John Laird
California State Senator, District 17 since 2020. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 6 yrs
- Since 2020
- Bills became law
- 36
- 47 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.6%
- Chamber median 4.2%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +30.1
- Won 2024
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Budget and Fiscal Review · chair
- Legislative Budget · chair
- Older LGBTQ+ Californians Select · chair
- Rules · vice-chair
- Community College: The Hub of the Community Select
- Human Services
- Judiciary
- Labor, Public Employment and Retirement
- Local Government
- Natural Resources and Water
- Nonprofit Sector Select
- Rules
- Select Committee on Bay Area Public Transit
- Wine Industry Select
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Healthcarecoverage · Became law Sep 2026
AgingandDisabilityResourceConnectionprogram · Became law Sep 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Laird sits in the California State Senate
Laird is closer to the center than 33% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Mike McGuire, Monique Limón, Laura Richardson
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:46 PM ET
With Laird’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills17%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the California State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Laird’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Laird | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 2026 | AB 1156: Williamson Act contracts: cancellation fees: photovoltaic solar facilities. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 21–14 |
| Aug 31, 2026 | AB 1642: Wildfires: contamination standards. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 30–2 |
| Aug 30, 2026 | AB 28: Solid waste landfills: subsurface temperatures. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 31–3 |
| Aug 30, 2026 | AB 1198: Public works: prevailing wages. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 31–9 |
| Aug 30, 2026 | AB 2434: Inmates: visitation. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 30–9 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Laird was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | California State Senate, District 17 | Won | D+30.1 |
| 2020 | California State Senate, District 17 | Won | D+29.4 |
| 2006 | California State Assembly, District 27 | Won | D+40.2 |
| 2004 | California State Assembly, District 27 | Won | D+37.3 |
| 2002 | California State Assembly, District 27 | Won | D+26.0 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Laird has held
- California State Senate, District 17 · since 2020
- California State Assembly, District 27 · 2002–2008
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Laird has run against
- Tony Virrueta (R) · 2024 general, won
- Vicki Nohrden (R) · 2020 general, won
- Michael Morrison (R) · 2006 general, won
- Jack D. Barlich (R) · 2004 general, won
- Charles Carter (R) · 2002 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Laird
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/7476789f-49a4-491a-b294-9d1486f24193
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET