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State legislative office

California State Senator, District 17

This office represents State Senate District 17 in the California Legislature.

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Data coverage
Government
State of California
Public body
California State Senate
Electoral area
State Senate District 17
Map of California State Senate District 17
State Senate district
i
State Senate District 17 boundary from the U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb current upper-chamber 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 17One of 40 State Senate seats
Regular term4 yearsEven- and odd-numbered districts are elected in alternating cycles

What this office does

Represents District 17 in the State Senate

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

California State Senate

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. State Senate districts serve four-year terms, with even- and odd-numbered districts elected in alternating cycles.

Next electionNovember 5, 2024

Open the 2024 Election Page
Detailed district statistics2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates

Survey estimates describe the current State Senate 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
996,273±1,685
Median age
37.4 years±0.2 years
Households
338,407±1,438

Income and education

Median household income
$101,663±$1,602; 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars
People below the poverty line
12.3%±0.5 percentage points
Bachelor's degree or higher
35.3%±0.5 percentage points; population age 25+

Housing

Housing units
375,706±629
Occupied housing units
338,407±1,438
Vacant housing units
37,299±1,382
Vacancy rate
9.9%±0.4 percentage points

Race and ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino (any race)
45.7%±0.1 percentage points
White alone, not Hispanic
43.3%±0.1 percentage points
Black alone, not Hispanic
1.4%±0.1 percentage points
American Indian or Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic
0.1%±0.0 percentage points
Asian alone, not Hispanic
4.7%±0.1 percentage points
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic
0.3%±0.0 percentage points
Some other race alone, not Hispanic
0.5%±0.1 percentage points
Two or more races, not Hispanic
3.9%±0.2 percentage points
U.S. Census Bureau district profile

Current officeholder

Who currently holds this office?

Current officeholder identified by the official California State Senate directory.

Official portrait of John Laird
California State Senate

Current officeholder

John Laird

California State Senator, District 17

Status
Current officeholder
Party
Democratic
First elected
Connected election
November 5, 2024

Legislative work

Committee assignments

Current official Senate directory
Standing Committees
  • Budget and Fiscal Review (First Extraordinary)Member
  • Budget and Fiscal ReviewChair
  • Human ServicesMember
  • JudiciaryMember
  • Labor, Public Employment and RetirementMember
  • Local GovernmentMember
  • Natural Resources and WaterMember
  • Rules (First Extraordinary)Member
  • RulesMember
Select Committees
  • Select Committee on Bay Area Public TransportationMember
  • Select Committee on California’s Wine IndustryMember
  • Select Committee on Community College: The Hub of the CommunityMember
  • Select Committee on the Nonprofit SectorMember
  • Select Committee on Older LGBTQ+ CaliforniansChair
Joint Committees
  • Joint Committee on RulesVice-Chair
  • Joint Legislative BudgetChair
Official committee list

Contact this office

Office
1021 O Street, Suite 8720, Sacramento, CA 95814-4900
Official contact page Official office source
Past officeholders1 verified succession record

Succession history

Explore prior service

Verified Senate District 17 session snapshots beginning with 2015–2016; one earlier session is included when needed to identify a predecessor.

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 State Senate District 17

State Senate District 17 includes all of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties and most of San Luis Obispo County. Communities represented across the district include Salinas, Santa Cruz, Watsonville, San Luis Obispo, Hollister, Seaside, El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), and Monterey.

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Places and districts shownLoading related pages

Past elections

Election history

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 Senate District 17

November 5, 2024 General Election · 2 candidates
Money in
Not yet reported
Money out
Not yet reported
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

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

John Laird is listed as the author of each senate bill below. Statuses were reviewed August 17, 2026. Showing all 44 bills.

SB 22 Gift certificatesAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 29 Civil actions: decedent’s cause of actionAuthored by John Laird Assembly · Inactive SB 106 Budget Act of 2025Authored by John Laird Chaptered SB 107 Budget Acts of 2023, 2024, and 2025Authored by John Laird Assembly · Budget SB 108 Budget Act of 2025Authored by John Laird Assembly · Budget SB 109 Budget Act of 2026Authored by John Laird Assembly · Budget SB 110 Budget Act of 2026Authored by John Laird Chaptered SB 111 Budget Act of 2026Authored by John Laird Chaptered SB 112 Budget Acts of 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025Authored by John Laird Assembly · Budget SB 230 Workers’ compensation: firefightersAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 283 Energy storage systemsAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 333 Transactions and use taxes: San Luis Obispo Council of GovernmentsAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 340 General plans: housing element: emergency shelterAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 391 Community colleges: Chancellor of the California Community Colleges: data request fee policyAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 428 State Auditor: permanent officeAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 467 Highways: Highway Signage FundAuthored by John Laird Senate · Died · Appropriations SB 470 Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act: teleconferencingAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 484 Coastal resources: coastal development permits: infill area categorical exclusionAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 491 State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission: chair: report to the LegislatureAuthored by John Laird Assembly · Appropriations SB 504 Communicable diseases: HIV reportingAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 544 Railroad crossings: permit applications: reviewAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 575 California Sea Otter Voluntary Tax Contribution FundAuthored by John Laird Senate · Passed SB 577 State GovernmentAuthored by John Laird Assembly · Inactive SB 609 Fish: commercial fishingAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 697 Determination of water rights: stream systemAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 839 Oil spills: fishing: water closure: grants: liabilityAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 879 Budget Act of 2026Authored by John Laird Senate · Pending Referral SB 917 Alcoholic beverages: certified farmers’ market sales permitAuthored by John Laird Senate · Passed SB 922 Vehicles: local agency charges: use of streets or highwaysAuthored by John Laird Senate · Passed SB 931 Diablo Canyon nuclear powerplant: Community Impacts Mitigation ProgramAuthored by John Laird Assembly · Third Reading SB 939 Public employees’ retirement: service credit: paymentsAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 952 State Water Project: renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resourcesAuthored by John Laird Senate · Passed SB 963 California Coastal Act of 1976: coastal development permits: appeal: de novo reviewAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 1023 Health care coverage: antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, and drug productsAuthored by John Laird Assembly · Third Reading SB 1038 The Public Employees’ Retirement SystemAuthored by John Laird Senate · Passed SB 1055 Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency: contractsAuthored by John Laird Senate · Passed SB 1078 Civil rights violations: service of process: Civil Rights DepartmentAuthored by John Laird Assembly · Third Reading SB 1081 Waste discharge requirements: minimum penalties: exception: publicly owned treatment worksAuthored by John Laird Senate · Appropriations SB 1139 Monterey Peninsula Water Management District: nonfunctional turf: noncompliance and enforcementAuthored by John Laird Chaptered SB 1207 California Conservation CorpsAuthored by John Laird Senate · Passed SB 1216 Budget Act of 2026Authored by John Laird Senate · Budget and Fiscal Review SB 1253 Salinas Reservoir: recreational useAuthored by John Laird Senate · Passed SB 1261 Aging and Disability Resource Connection programAuthored by John Laird Assembly · Third Reading SB 1288 Property: nonprobate transfer of ownershipAuthored by John Laird Assembly · Third Reading
Open the complete official session search

