title: California State Legislature, 2011–2012 session
text: # California State Legislature, 2011–2012 session
  
  The 2011–2012 session was a session of the California State Legislature. The session first convened on December 6, 2010, and adjourned sine die on November 30, 2012.
  
  ## Major events
  
  ### Vacancies and special elections
  
  * July 13, 2010: Senator Dave Cox (R–1st) dies from prostate cancer
  * October 20, 2010: Senator Jenny Oropeza (D–28th) dies of complications from a blood clot. Despite her death, she wins re-election, thus prolonging the seat's vacancy and necessitating a special election
  * December 21, 2010: Senator George Runner (R–17th) resigns after his election to the State Board of Equalization
  * January 4, 2011: Assemblyman Ted Gaines (R–4th) wins the special election for the 1st Senate District seat to replace Cox and is sworn in on January 6
  * January 10, 2011: Mayor Gavin Newsom (D–San Francisco) is sworn in as Lieutenant Governor (and Senate President), replacing Abel Maldonado
  * February 15, 2011: Former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner (R–36th) wins the special election for the 17th Senate District seat to replace George Runner and is sworn in on February 18
  * February 15, 2011: Former Assemblyman Ted Lieu (D–53rd) wins the special election for the 28th Senate District seat to replace Oropeza and is sworn in on February 18
  * May 3, 2011: Beth Gaines (R–Roseville) wins the special election for the 4th Assembly District seat to replace Ted Gaines and is sworn in on May 12
  * September 1, 2012: Doug LaMalfa (R–4th) resigned to run for Congress
  
  ### Leadership changes
  
  * January 5, 2012: Senator Bob Huff (R–29th) replaces Senator Bob Dutton (R–31st) as Senate Republican Leader, as Dutton is termed out at the end of the term
  
  ### Party changes
  
  * March 28, 2012: Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher (R–75th) leaves the Republican Party to become an independent
  
  ## Senate
  
  Composition
  
  | Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Affiliation | Democratic | Republican | Total | Vacant |
  | End of previous legislature | 24 | 14 | 38 | 2 |
  | Begin | 24 | 14 | 38 | 2 |
  | December 21, 2010 | 24 | 13 | 37 | 3 |
  | January 6, 2011 | 24 | 14 | 38 | 2 |
  | February 18, 2011 | 25 | 15 | 40 | 0 |
  | September 1, 2011 | 25 | 14 | 39 | 1 |
  | Latest voting share | 62.5% | 35% | | |
  
  ### Officers
  
  | Position | Position | Name | Party | District |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Lieutenant Governor | Gavin Newsom | Democratic | |
  | | President Pro Tem | Darrell Steinberg | Democratic | 6th–Sacramento |
  | | Majority leader | Ellen Corbett | Democratic | 10th–San Leandro |
  | | Majority caucus chair | Kevin de León | Democratic | 22nd–Los Angeles |
  | | Majority whip | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant |
  | | Minority leader | Bob Huff | Republican | 29th–Diamond Bar |
  | | Minority caucus chair | Tom Harman | Republican | 35th–Huntington Beach |
  | | Minority whip | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant |
  | Secretary | Secretary | Greg Schmidt | Greg Schmidt | Greg Schmidt |
  | Sergeant-at-Arms | Sergeant-at-Arms | Tony Beard, Jr. | Tony Beard, Jr. | Tony Beard, Jr. |
  
  The Secretary and the Sergeant-at-Arms are not members of the Legislature.
  
