He is a Democrat who formerly represented the 31st district, encompassing western Fresno.

Perea has been described as a leader of the moderate, more business-friendly wing of the state legislature's Democrats.

On December 1, 2015, he announced that he would resign his seat at the end of 2015, a year early, to seek a lucrative position as a lobbyist.

[1] Prior to his election to the Assembly, Perea served on the Fresno City Council from 2003 to 2010.

Perea also ran, unsuccessfully, in the 2008 Fresno mayoral election.