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
Incumbent
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
(1962-08-01) August 1, 1962 (age 61) 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 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.
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...
ToniAtkins, and former Controller Betty Yee have declared their candidacies. The field of candidates is expected to expand in the coming years. Toni...
district seat held by Assembly Speaker ToniAtkins, who was termed out. Gloria was immediately endorsed by Atkins and by Sarah Boot, who had previously...
to a third term. President pro tempore of the California State Senate ToniAtkins, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, FFA Secretary Jesse Perez, California...
Atkins may refer to: John DeWitt Clinton Atkins (1825–1908), Tennessee State Senate ToniAtkins (born 1962), California State Senate William Atkins (Louisiana...
(D–San Francisco) and Assemblymembers Tom Ammiano (D–San Francisco), ToniAtkins (D-San Diego) and John Pérez (D–Los Angeles). Kehoe represented San Diego's...
38th, 39th and 40th districts, represented by Catherine Blakespear (D), ToniAtkins (D), and Brian Jones (R), respectively. In the California State Assembly...
2014, Assembly Speaker ToniAtkins appointed Low as Assistant Majority Whip. Low was kept in the same leadership role by Atkins's successor, Speaker Anthony...
35: Steven Bradford SD 37: Dave Min SD 38: Catherine Blakespear SD 39: ToniAtkins (Senate President pro Tempore) As of December 2022, Democrats hold a...
conviction that was later overturned. A week later, the City Council elected ToniAtkins to serve as acting mayor until a new election could be held. j Bob Filner...
only three people to hold both offices, along with James T. Farley and ToniAtkins. Burnell was elected speaker as a compromise candidate after the State...
2020 2032 38 Catherine Blakespear Democratic Encinitas 2022 2034 39 ToniAtkins Democratic San Diego 2016 2024 President pro tempore until February 5...
Legislature State Senate President Eleni Kounalakis (D) President Pro Temp ToniAtkins (D) Majority Leader Robert Hertzberg (D) Minority Leader Scott Wilk (R)...
services: legally protected health care activities. SB 487 by Senator ToniAtkins (D-San Diego) – Abortion: provider protections. Cohen, David S.; Donley...
As of 2023, he is deputy press secretary for California state senator ToniAtkins. Rush came out as bisexual on August 6, 2019. In February 2020, Rush...
Bonta's appointment was praised by prominent state Democrats including ToniAtkins, the president pro tempore of the state senate, and U.S. Representative...
term-limited. 37th: Dave Min is retiring to run for U.S. House. 39th: ToniAtkins is term-limited. 1st: Brian Dahle is term-limited. 21st: Scott Wilk is...