Democrats choose first woman of color to become the next state Senate president
Sacramento – State Democrats in California are cheering up, and the Senate Democratic Caucus pledged support to Senator Monique Limon (D-Goleta) who will take over as a career presidency in early 2026.
Limón was elected to the state Senate in 2020 and is the chairman of the Senate Democratic caucus and the Senate Banking Committee. The 45-year-old Central Coast native served in the parliament for four years before the Senate campaign and worked on the UC Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara County School Board before entering politics.
She stressed the importance of the moment, noting that the caucus was selected by the Trump administration’s ice raids targeting ethnic minorities across Los Angeles and statewide, when she elected her — the first person of color to hold the position.
The uncertain times are “a reminder of our leadership today that tomorrow and the future are important because leaders think and influence directions at every moment, especially in these very challenging moments. For me, it’s incredible humility here.”
Limón recently spoke out on the Sable Offshore Pipeline project, which aims to repair and reopen a pipeline on the coast of Santa Barbara County that spilled 21,000 gallons of crude oil in 2015. This year, she wrote a measure, Senate Bill 542, in response to the project, which would require input into reopening pipelines and better safety guidelines, leading to weaknesses in order to find weaknesses in weaknesses.
“No one works harder to make college more affordable than Monique Limón,” said Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), the current Senate president. “She is the relentless voice of the central coast of this great rural area.”
McGuire’s former Speaker and Governor candidate Toni Atkins led the Senate in a unanimous vote by former spokesperson and Governor candidate Toni Atkins in February. He promised to protect the state’s progressive ideals before the problematic state budget continues to explode, with the Trump administration and Republican-controlled Congress supporting cuts to Heath by federal aid state to gain low-income Californians, education and research and other basic programs.
The Sonoma County Democratic takeover is part of a broader change — both of which are led by lawmakers in Northern California this year, giving Southern California lawmakers limited control. The Limon area covers Santa Barbara County and part of Ventura and San Luis Obispo County.
McGuire has a term of office next year and may plan to run for insurance commissioner in 2026, but his plans have not been confirmed despite receiving more than $220,000 in donations so far this year.