  ### Members
  
  | District | Name | Party | Residence | Term-limited? |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Ted Gaines | Republican | Roseville | |
  | 2 | Noreen Evans | Democratic | Santa Rosa | |
  | 3 | Mark Leno | Democratic | San Francisco | |
  | 4 | Doug LaMalfa | Republican | Richvale | |
  | 4 | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant |
  | 5 | Lois Wolk | Democratic | Davis | |
  | 6 | Darrell Steinberg | Democratic | Sacramento | |
  | 7 | Mark DeSaulnier | Democratic | Concord | |
  | 8 | Leland Yee | Democratic | San Francisco | |
  | 9 | Loni Hancock | Democratic | Berkeley | |
  | 10 | Ellen Corbett | Democratic | San Leandro | |
  | 11 | Joe Simitian | Democratic | Palo Alto | Yes |
  | 12 | Anthony Cannella | Republican | Ceres | |
  | 13 | Elaine Alquist | Democratic | San Jose | Yes |
  | 14 | Tom Berryhill | Republican | Modesto | |
  | 15 | Sam Blakeslee | Republican | San Luis Obispo | |
  | 16 | Michael Rubio | Democratic | East Bakersfield | |
  | 17 | George Runner | Republican | Lancaster | |
  | 17 | Sharon Runner | Republican | Lancaster | |
  | 18 | Jean Fuller | Republican | Bakersfield | |
  | 19 | Tony Strickland | Republican | Moorpark | |
  | 20 | Alex Padilla | Democratic | Los Angeles | |
  | 21 | Carol Liu | Democratic | La Cañada Flintridge | |
  | 22 | Kevin de León | Democratic | Los Angeles | |
  | 23 | Fran Pavley | Democratic | Agoura Hills | |
  | 24 | Edward Hernández | Democratic | West Covina | |
  | 25 | Rod Wright | Democratic | Inglewood | |
  | 26 | Curren Price | Democratic | Inglewood | |
  | 27 | Alan Lowenthal | Democratic | Long Beach | Yes |
  | 28 | Ted Lieu | Democratic | Torrance | |
  | 29 | Bob Huff | Republican | Diamond Bar | |
  | 30 | Ronald Calderon | Democratic | Montebello | |
  | 31 | Robert Dutton | Republican | Rancho Cucamonga | Yes |
  | 32 | Gloria Negrete McLeod | Democratic | Chino | |
  | 33 | Mimi Walters | Republican | Laguna Niguel | |
  | 34 | Lou Correa | Democratic | Santa Ana | |
  | 35 | Tom Harman | Republican | Huntington Beach | Yes |
  | 36 | Joel Anderson | Republican | Alpine | |
  | 37 | Bill Emmerson | Republican | Hemet | |
  | 38 | Mark Wyland | Republican | Carlsbad | |
  | 39 | Christine Kehoe | Democratic | San Diego | Yes |
  | 40 | Juan Vargas | Democratic | San Diego | |
  
  ## Assembly
  
  Composition
  
  | Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Affiliation | Democratic | Independent | Republican | Total | Vacant |
  | End of previous legislature | 50 | 1 | 27 | 78 | 2 |
  | Begin | 52 | 0 | 28 | 80 | 0 |
  | January 6, 2011 | 52 | 0 | 27 | 79 | 1 |
  | May 12, 2011 | 52 | 0 | 28 | 80 | 0 |
  | March 28, 2012 | 52 | 1 | 27 | 80 | 0 |
  | Latest voting share | 65.00% | 1.25% | 33.75% | | |
  
  ### Officers
  
  | Position | Position | Name | Party | District |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Speaker | John Pérez | Democratic | 46th–Los Angeles |
  | | Speaker pro tempore | Nora Campos | Democratic | 23rd–San Jose |
  | | Assistant speaker pro tempore | Fiona Ma | Democratic | 12th–San Francisco |
  | | Majority floor leader | Toni Atkins | Democratic | 76th–San Diego |
  | | Assistant majority floor leader | Michael Allen | Democratic | 7th–Santa Rosa |
  | | Majority caucus chair | Jerry Hill | Democratic | 19th–San Mateo |
  | | Majority whip | Roger Hernandez | Democratic | 57th–West Covina |
  | | Minority leader | Connie Conway | Republican | 34th–Tulare |
  | | Assistant minority floor leader | Curt Hagman | Republican | 60th–Chino Hills |
  | | Minority caucus chair | Brian Jones | Republican | 77th–Santee |
  | | Assistant minority leader | Steve Knight | Republican | 36th–Palmdale |
  | | Chief minority whips | Dan Logue | Republican | 3rd–Linda |
  | | Chief minority whips | Kristin Olsen | Republican | 25th–Modesto |
  | Chief Clerk | Chief Clerk | E. Dotson Wilson | E. Dotson Wilson | E. Dotson Wilson |
  | Sergeant-at-Arms | Sergeant-at-Arms | Ronald Pane | Ronald Pane | Ronald Pane |
  
  The Chief Clerk and the Sergeant-at-Arms are not members of the Legislature.
  
