Toni Atkins | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 51st President pro tempore of the California State Senate | |
| In office March 21, 2018 – February 5, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Kevin de León |
| Succeeded by | Mike McGuire |
| Member of the California State Senate from the 39th district | |
| Assumed office December 5, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Marty Block |
| 69th Speaker of the California State Assembly | |
| In office May 12, 2014 – March 7, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | John Pérez |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Rendon |
| Majority Leader of the California Assembly | |
| In office September 1, 2012 – May 12, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Calderon |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Perez |
| Member of the California State Assembly | |
| In office December 6, 2010 – November 30, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Lori Saldaña |
| Succeeded by | Todd Gloria |
| Constituency | 76th district (2010–2012) 78th district (2012–2016) |
| Mayor of San Diego Acting | |
| In office July 18, 2005 – December 5, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Zucchet (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Jerry Sanders |
| Member of San Diego City Council from the 3rd district | |
| In office December 4, 2000 – December 8, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Christine Kehoe |
| Succeeded by | Todd Gloria |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Toni Gayle Atkins August 1, 1962 Wythe County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jennifer LeSar |
| Education | Emory and Henry College (BA) |
Toni Gayle Atkins (born August 1, 1962) is an American politician who served as the 51st president pro tempore of the California State Senate from 2018 to 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the 69th speaker of the California State Assembly from 2014 to 2016 and the California State Assembly majority leader from 2012-2014.[1] She has represented the 39th State Senate district since 2016, encompassing most of San Diego.
Upon her election as speaker of the State Assembly, she became the third woman and first acknowledged lesbian to be elected to the position, as well as the first lawmaker from San Diego holding the office.[2][3] She served on the San Diego City Council from 2000 to 2008, including a term as acting mayor of San Diego in 2005. She also served as acting governor of California for nine hours on July 30, 2014, which made her California's "first openly gay governor" and again on July 6, 2023 where she became the first openly LGBT person to sign a bill into law in the state.[4][5][6][7] In 2018, she was elected as State Senate president pro tempore, becoming the first woman and the first openly LGBT person to lead the California State Senate, and the first woman and LGBT person to lead both chambers of the state legislature .[8][9] On January 19, 2024, she launched her campaign for governor in the 2026 election.[10]
- ^ "JoinCalifornia - Toni G. Atkins". www.joincalifornia.com. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ Mason, Melanie (March 17, 2014). "Assemblywoman Toni Atkins voted in as speaker-elect". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
- ^ "Capitol Alert: It's official: Toni Atkins elected speaker of California Assembly - sacbee.com".
- ^ Chokshi, Niraj. "For a fleeting moment today, California will have its first openly gay governor". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
- ^ "California Assembly Speaker Becomes First Gay Governor For A Few Hours". 31 July 2014.
- ^ "Toni Atkins will briefly be California's first openly gay governor". Los Angeles Times. 2014-07-30. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ^ La, Lynn (2023-07-07). "How Toni Atkins made California history". CalMatters. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
- ^ "Toni Atkins will be first woman and the first openly gay person to lead California Senate". Sacramento Bee. December 7, 2017.
- ^ "First woman, LGBT lawmaker to lead California Senate". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved Dec 23, 2020.
- ^ Zavala, Ashley (2024-01-20). "Toni Atkins launches campaign for California governor". KCRA. Retrieved 2024-01-20.