Mauricio Torres Jr. (he/him/él)
Communications Director
Mauricio Torres Jr., Communications Director, ensures that the Budget Center’s values and vision for a just and equitable California remain central in public discourse. He collaborates closely with the Budget Center team to engage policymakers, advocates, and media, amplifying the organization's data and policy expertise to advance equitable policies for Californians historically excluded from the state’s prosperity.
Before stepping into his current role, Mauricio led the Budget Center’s digital strategy, overseeing the website, email program, social media, ads, and other digital platforms. Prior to joining the Budget Center in 2019, he worked with labor unions and green energy clients at Paschal Roth Public Affairs. Mauricio holds a master’s degree in strategic communication and public relations from Sacred Heart University and dual bachelor’s degrees in political science and communication studies from California State University, Sacramento (Stingers Up!). He also serves on the board of the Sacramento Lavender Library, Archives, and Cultural Exchange.
Mauricio is a proud Mexican-American and first-generation college graduate. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, practicing yoga, planning his next adventure, and listening to podcasts.
Recent posts by Mauricio Torres Jr.
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Press Release
Statement on Governor Newsom’s 2026-27 Budget Proposal
SACRAMENTO, CA — Following Governor Newsom’s 2026-27 budget proposal released this morning, the California Budget & Policy Center (Budget Center), a nonpartisan research and analysis nonprofit, weighed in with the following statement from its executive director, Chris Hoene. “California’s state budget is a reflection of our shared values and our responsibility to care for one …California Budget -
Update
Powering Progress: The Budget Center’s New Strategic Approach
Since 1995, the California Budget & Policy Center has served as a trusted, independent resource on state fiscal policy, providing clear and rigorous analysis that helps policymakers, advocates, and Californians understand how the state budget works and advance policies that strengthen economic security for all. Over the past three decades, the Budget Center has helped … -
Press Release
Statement on the Legislative Analyst’s Office 2026-27 Fiscal Outlook
SACRAMENTO, CA — In response to the Legislative Analyst’s Office’s (LAO) 2026-27 Fiscal Outlook, the California Budget & Policy Center (Budget Center), a nonpartisan research and analysis nonprofit, issued the following statement from its budget director, Scott Graves: “Despite higher income tax collections, the LAO’s 2026–27 Fiscal Outlook estimates that California still faces an $18 …California Budget -
Press Release
Research and Analysis Nonprofit Says Loss of USDA Survey Threatens Data on Hunger
SACRAMENTO, CA — Following the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) cancellation of the longstanding annual food insecurity survey, the California Budget & Policy Center (Budget Center), a nonpartisan research and analysis nonprofit, issued the following statement from its communications director, Mauricio Torres: “The recent decision by the Trump administration to terminate the USDA’s decades-old … -
Update
Tipping the Balance: Building Local Power through the Budget Power Project
The recent federal budget makes clear that government budgets affect us all — yet few have had the power to shape them. Harmful cuts to health care and food assistance, expanded immigration enforcement that terrorizes our communities, and expanded handouts for the ultra-rich are stark examples of how structural racism and inequality are entrenched in …
