China and the neighboring Central Asian Republics, receiving his graduate education at Georgetown Law School, Harvard University and Panteion University (Athens) of Political Sciences. After graduating, Borgeas was a law clerk for Judge Oliver Wanger of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. Borgeas then practiced law at Luce Forward.<ref name="cssrc_borgeas"/><ref name="votesmart_borgeas"/> For over a decade he has been a professor in the fields of international law and security affairs at the San Joaquin College of Law in Clovis, California and is an adjunct professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.<ref name=autogenerated2 />
As an educator, he has worked in numerous international professional and academic capacities; including, as a Fulbright Scholar, Contributing Fellow for the Woodrow Wilson Center, Policy Specialist Fellow at the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan<ref>{{cite web |title=Biography |url=https://borgeas.cssrc.us/biography |website=Senator Andreas Borgeas |language=en |access-date=April 25, 2019 |archive-date=April 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425070535/https://borgeas.cssrc.us/biography |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was appointed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy as commissioner on the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission.<ref>{{cite web |title=Andreas Borgeas, PhD U.S.- CHINA {{!}} ECONOMIC and SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION |url=https://www.uscc.gov/commission-members/andreas-borgeas-phd |website=www.uscc.gov}}</ref>
=== Local politics === In 2008, Borgeas started his political career by running successfully for the Fresno City Council.<ref name="cssrc_borgeas"/><ref name="votesmart_borgeas"/> In 2012, Borgeas was elected to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors; he was re-elected in 2016.<ref name="cssrc_borgeas" /><ref name="gvwire_borgeas">{{cite web |url=https://gvwire.com/2018/09/10/a-fresnan-will-represent-district-8-for-the-first-time-in-12-years-but-who-will-it-be/ |title=A Fresnan Will Represent District 8 in State Senate. Who Will It Be? |website=gvwire.com |date=September 10, 2018 |access-date=December 26, 2019}}</ref>
=== California State Senate === thumb|Andreas Borgeas on the Senate floor (2018) In November 2018, Borgeas was elected as a Republican to the California State Senate, representing the 8th district. Borgeas defeated Democrat Paulina Miranda with 59.6% of the votes.<ref name="cssrc_borgeas">{{cite web|url=https://borgeas.cssrc.us/biography|title=Senator Andreas Borgeas|website=cssrc.us|access-date=December 26, 2019|archive-date=April 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425070535/https://borgeas.cssrc.us/biography|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="votesmart_borgeas">{{cite web |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/111778/andreas-borgeas |title=Andrea's Borgeas' Biography |publisher=Vote Smart |access-date=December 26, 2019}}</ref>
Borgeas serves as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and vice chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.<ref name="autogenerated2" />
On January 11, 2022, Borgeas announced he would not seek a second term in the state Senate.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/andreas-borgeas-will-not-seek-re-election-to-state-senate/ | title=Andreas Borgeas will not seek re-election to state senate | work=CBS47 and KSEE24 | YourCentralValley.com | date=January 11, 2022 }}</ref>
==== White House visit ==== In October 2019, Borgeas was invited by President Donald Trump to witness the signing of two executive orders at the White House.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taub |first1=David |title=Borgeas Goes to White House. Talks About Trump Meeting. |url=https://gvwire.com/2019/10/11/borgeas-goes-to-white-house-talks-about-trump-meeting/ |website=GV Wire |publisher= Granville Homes |date=October 11, 2019}}</ref>
=== 2022 congressional special election === {{Main|2022 California's 22nd congressional district special election}} After incumbent Congressman Devin Nunes announced that he would resign from California's 8th congressional district to become CEO of the Trump Media & Technology Group, Borgeas formed an exploratory committee to consider a campaign for the seat.<ref>{{Cite web|last=KFSN|date=2021-12-08|title=CA senator Andreas Borgeas will run to replace Devin Nunes in Congress|url=https://abc30.com/11311536/|access-date=2021-12-10|website=ABC30 Fresno|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Edinger|first=Marie|date=2021-12-07|title=State Senator Andreas Borgeas looking to fill Devin Nunes' U.S. Congress Seat|url=https://kmph.com/news/local/state-senator-andreas-borgeas-looking-to-fill-devin-nunes-us-congress-seat|access-date=2021-12-10|website=KMPH}}</ref>
On January 6, 2022, Borgeas announced that he was suspending his campaign for the United States House of Representatives.
