President pro tempore of the California State Senate

The president pro tempore of the California State Senate (President Pro Tem) is the highest-ranking leader and most powerful member of the California State Senate. The officeholder also chairs the Senate Rules Committee. At the beginning of each two-year session, all members of the body elect a new State Senate President pro tempore.[1] The President pro tempore is chosen by the other Senators.

President pro tempore of the California State Senate
Seal of the Senate of the State of California
California State Flag
Incumbent
Mike McGuire
since February 5, 2024
Member ofCalifornia State Senate
Term length2 years
Inaugural holderE. Kirby Chamberlain
Formation1849
Unofficial namesPresident Pro Tem

The current President pro tempore is Mike McGuire, a Democratic member from the 2nd district, who was sworn in on February 5, 2024.[2]


Powers and duties edit

The President pro tempore acts as the chair of the Senate while the President, the Lieutenant Governor of California, is absent during meetings, having the same powers of the president.[3] If the President Pro Tempore is absent, another Senator appointed by the President pro tempore can act as chair.[4] The President pro tempore has a responsibility to "secure the prompt and businesslike disposition of bills and other business before the Senate."[5]

List of presidents pro tempore of the California State Senate edit

No. President pro tempore Political party District Term start Term end
1 E. Kirby Chamberlain
(1805–1852)
Nonpartisan[a] Los AngelesSan Diego[a] December 15, 1849 January 9, 1851
2 Elcan Heydenfeldt
(1821–1898)
Whig 6thSan Francisco January 9, 1851 January 8, 1852
3 Benjamin F. Keene
(1813–1856)
Democratic 12thPlacerville January 8, 1852 January 2, 1854
18th–Placerville[b]
4   Royal Sprague
(1814–1872)
Democratic 13thShasta January 1, 1855 May 7, 1855
5   Delos R. Ashley
(1828–1873)
American 3rdSan Francisco January 9, 1856 April 21, 1856
6 Samuel H. Dosh
(1827–1861)
Democratic 13thShasta January 5, 1857 April 29, 1857
7   Samuel A. Merritt
(1827–1910)
Democratic 10thShasta January 4, 1858 April 26, 1858
8 W. B. Dickinson
(????–????)
Democratic 5thSacramento January 3, 1859 April 19, 1859
9 Isaac N. Quinn
(1795–1865)
Democratic 7thSan Rafael January 2, 1860 January 19, 1860
10 Charles J. Lansing
(????–1884)
Democratic 16thStockton January 19, 1860 April 13, 1860
11 Richard Irwin
(1828–1869)
Union Democratic 26thQuincy January 7, 1861 May 20, 1861
12   James M. Shafter
(1816–1892)
Republican 24thSan Francisco January 6, 1862 May 15, 1862
13   Addison M. Crane
(1814–1889)
Unionist 9thSquatterville December 7, 1863 April 4, 1864
14 Ransom Burnell
(1821–1880)
Unionist 14thSt. Helena April 4, 1864 December 4, 1865
15 S. P. Wright
(????–1874)
Unionist 27thSanta Barbara December 4, 1865 April 2, 1866
16   Lansing B. Mizner
(1825–1893)
Unionist 25thTehama December 2, 1867 March 30, 1868
17 Edward J. Lewis
(1832–1881)
Democratic 17thYountville December 6, 1869 April 1, 1872
18   James T. Farley
(1829–1886)
Democratic 16thVolcano December 1, 1873 March 13, 1874
19   William Irwin
(1827–1886)
Democratic 28thSan Francisco March 13, 1874 February 27, 1875
20   Benjamin F. Tuttle
(1825–1907)
Democratic 21stSan Francisco February 27, 1875 April 3, 1876
21 Edward J. Lewis
(1832–1881)
Democratic 25thTehama December 3, 1877 April 16, 1880
22   George F. Baker
(1849–1882)
Republican 7thSan Jose April 16, 1880 January 3, 1881
23 William Johnson
(1829–1905)
