State legislative office

California State Assembly Member, District 21

This office represents Assembly District 21 in the California Legislature.

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Data coverage

Government: State of California
Public body: California State Assembly
Electoral area: Assembly District 21

State Assembly district

Assembly District 21 boundary from the U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb current legislative-district layer.

Office overview

The office at a glance

See what this office does, the government it belongs to, the area it represents, and how voters choose its officeholder.

Government levelStateState of California

Contest typePartisanVoter-nominated office

SeatDistrict 21One of 80 State Assembly seats

Regular term2 yearsAssembly seats are elected every two years

What this office does

Represents District 21 in the State Assembly

The office votes on state laws, appropriations, and oversight while representing residents and communities within the district.

California State Assembly Chief Clerk

Election process

A top-two primary leads to the general election

California uses a top-two primary for this office. The two candidates receiving the most votes advance to the general election regardless of party.

Next electionJune 2, 2026

Open the 2026 Election Page

Detailed district statistics2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates

Survey estimates describe the current Assembly district and are not the same as the official 2020 redistricting population count. Margins of error use the ACS 90% confidence level. Hispanic or Latino includes people of any race; the remaining race categories are non-Hispanic.

People and households

Estimated population: 479,435±2,166
Median age: 39.4 years±0.3 years
Households: 174,949±1,253

Income and education

Median household income: $162,705±$4,367; 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars
People below the poverty line: 6.8%±0.5 percentage points
Bachelor's degree or higher: 55.5%±0.9 percentage points; population age 25+

Housing

Housing units: 188,115±1,035
Occupied housing units: 174,949±1,253
Vacant housing units: 13,166±979
Vacancy rate: 7.0%±0.5 percentage points

Race and ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino (any race): 27.9%±0.5 percentage points
White alone, not Hispanic: 34.8%±0.4 percentage points
Black alone, not Hispanic: 2.2%±0.2 percentage points
American Indian or Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic: 0.1%±0.0 percentage points
Asian alone, not Hispanic: 27.3%±0.5 percentage points
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic: 1.3%±0.2 percentage points
Some other race alone, not Hispanic: 1.1%±0.2 percentage points
Two or more races, not Hispanic: 5.4%±0.4 percentage points

U.S. Census Bureau district profile

Current officeholder

Who currently holds this office?

Current officeholder identified by the official California State Assembly directory.

California State Assembly

Current officeholder

Diane Papan

California State Assembly Member, District 21

Status: Current officeholder
Party: Democrat
Connected election: June 2, 2026

Legislative work

Committee assignments

2025–2026 legislative session

Standing Committees

Environmental Safety and Toxic MaterialsMember
JudiciaryMember
TransportationMember
Utilities and EnergyMember
Water, Parks, and WildlifeChair

Select Committees

Select Committee on Alternative Protein InnovationMember
Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical TechnologyMember
Select Committee on California and Armenia Mutual Trade, Art, and Cultural ExchangeMember
Select Committee on Community ReinvestmentChair
Select Committee on Growing and Retaining the Creative Economy in CaliforniaMember
Select Committee on Housing Construction InnovationMember
Select Committee on Ports and Goods MovementMember
Select Committee on Youth Mental Health and Treatment AccessibilityMember

Joint Committees

Joint Committee on Fisheries and AquacultureVice Chair

Official committee list

Contact this office

Office: P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249-0021

Official contact page Official office source

Past officeholders1 verified succession record

Succession history

Explore prior service

Verified Assembly District 21 session snapshots beginning with 2015–2016; one earlier session is included when needed to identify a predecessor.

Select a past officeholder

Reviewed portrait not yet available

Member

Adam Gray

2015–2022 verified sessions

First verified session: 2015–2016
Last verified session: 2021–2022
Party during service: Democratic
Capacity: Member

California State Library · Demographics in the California Legislature

Service ranges identify the first and last biennial sessions in the California State Library dataset; they do not assert exact swearing-in or departure dates. District numbers continue across redistricting, so earlier records may describe materially different boundaries.

Electoral area

Where this office represents

See the geographic area represented by this office and open its location information when available.

Interactive area map

Explore places and districts connected to Assembly District 21

Assembly District 21 overlaps 18 mapped communities in San Mateo County, including Redwood City, South San Francisco, Brisbane, Foster City, Menlo Park, San Mateo, and Hillsborough town, plus 11 other mapped communities.

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Places and districts shownLoading related pages

Past elections

Election history

Select a past election

This section covers completed elections. Current and upcoming contests remain on the Election Page linked from the top of this Office Page. A published past Election Page contains the full candidate list, certified result, campaign-finance coverage, methodology, and source documents.

State legislative officeCertified

California State Assembly District 21

June 2, 2026 Statewide Direct Primary Election · 2 candidates

Money in: $0.00
Money out: $0.00

Open Election Page

Election and finance details summarize the connected record. Missing or unpublished filings do not mean zero activity.

Public records

Records connected to this office

Open the official records used to follow the work, decisions, or disclosures connected to this office.

Legislative activity

Authored legislation

Legislative session

Review Assembly bills authored by the officeholder during each legislative session. Coauthored bills, resolutions, and constitutional amendments are not included in this list.

Diane Papan is listed as the author of each assembly bill below. Statuses were reviewed August 17, 2026. Showing all 35 bills.

Open the complete official session search

Official directory

Assemblymember directory record for District 21

Verify the office, current officeholder or vacancy, committee assignments, contact links, and district assignment.

Open official record

News and Press Releases

Updates from this office

Read press releases, official updates, and coverage selected by this office. Follow each link to its source.

California State Assembly

Office of Assemblymember Diane PapanMay 29, 2026

Press release

Papan Housing Element Reform Bill Approved by the State Assembly

Sacramento, CA — The State Assembly approved legislation by Assemblymember Diane Papan to reform California’s bureaucratic housing element process to help cities and counties comply with state housing mandates.

Official sourceRead official update

California State Assembly

Office of Assemblymember Diane PapanMay 21, 2026

Press release

Assemblymember Diane Papan Names Leadership Council San Mateo County as 2026 Nonprofit of the Year

SACRAMENTO, CA — Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) has named Leadership Council San Mateo County as the 2026 Nonprofit of the Year for the 21st Assembly District. The organization was honored at the California Nonprofits Day celebration at the State Capitol on May 20, 2026, alongside other distinguished nonprofits from…

Official sourceRead official update

Sources

Sources and data coverage

Review the public records used on this page, what Paper Trail Politics has captured, and what remains incomplete.

Current assessmentComplete coverage

The office identity, electoral area, connected 2026 election, and available official sources are included.

Assessed August 17, 2026 · Current 2026 records

No current limitations were reported by the completion validator.

Sources used on this page9 source organizations · 13 records

California Secretary of State