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Catherine Blakespear

Democrat, State Senate

District 38, Encinitas

Time in office:

Senate: 2022-present

Official Website

News coverage of Catherine Blakespear

Bio

Catherine Blakespear, 50, is a former estate planning attorney who was mayor of Encinitas and a member of its city council before she was elected to the Senate in 2022. She’s a former journalist for The Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times. She has a bachelor’s and master’s from Northwestern University and went to law school at the University of Utah. Blakespear in 2023 was the only legislator with a legal defense fund, which she used to help cover the expenses associated with a lawsuit dating to her time as mayor. The fund was closed in 2024. She’s married with two children.

Ideology

Left

Moderate

Right

Bill Activity

Of 37 bills:

6 Passed

6 Failed

25 Pending

For this session year, this legislator initiated 37 bills: 6 passed, 6 failed, and 25 are currently pending.

Alignment Meter

See all-time percentage of this legislator’s alignment with any organization based on total votes.

xx%votes: xx

Influence

There are three categories of donations to legislators after they are elected that encourage a working relationship between the donor and the legislator. The three categories are: 1-Gifts, 2-Travel, 3-Behests.

Giver	Value	Date	Description
Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians	$320	Aug 12, 2022	Hell's Kitchen Opening
Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians	$276	Jul 9, 2022	padres game
Vista City Council member Joe Green	$121	Aug 26, 2022	Moonlight Theatre Performance
Encinitas Chamber of Commerce	$60	Sep 1, 2022	State of the City ticket
Naval Air Forces	$43.58	Nov 11, 2022	Armed Forces Reception

Gifts

Legislators are not allowed to accept gifts of more than $10 per month from registered lobbyists. Gifts from any other single source are limited to $590 in a calendar year.

Gift Received Rating

#74/120

This legislator is ranked 74th highest for the amount of personal gifts received.

Policy

Bills Authored by Catherine Blakespear

SB 569

Bikeways: removal or reduction of the physical separation: required findings.

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Transportation

In Progress

Bikeways: removal or reduction of the physical separation: required findings.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Transportation

SB 561

Appointment of public guardians.

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Quality

In Progress

Appointment of public guardians.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Quality

SB 16

Mental health: involuntary commitment.

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Housing

In Progress

Mental health: involuntary commitment.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Housing

SB 741

Low Carbon Transit Operations Program.

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Water

In Progress

Low Carbon Transit Operations Program.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Water

View All Bills

Committees

Most of the policy work in the state Capitol is done in “Standing” committees. Legislators also work on budget subcommittees. There are also “Special” and “Select” committees with a more narrow topic focus. And there are “Joint” committees with members from the Senate and Assembly.

Standing