John Laird
2020 - Present
2028
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John Laird (Democratic Party) is a member of the California State Senate, representing District 17. He assumed office on December 7, 2020. His current term ends on December 4, 2028.
Laird (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the California State Senate to represent District 17. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
John Laird lives in Santa Cruz, California. He earned a degree in politics from the University of California at Santa Cruz.[1] Laird's career experience includes working as a district staffer for former U.S. House Representative Jerome Waldie, a budget analyst for the Santa Cruz County administrator,[2] and teaching environmental policy at the University of California at Santa Cruz.[1]
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Laird was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture Committee
- Budget Committee
- Business and Professions Committee
- Human Services Committee
- Public Safety Committee, Vice Chair
- Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee
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2021-2022
Laird was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Judiciary Committee
- Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee
- Natural Resources and Water Committee
- Senate Rules Committee
- Legislative Audit Committee, Vice Chair
- Legislative Budget Committee
- Rules Committee
- Senate Appropriations Committee
- Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
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Political career
Secretary of Natural Resources (2011-2019)
Laird was appointed to lead the statewide natural resources agency by Governor Jerry Brown (D) on January 5, 2011.[3] He had originally intended to seek the 2012 Democratic Party nomination for District 15 of the California State Senate, but announced in February 2011 that he would rather commit to his appointed position as natural resources secretary.[4][5]
About the office
The secretary heads the California Natural Resources Agency, a conglomeration of a number of state departments, boards, and commissions concerned with protecting and managing the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the state.
State Assembly (2002-2008)
Laird previously served in the California State Assembly from 2002-2008, representing District 27.[6]
Mayor of Santa Cruz (1981-1990)
Laird was also on the Santa Cruz City Council from 1981-1990, including two stints as mayor.[6]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: California State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for California State Senate District 17
Incumbent John Laird defeated Tony Virrueta in the general election for California State Senate District 17 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | John Laird (D) | 67.4 | 159,293 |
 | Tony Virrueta (R) | 32.6 | 77,035 | |
| Total votes: 236,328 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for California State Senate District 17
Incumbent John Laird and Tony Virrueta defeated Eric Tao and Michael Oxford in the primary for California State Senate District 17 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Laird (D) | 64.5 | 143,912 |
| ✔ | | Tony Virrueta (R) | 21.9 | 48,829 |
 | Eric Tao (R) | 11.6 | 25,845 | |
 | Michael Oxford (L) | 2.1 | 4,591 | |
| Total votes: 223,177 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
Endorsements
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Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Laird in this election.
2020
See also: California State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for California State Senate District 17
John Laird defeated Vicki Nohrden in the general election for California State Senate District 17 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Laird (D) | 64.7 | 320,090 |
 | Vicki Nohrden (R) | 35.3 | 174,587 | |
| Total votes: 494,677 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for California State Senate District 17
John Laird and Vicki Nohrden defeated Maria Cadenas and John M. Nevill in the primary for California State Senate District 17 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Laird (D) | 44.4 | 138,986 |
| ✔ | | Vicki Nohrden (R) | 31.5 | 98,649 |
 | Maria Cadenas (D) | 20.9 | 65,525 | |
 | John M. Nevill (D) | 3.2 | 10,040 | |
| Total votes: 313,200 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
To view Laird's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.
2012
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2012
Laird did not run for election in 2012. Laird had previously indicated that he would run for election to District 15 of the State Senate in 2012. Laird lost to Sam Blakeslee in a 2010 special election for the seat, and had filed a statement that he will once again challenge Blakeslee. However he has changed his mind and decided not to run for the seat in 2012.[4]
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
John Laird did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
John Laird completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Laird's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I served as California Secretary for Natural Resources under Governor Brown from 2011 until 2019. I also served as a member of the State Integrated Waste Management Board and taught state environmental policy at UC Santa Cruz. Prior to that, I served the as an Assemblymember for the 27th District, which included portions of Monterey, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties, elected in 2002 and reelected in 2004 and 2006. While serving the maximum three terms, I authored 82 bills that were signed into law.
Prior to serving in the State Assembly, I served as an elected member of the Cabrillo College Board of Trustees. I also served as executive director of the Santa Cruz AIDS Project. In 1981, I was elected to the Santa Cruz City Council, and served nine years, including two terms as mayor, until term limits ended my service.
I am the son of teachers and was raised in Vallejo. I graduated with honors in politics from UC Santa Cruz. I've been a long-time resident of Santa Cruz with my spouse John Flores. I'm fluent in Spanish and am a life-long Chicago Cubs fan.
- Creating an effective and cohesive COVID-19 pandemic response and economic recovery.
- Tackling climate change directly, and mitigating its effects across the state by supporting those communities in need.
- Championing universal healthcare coverage so that everyone in need can feel secure in their health and receive the care they need.
Climate change, access to healthcare, education, civil rights and affordability for the middle class. We have no time to spare in lowering our carbon emissions and in readying our state for the effects that will happen because of the carbon emitted already. While in the legislature I co-authored single payer health care and was the advocate for health coverage for all children. Given the federal assault on health care, we have to protect those Californians who recently secured health coverage as we work to make sure everyone is covered. In my past legislative service, I helped fight off attempts to weaken financial protections for K-14 education. We have to continue to protect K-14, as well as our higher education systems - and work to reduce financial barriers for students. As one of the first openly gay Mayors in America, I have always appreciated the recognition of different voices in building a successful state. Our diversity is a strength and we must work together to protect the rights of all. Whether it's affording housing, higher education, transportation or the standard of living - California has become difficult to afford for the middle class. This is a daunting challenge, but one that we must address.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of California scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the California State Legislature was in session from January 1 to September 14.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the California State Legislature was in session from January 3 to August 31.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the California State Legislature was in session from December 7 to September 10.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the California State Legislature was in session from January 6 to August 31.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate California State Senate District 17 |
Officeholder California State Senate District 17 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Senator John Laird, "Biography," accessed December 27, 2020
- ↑ John Laird for Senate, "About John," accessed December 27, 2020
- ↑ California Natural Resources Agency, "John Laird, California Secretary for Natural Resources," September 24, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 San Jose Mercury News, "Redistricting complicates politicians' 'musical chairs' game," February 6, 2011
- ↑ MercuryNews.com, "John Laird will not seek Senate seat in new district," November 14, 2011
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Project Vote Smart, "John Laird Political Experience" accessed September 27, 2012
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bill Monning (D) |
California State Senate District 17 2020-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
California Secretary for Natural Resources 2011-2019 |
Succeeded by - |
