Melissa Ann Melendez (née Schneider; born February 17, 1968) is an American politician who served in the California State Senate.

[1] She previously served in the California State Assembly and on the Lake Elsinore City Council.

[citation needed] After the Navy, Melendez worked at Chaminade University for two years before deciding to establish her own business.

[citation needed] After incumbent State Senator Jeff Stone announced his resignation to work as a regional director at the U.S. Department of Labor, a special election was ordered to fill his vacant seat.

After advancing in the March 3, 2020, special election, Melendez won the runoff election held on May 12 over the Democratic nominee, Riverside County School Board Trustee Elizabeth Romero and was sworn into the Senate on May 18.