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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Update
Opening Doors to the Budget Process
The state budget is the foundation of policy decisions in California. Yet the process and opportunities to influence the state budget, one of the most critical aspects of state government, are complicated and challenging to understand. This makes it difficult for advocates, policymakers, and everyday Californians looking to make a positive change to influence the … -
Press Release
Statement on Governor Newsom’s Proposed 2025-26 Budget
SACRAMENTO, CA — Following Governor Newsom’s 2025-26 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. “The California state budget is a statement of our collective values. The 2025-26 budget proposal makes strides …California Budget -
Press Release
New Report Highlights Stark Wage Disparities for Latinas in California
SACRAMENTO, CA — A new report released today reveals that California holds the nation’s worst wage gap between Latinas and white men, highlighting the ongoing economic injustice faced by Latinas in the state. On Latina Equal Pay Day — the day symbolizing how far into the year Latinas must work to match the previous year’s …Poverty & Inequality -
Commentary
California Cannot Afford to Wait Another Century for Latina Pay Equity
This year, Latina Equal Pay Day — marked on a date symbolizing how far into the year Latinx women must work to earn what white men earned the previous year — serves as a stark reminder of the economic inequities Latinas continue to face. Despite California’s progressive track record, it holds the troubling distinction of …Poverty & Inequality -
New Census Data Show California Poverty Soared to Alarmingly High Levels in 2023
SACRAMENTO, CA — California continues to face significant levels of poverty, with the state once again having the highest poverty rate in the nation, according to a new Budget Center analysis of newly released data by the United States Census Bureau. Despite some recovery from the economic impacts of the pandemic, California’s poverty rate in …Poverty & Inequality