Unlike most of the people in the California Legislature, Kathleen Torres Hazelton is not a professional politician. She's a homemaker and retired nurse. A veteran of the Armed Services, Kathleen served for 12 years in the Air Force during the Cold War.

Kathleen's father was an immigrant from Mexico. He worked for the Veterans Administration (now the Department of Veterans Affairs), and the family moved frequently as a result his VA assignments. Kathleen attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, earning Bachelor of Science degrees in chemistry and nursing. She later attended the University of Utah, earning a master's degree in nurse midwifery.

Kathleen served on active duty for twelve years with the U.S. Air Force as a staff nurse and certified nurse midwife. She met her husband while in the Air Force. She homeschooled her two children from K through 12.

Kathleen first moved to California in 1990 and returned permanently in 2006.

Kathleen has served as a volunteer for several local candidates and served as the San Bernardino County coordinator for the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign.

Kathleen's experience with raising a family, serving in the military, working as a nurse midwife, and volunteering for political campaigns has prepared her to represent to working people rather than narrow government interests.