Official directory

California State Senate directory record for District 17

Verify the office, current Senator, committee assignments, public contact information, 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.

Office of Senator John Laird logo
Office of Senator John Laird
Office of Senator John Laird
Press release

Legislature Passes Laird Bill to Accelerate Pajaro River Flood Protection Projects

SACRAMENTO – Senate Bill 1055 by Senator John Laird, legislation to help accelerate critical flood protection projects along the Pajaro River by expanding the contracting tools available to the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency (PRFMA), passed the California Legislature today with bipartisan support and now awaits action…

Official sourceRead official update
Office of Senator John Laird logo
Office of Senator John Laird
Office of Senator John Laird
Press release

Senator Laird Secures Agreement with SLO County and PG&E to Support Community Funding

SACRAMENTO – Today Senator John Laird (D- Santa Cruz) announced an agreement between the County of San Luis Obispo and PG&E that will provide over $16 million in support for the community. The agreement mirrors legislation authored by Senator Laird, Senate Bill 931, that ensured funding for communities impacted by the ongoing…

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

Visual and interaction QA has not yet been completed for this generated page.

Sources used on this page8 source organizations · 16 records
California Secretary of State

2 records from this source are used on the page.

2024 Senate District 17 general district totalshttps://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2024-general/sov/37-state-senator.xlsxOfficial election event and result source for November 3, 2020 General Election.https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/prior-elections/statewide-election-results/general-election-november-3-2020/statement-vote
U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Boundary source for California State Senate District 17https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Legislative/MapServer/1
California State Senate

5 records from this source are used on the page.

Official government information about the office and public bodyhttps://www.senate.ca.gov/senatorsCurrent officeholder identified by the official California State Senate directory.https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=SD17&inframe=NPortrait source page for John Lairdhttps://www.senate.ca.gov/sites/senate.ca.gov/files/styles/large/public/media/LAIRD%252C%2520JOHN%2520%2528D-17%2529_6.jpg?itok=wmob19vVCommittee assignments for John Laird (Current official Senate directory)https://www.senate.ca.gov/senators/17Reviewed source for when John Laird's current uninterrupted Senate service began.https://www.senate.ca.gov/system/files/2024-12/2466_joint-handbook_2023-24_complete.pdf
California Legislative Information

2 records from this source are used on the page.

Complete authored senate bills search for 2025–2026 Sessionhttps://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billSearchClient.xhtml?session_year=20252026&house=Senate&author=Laird&lawCode=AllComplete authored senate bills search for 2023–2024 Sessionhttps://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billSearchClient.xhtml?session_year=20232024&house=Senate&author=Laird&lawCode=All
U.S. Census Bureau district profile

1 record from this source is used on the page.

2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates detailed district statisticshttps://data.census.gov/profile?g=610XX00US06017
Census Reporter

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Access copy of the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates Census tables used for district statisticshttps://censusreporter.org/profiles/61000US06017/
California State Library · Demographics in the California Legislature

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Verified succession chronology for California State Senator, District 17https://lab.data.ca.gov/dataset/demographics-in-the-california-legislature/9dc0c75b-5a89-483f-9590-ec41bfe26882
Office of Senator John Laird

3 records from this source are used on the page.

Press release: Legislature Passes Laird Bill to Accelerate Pajaro River Flood Protection Projectshttps://sd17.senate.ca.gov/news/legislature-passes-laird-bill-accelerate-pajaro-river-flood-protection-projectsPublished image: Legislature Passes Laird Bill to Accelerate Pajaro River Flood Protection Projectshttps://sd17.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd17.senate.ca.gov/files/website/sd17_logo.pngPress release: Senator Laird Secures Agreement with SLO County and PG&E to Support Community Fundinghttps://sd17.senate.ca.gov/news/senator-laird-secures-agreement-slo-county-and-pge-support-community-funding
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