The leader of the California Senate is one of the most powerful positions in state politics, acting as the body's chief negotiator with the governor and the Assembly speaker on key legislation.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The leader of the California Senate said Monday she will step down from her leadership post, ending an historic run as the first woman and first openly gay person to lead the upper legislative chamber of the nation's most populous state.
Atkins cannot seek re-election because of term limits and must leave the Senate at the end of next year. She said the caucus chose to announce the transition now because “a long, drawn-out successor campaign would not be in the best interest of the Senate nor the people who we were elected to represent.”
Atkins is one of only three people in history to hold both top spots in the Legislature. She has led the Senate since 2018. Before that, she was speaker of the state Assembly from 2014 to 2016. McGuire praised Atkins as “a California trailblazer" and pledged to carry on her work, including focusing on climate issues, housing and access to abortion. But McGuire made it clear Atkins was still in charge.
His ascension to the Senate's top post means the Legislature will have two leaders who represent mostly rural parts of California, a rare occurrence in a state where political power has historically been concentrated in the dense urban areas of Southern California and the San Francisco Bay.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
California state Senate leader says she will step down from leadership postThe leader of the California Senate says she will step down from her leadership post
Read more »
California state Senate leader says she will step down from leadership postThe leader of the California Senate says she will step down from her leadership post. Toni Atkins was the first woman and the first openly gay person to lead the California Senate.
Read more »
California state Senate leader says she will step down from leadership postThe leader of the California Senate says she will step down from her leadership post
Read more »
California state Senate leader says she will step down from leadership postThe leader of the California Senate says she will step down from her leadership post.
Read more »
California state Senate leader says she will step down from leadership postThe leader of the California Senate says she will step down from her leadership post
Read more »
California state Senate leader says she will step down from leadership postThe leader of the California Senate says she will step down from her leadership post.
Read more »