Assemblymember James C. Ramos is a lifelong resident of the San Manuel Indian Reservation in San Bernardino County. He was elected to represent the residents of the 40th District in the California State Assembly on November 6, 2018. His district includes the cities of Highland, Loma Linda, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, and San Bernardino.

Ramos, as a member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribe, is the first California Indian to be elected to the California State Assembly. As a child, Ramos lived with his family in a mobile home in an area that was one of the most poverty-stricken in the country. To help support his family, while attending school, he worked in fast food restaurants and as a janitor in the San Bernardino City Unified School District. He attended local public schools and graduated from San Gorgonio High School. Recognizing the importance of education, he went on to receive an Associate Degree in Business at Victor Valley College, a Bachelor Degree in Accounting at California State University - San Bernardino, and a Master of Business Administration Degree at the University of Redlands.

As a successful small business entrepreneur, Ramos accumulated broad experience in many levels of community and government matters. He has served as the Third District Supervisor for the County of San Bernardino since 2012, including serving as Board Chairman from 2015-2017.

In addition to his elected service, Ramos is a proven civic leader and has served on numerous boards and organizations in the Inland Empire. He is the immediate past Chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, with a deep commitment to the preservation of California Indian culture. Additionally, Ramos is co-founder of the San Manuel Band’s Cultural Awareness Program, and serves as director of the California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference held annually at California State University, San Bernardino.

James and his wife, Terri, have been married for 29 years, and are the proud parents of four children and grandparents of three grandchildren.