  ### Members
  
  | District | Name | Party | Residence | Term-limited? |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Wesley Chesbro | Democratic | Arcata | |
  | 2 | Jim Nielsen | Republican | Gerber | |
  | 3 | Daniel Logue | Republican | Linda | |
  | 4 | Ted Gaines | Republican | Roseville | Yes |
  | 4 | Beth Gaines | Republican | Roseville | |
  | 5 | Richard Pan | Democratic | Sacramento | |
  | 6 | Jared Huffman | Democratic | San Rafael | Yes |
  | 7 | Michael Allen | Democratic | Santa Rosa | |
  | 8 | Mariko Yamada | Democratic | Davis | |
  | 9 | Roger Dickinson | Democratic | Sacramento | |
  | 10 | Alyson Huber | Democratic | El Dorado Hills | |
  | 11 | Susan Bonilla | Democratic | Concord | |
  | 12 | Fiona Ma | Democratic | San Francisco | Yes |
  | 13 | Tom Ammiano | Democratic | San Francisco | |
  | 14 | Nancy Skinner | Democratic | Berkeley | |
  | 15 | Joan Buchanan | Democratic | Alamo | |
  | 16 | Sandré Swanson | Democratic | Alameda | Yes |
  | 17 | Cathleen Galgiani | Democratic | Livingston | Yes |
  | 18 | Mary Hayashi | Democratic | Hayward | Yes |
  | 19 | Jerry Hill | Democratic | San Mateo | |
  | 20 | Bob Wieckowski | Democratic | Fremont | |
  | 21 | Rich Gordon | Democratic | Menlo Park | |
  | 22 | Paul Fong | Democratic | Cupertino | |
  | 23 | Nora Campos | Democratic | San Jose | |
  | 24 | Jim Beall | Democratic | San Jose | Yes |
  | 25 | Kristin Olsen | Republican | Modesto | |
  | 26 | Bill Berryhill | Republican | Ceres | |
  | 27 | Bill Monning | Democratic | Carmel | |
  | 28 | Luis Alejo | Democratic | Watsonville | |
  | 29 | Linda Halderman | Republican | Fresno | |
  | 30 | David Valadao | Republican | Hanford | |
  | 31 | Henry Perea | Democratic | Fresno | |
  | 32 | Shannon Grove | Republican | Bakersfield | |
  | 33 | Katcho Achadjian | Republican | Arroyo Grande | |
  | 34 | Connie Conway | Republican | Tulare | |
  | 35 | Das Williams | Democratic | Santa Barbara | |
  | 36 | Steve Knight | Republican | Palmdale | |
  | 37 | Jeff Gorell | Republican | Camarillo | |
  | 38 | Cameron Smyth | Republican | Santa Clarita | |
  | 39 | Felipe Fuentes | Democratic | Sylmar | Yes |
  | 40 | Bob Blumenfield | Democratic | Woodland Hills | |
  | 41 | Julia Brownley | Democratic | Santa Monica | Yes |
  | 42 | Mike Feuer | Democratic | Los Angeles | Yes |
  | 43 | Mike Gatto | Democratic | Los Angeles | |
  | 44 | Anthony Portantino | Democratic | La Cañada Flintridge | Yes |
  | 45 | Gil Cedillo | Democratic | Los Angeles | Yes |
  | 46 | John Pérez | Democratic | Los Angeles | |
  | 47 | Holly Mitchell | Democratic | Los Angeles | |
  | 48 | Mike Davis | Democratic | Los Angeles | Yes |
  | 49 | Mike Eng | Democratic | Monterey Park | Yes |
  | 50 | Ricardo Lara | Democratic | Bell Gardens | |
  | 51 | Steven Bradford | Democratic | Gardena | |
  | 52 | Isadore Hall, III | Democratic | Compton | |
  | 53 | Betsy Butler | Democratic | Marina del Rey | |
  | 54 | Bonnie Lowenthal | Democratic | Long Beach | |
  | 55 | Warren Furutani | Democratic | Long Beach | |
  | 56 | Tony Mendoza | Democratic | Artesia | Yes |
  | 57 | Roger Hernandez | Democratic | West Covina | |
  | 58 | Charles Calderon | Democratic | Whittier | Yes |
  | 59 | Tim Donnelly | Republican | Twin Peaks | |
  | 60 | Curt Hagman | Republican | Chino Hills | |
  | 61 | Norma Torres | Democratic | Pomona | |
  | 62 | Wilmer Carter | Democratic | Rialto | |
  | 63 | Mike Morrell | Republican | Rancho Cucamonga | |
  | 64 | Brian Nestande | Republican | Palm Desert | |
  | 65 | Paul Cook | Republican | Yucca Valley | Yes |
  | 66 | Kevin Jeffries | Republican | Lake Elsinore | Yes |
  | 67 | Jim Silva | Republican | Huntington Beach | Yes |
  | 68 | Allan Mansoor | Republican | Costa Mesa | |
  | 69 | Jose Solorio | Democratic | Santa Ana | Yes |
  | 70 | Don Wagner | Republican | Irvine | |
  | 71 | Jeff Miller | Republican | Corona | |
  | 72 | Chris Norby | Republican | Fullerton | |
  | 73 | Diane Harkey | Republican | Dana Point | |
  | 74 | Martin Garrick | Republican | Carlsbad | Yes |
  | 75 | Nathan Fletcher | Republican | San Diego | |
  | 75 | Nathan Fletcher | Independent | San Diego | |
  | 76 | Toni Atkins | Democratic | San Diego | |
  | 77 | Brian Jones | Republican | Santee | |
  | 78 | Marty Block | Democratic | San Diego | |
  | 79 | Ben Hueso | Democratic | San Diego | |
  | 80 | V. Manuel Perez | Democratic | Coachella | |
  