Republican 18thCourtland January 3, 1881 April 1, 1882
24   R. F. del Valle
(1854–1938)
Democratic 2ndLos Angeles April 1, 1882 March 13, 1883
25 Benjamin Knight
(1836–1905)
Democratic 6thSanta Cruz January 5, 1885 March 12, 1887
26   Stephen M. White
(1853–1901)
Democratic 38thLos Angeles January 3, 1887 March 16, 1889
27 Thomas Fraser
(1831–1902)
Republican 7thPlacerville January 5, 1891 March 25, 1891
28 R. B. Carpenter
(1831–1909)
Republican 33rdLos Angeles January 2, 1893 March 14, 1893
29   Thomas Flint Jr.
(1857–1936)
Republican 33rdHollister January 7, 1895 March 14, 1903
30   Edward I. Wolfe
(1860–1920)
Republican 21stSan Francisco January 2, 1905 March 24, 1909
31   Albert E. Boynton
(1875–1945)
Republican 6thOroville January 2, 1911 May 12, 1913
32   Newton W. Thompson
(1865–1936)
Republican 35thAlhambra January 4, 1915 January 11, 1916
33   Arthur H. Breed Sr.
(1865–1953)
Republican 15thOakland January 8, 1917 July 26, 1933
16thOakland[b]
34   William P. Rich
(1880–1965)
Republican 10thMarysville January 7, 1935 June 20, 1939
35   Jerrold L. Seawell
(1897–1952)
Republican 7thRoseville January 2, 1939 June 14, 1941
36   William P. Rich
(1880–1965)
Republican 10thMarysville January 6, 1941 January 4, 1943
37   Jerrold L. Seawell
(1897–1952)
Republican 7thRoseville January 4, 1943 June 16, 1945
38   Harold J. Powers
(1900–1996)
Republican 31stCedarville January 6, 1947 October 5, 1953
39   Clarence C. Ward
(1894–1955)
Republican 31stSanta Barbara March 1, 1954 May 9, 1955
40   Ben Hulse
(1894–1961)
Republican 39thImperial January 3, 1955 April 5, 1956
41   Hugh M. Burns
(1902–1988)
Democratic 30thFresno January 5, 1957 May 14, 1969
16thFresno[b]
42   Howard Way
(1913–2001)
Republican 15th Exeter May 14, 1969 February 10, 1970
43   Jack Schrade
(1902–1992)
Republican 39thEl Cajon February 10, 1970 November 30, 1970
44   James R. Mills
(1927–2021)
Democratic 40thSan Diego November 30, 1970 November 30, 1980
45   David Roberti
(born 1939)
Democratic 23rdLos Angeles November 30, 1980 January 31, 1994
46   Bill Lockyer
(born 1941)
Democratic 10thOakland January 31, 1994 February 5, 1998
47   John Burton
(born 1932)
Democratic 3rdSan Francisco February 5, 1998 November 30, 2004
48   Don Perata
(born 1945)
Democratic 9thAlameda November 30, 2004 August 21, 2008
49   Darrell Steinberg
(born 1959)
Democratic 6thSacramento August 21, 2008 October 15, 2014
50   Kevin de León
(born 1966)
Democratic 24thLos Angeles October 15, 2014 March 21, 2018
51   Toni Atkins
(born 1962)
Democratic 39thSan Diego March 21, 2018 February 5, 2024
52   Mike McGuire
(born 1979)
Democratic 2ndHealdsburg February 5, 2024 Incumbent

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b The 1st California State Legislature was nonpartisan and used the established counties as the legislative districts until January 9, 1851.
  2. ^ a b c Redistricted during term.
  1. ^ "Glossary of Legislative Terms". California Legislative Counsel. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  2. ^ Koseff, Alexei (2024-02-05). "Mike McGuire wants to 'lift up every person' as new California Senate leader". CalMatters. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  3. ^ "CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA (1849)" (PDF). p. 16.
  4. ^ "Overview of California Legislative Process" (PDF). California State Association of Counties. p. 10.
  5. ^ Journal of the Senate, Legislature of the State of California. Vol. 1. California State Print. Office. 1942. p. 9.

External links edit