Monique Limón
Monique Limón | |
|---|---|
| President pro tempore of the California State Senate | |
Designate | |
| Assuming office TBD 2026 | |
| Succeeding | Mike McGuire |
| Member of the California State Senate | |
| Assumed office December 7, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Hannah-Beth Jackson |
| Constituency | 19th district (2020–2024) 21st district (2024–present) |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 37th district | |
| In office December 5, 2016 – November 30, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Das Williams |
| Succeeded by | Steve Bennett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 30, 1979 Santa Barbara, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Michael Medel |
| Education | University of California, Berkeley (BA) Columbia University (MA) |
| Website | State Senate website |
Monique Limón (born October 30, 1979) is an American politician serving as a member of the California State Senate. She is a member of the Democratic Party representing the 21st Senate District, which encompasses all of Santa Barbara County and over half of Ventura County.
Early life and education
Limón was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, the daughter of immigrants from Mexico.[1] She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Arts from Columbia University.[2][3]
Career
She served six years on the Santa Barbara Unified School District Board of Education. Additionally, she served in the capacity of Assistant Director for the McNair Scholars Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara prior to serving in the Assembly.[4]
She is a former member of the Santa Barbara County Commission for Women.
California State Legislature
California State Assembly
In 2016, Limón was elected to the California State Assembly to succeed Das Williams, who ran for the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.
In 2017, Jerry Brown signed Limón's bill to develop a model Native American studies curriculum to be integrated in California high schools.[5]
California State Senate
In 2020, Limón ran for the California State Senate's 19th district to succeed Hannah-Beth Jackson, who was ineligible to run due to term limits.[6]
In 2023, she introduced a bill to expand prescribed grazing as a wildfire prevention measure.[7] The next year, she introduced a bill to expand the approval process for prescribed burning.[8]
Limón sponsored a bill to make voter registration automatic at California DMVs, however Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill in 2024, citing the additional costs it would entail.[9]
On June 9, 2025, the Senate Democratic caucus unanimously voted to promote Limón as president pro tem, succeeding Mike McGuire.[10] She would be the first woman of color to hold the position and will take office in early 2026.[11][12]
Personal life
Limón lives in Goleta, California with her husband, Michael Medel.
Electoral history
2016
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Monique Limón | 83,862 | 65.9 | |
| No party preference | Edward Fuller | 43,420 | 34.1 | |
| Total votes | 127,282 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Monique Limón | 128,344 | 64.1 | |
| No party preference | Edward Fuller | 71,944 | 35.9 | |
| Total votes | 200,288 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2018
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Monique Limón (incumbent) | 69,382 | 84.3 | |
| Democratic | David L. Norrdin | 7,487 | 9.1 | |
| Democratic | Sofia Collin | 5,409 | 6.6 | |
| Total votes | 82,278 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Monique Limón (incumbent) | 129,535 | 80.4 | |
| Democratic | David L. Norrdin | 31,522 | 19.6 | |
| Total votes | 161,057 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2020
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Monique Limón | 152,745 | 61.1 | |
| Republican | Gary Michaels | 82,466 | 33.0 | |
| No party preference | Anastasia Stone | 14,734 | 5.9 | |
| Total votes | 249,945 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Monique Limón | 272,442 | 64.5 | |
| Republican | Gary Michaels | 150,089 | 35.5 | |
| Total votes | 422,531 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2024
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Monique Limón (incumbent) | 127,979 | 61.9 | |
| Republican | Elijah Mack | 78,816 | 38.1 | |
| Total votes | 206,795 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Monique Limón (incumbent) | 260,656 | 63.3 | |
| Republican | Elijah Mack | 151,365 | 36.7 | |
| Total votes | 412,021 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
- ^ Welsh, Nick (June 11, 2025). "Monique Limón Becomes First Latina President of California Senate". Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ^ "About". Official Website - Assemblymember Monique Limón Representing the 37th California Assembly District. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ "S. Monique Limón". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ Ikem, Nkechi. "Six Questions with Monique Limón, Candidate for 37th District Assemblymember | The Bottom Line". Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ Giorgi, Raiza (December 6, 2017). "New law to create Native American curriculum". Santa Ynez Valley Star. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ "Limón takes lead in 19th Senate District race". www.msn.com. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ Fausey, Callie (March 30, 2023). "Santa Barbara's State Senator Introduces Bill to Expand Prescribed Grazing". Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ Huijon Jr., Eduardo (March 30, 2023). "How a proposed law aims to reduce massive wildfires in California". KSBY-TV. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ Kamal, Sameea (June 18, 2024). "'Automatic' registration would boost California's voter rolls. What's the downside?". CalMatters. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ "California Senate Democrats vote for Monique Limón to be their next leader". KCRA-TV. June 9, 2025. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ Wolffe, Kate (June 9, 2025). "California Senate chooses new leader, first Latina to hold the role". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ Kuang, Jeanne (June 9, 2025). "California Democrats choose progressive Latina as next state Senate leader". CalMatters. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ "June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ "November 8, 2016, General Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ "June 5, 2018, Statewide Direct Primary Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ "November 6, 2018, General Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ "March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ "November 3, 2020, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ "March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
- ^ "November 5, 2024, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 2, 2025.