DemocratIn office since Nov 2022

Steve Padilla

California State Senator, District 18 since 2022. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.

California State Senator, District 18Born 1967

Official website Wikipedia

In office: 3 yrs; Since 2022
Bills became law: 21; 42 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed: 7.3%; Chamber median 4.2%
With party: 100%; On votes splitting the parties
Last margin: +35.5; Won 2026
Next election: 2030; Nov 5, 2030

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

California-Mexico Cooperation and Dialogue Select · chair
Insurance · chair
Agriculture
Economic Development and Technological Innovation Select
Fairs, Allocation and Classification
Governmental Organization
Health
Housing
Minority Economic Development Select
Older LGBTQ+ Californians Select
Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection
Social Determinants of Health Select
Wine Industry Select

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 42 sponsored · 21 became law

BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw

SB 1223 Fairs: contracting.
Fairs · Became law Sep 2026

SB 996 Manufactured housing: conformity.
Manufacturedhousing · Became law Sep 2026

SB 941 Private detention facilities: canteens.
Privatedetentionfacilities · Became law Sep 2026

SB 1247 Social media platforms: child influencers.
Socialmediaplatforms · Became law Sep 2026

SB 420 Property tax: welfare exemption: detention facilities.
Propertytax · Became law Sep 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Padilla sits in the California State Senate

Padilla is closer to the center than 40% of the chamber's Democrats.

Closest: Jerry McNerney, Scott Wiener, Eloise Reyes

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:46 PM ET

With Padilla’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: Padilla’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.

Date	Bill	Padilla	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 Padilla was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

2022202320242025202620272028California State Senate, District 18

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)