== Political positions == === Bipartisanship === Borgeas has been lauded for his bipartisan leadership when it comes to addressing regional issues on numerous occasions. The Fresno Bee has acknowledged Borgeas' objective and deft handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Warszawski |first1=Marek |title=Coronavirus crisis separates real leaders among Fresno politicians from the phonies |url=https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/marek-warszawski/article241503236.html |website=The Fresno Bee |publisher=McClatchy}}</ref> Borgeas also successfully spearheaded, with his Democratic colleague, Anna Caballero, a bipartisan effort to deliver $2.6 billion to small businesses impacted by COVID-19.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gligich |first1=Daniel |title=Backed by half of Calif. legislature, Borgeas' business relief plan picks up statewide support |url=http://sjvsun.com/california/backed-by-half-of-calif-legislature-borgeas-business-relief-plan-picks-up-statewide-support/ |website=The San Joaquin Valley Sun |date=February 16, 2021}}</ref>
Borgeas has been praised by ''The Modesto Bee'',<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stapley |first1=Garth |title=Capitol riot, local COVID vaccinations put good, questionable leadership on display |url=https://www.modbee.com/opinion/garth-stapley/article248452870.html |website=The Modesto Bee}}</ref> ''The Fresno Bee'',<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Thaddeus |title='It must end immediately.' Fresno-area, Valley leaders react as mob storms U.S. Capitol |url=https://www.fresnobee.com/article248320145.html |website=The Fresno Bee}}</ref> and ''The Sacramento Bee''<ref name="sacbee.com">{{cite web |author=The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board |title=These fascist Republican Party leaders have deep roots in California's state Capitol |url=https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article248435935.html |website=The Sacramento Bee}}</ref> for being one of the few Republicans to condemn the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol. The Sacramento Bee noted: "...state Sen. Andreas Borgeas, R-Fresno, who is apparently the only one of California’s nine Republican state senators willing to directly say the truth."<ref name="sacbee.com" />
=== CEQA reform === Borgeas has been a staunch advocate for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reform. In an op-ed Borgeas stated "...CEQA has morphed into a legal weapon for lawyers and activist groups to stall essential projects..."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Borgeas |first1=Andreas |title=Legislation Is More Effective Than Litigation |url=https://www.mymotherlode.com/community/blogs/legislation-is-more-effective-than-litigation |website=mymotherlode.com }}</ref> and narrowly passed Senate Bill 659 through the Senate Judiciary Committee.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Regele |first1=Adam |title=Job Creator Housing Bill Narrowly Passes Senate Committee |url=https://advocacy.calchamber.com/2019/05/02/job-creator-housing-bill-narrowly-passes-senate-committee/ |website=Advocacy – California Chamber of Commerce |date=May 2, 2019}}</ref>
=== Assembly Bill 5 === {{Main|California Assembly Bill 5 (2019)}} Borgeas has been an opponent of California Assembly Bill 5, passed by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez in 2019. In a tweet, Borgeas claimed AB 5 "...limit[s] an individual's ability for flexible employment and destroys entire industries across California. Independent contractors and small businesses are the backbone of a thriving California economy."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Catherine |first1=Thorbecke |title=How California's decision to recognize ride-share drivers as employees affects the gig economy |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/californias-decision-recognize-ride-share-drivers-employees-affects/story?id=65534915 |work=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> He organized a town hall at Clovis Community College to discuss the bill's impact on freelancers and independent contractors.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zamora |first1=Eric |title=Watch a Fresno panel discussing AB 5's negatives for the job market |url=https://www.fresnobee.com/news/business/article240723421.html |website=The Fresno Bee |publisher=McClatchy}}</ref>
=== Water === Borgeas has advocated for state and federal support to improve the Friant-Kern Canal, which is critical for water delivery to the agricultural industry in the San Joaquin Valley. Senate Bill 559 introduced by state Senator Melissa Hurtado would have allocated $400 million in state funding to make necessary repairs to the canal as a result of subsidence from groundwater overdraft.<ref>{{cite web |title=FEDS TO TACKLE FRIANT-KERN CANAL SUBSIDENCE |url=https://thebusinessjournal.com/feds-to-tackle-friant-kern-canal-subsidence/ |website=The Business Journal |date=December 4, 2019 }}</ref>
Borgeas has also vocalized support for the federal government's plan to increase water deliveries to California farmers. During then-President Donald Trump's visit to the San Joaquin Valley in February 2020, Borgeas stated,"The ball is now in Governor Newsom's court to provide clean, reliable and ample water supplies to Valley farmers and communities. The state must ensure that infrastructure and storage are a top priority. It's simple: no water, no farms, and no food."<ref>{{cite web |last1=George |first1=Carmen |title=What did Trump sign in Bakersfield? What we know about why he came to the Valley |url=https://www.fresnobee.com/news/politics-government/article240478481.html |website=The Fresno Bee |publisher=McClatchy}}</ref>
=== Taxes and the economy === Borgeas has received high marks from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association<ref>{{cite web |title=Legislative Report Cards |url=https://www.hjta.org/legislation/report-cards/ |website=Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association}}</ref> and the California Chamber of Commerce.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legislator Vote Record |url=https://advocacy.calchamber.com/policy/bill-tracking/legislator-vote-record/ |website=Advocacy – California Chamber of Commerce}}</ref>
== Personal life == Borgeas and his wife, Anna, have two sons. Borgeas and his family live in Fresno, California.<ref name="votesmart_borgeas"/><ref name="gvwire_borgeas"/> Borgeas has said growing up in Phoenix, Arizona helped shape his political views at an early age.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Taub|first1=David|date=September 10, 2018|title=A Fresnan Will Represent District 8 in State Senate. Who Will It Be?|url=https://gvwire.com/2018/09/10/a-fresnan-will-represent-district-8-for-the-first-time-in-12-years-but-who-will-it-be/|website=GV Wire|publisher=Granville Homes}}</ref> Borgeas is known to be heavily involved in Fresno's Greek and Armenian communities. He is also known for his involvement with the Fresno Greek Fest<ref>{{cite web|last1=Warszawski|first1=Marek|title=It took me 20 years to attend the Fresno Greek Fest. Don't make the same mistake|url=https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/marek-warszawski/article234182982.html|website=The Fresno Bee|publisher=McClatchy}}</ref> and as an advocate for the recognition of the Armenian genocide.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McEwen|first1=Bill|date=October 30, 2019|title=House Recognizes Armenian Genocide in Rebuke to Turkey|url=https://gvwire.com/2019/10/29/house-recognizes-armenian-genocide-in-rebuke-to-turkey/|website=GV Wire|publisher=Granville Homes}}</ref>
== See also == * 2018 California State Senate election
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://borgeas.cssrc.us/}} * [https://ballotpedia.org/Andreas_Borgeas Andreas Borgeas at ballotpedia.org] * [http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/14542 Join California Andreas Borgeas]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Borgeas, Andreas}} Category:1974 births Category:American people of Greek descent Category:Republican Party California state senators Category:California State University, Fresno, alumni Category:County supervisors in California Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni Category:Greek Orthodox Christians from the United States Category:Living people Category:21st-century members of the California State Legislature