Dave Cortese
- Senate: 2020-present
Bio
Dave Cortese, 70, is the son of longtime California Assemblymember Dominic Cortese. After graduating from UC Davis and Lincoln Law School, he spent most of the next three decades on a local school board, the San Jose City Council and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He worked in finance, ranching and real estate and opened a private law practice. In the Senate, he authored legislation Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed that would have allowed car dealers to tack on another $175 in fees to the cost of buying a vehicle. He’s married with four children.
Leader Badges
Ideology
Bill Activity
For this session year, this legislator initiated 38 bills: 23 passed, 6 failed, and 9 are currently pending.
Alignment Meter
See all-time percentage of this legislator’s alignment with any organization based on total votes.
No Results
Digital Democracy contains no financial data in relation to this organization. Digital Democracy contains no contribution data in relation to this organization.
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
|
|---|---|---|---|
| PhRMA | $30,000 | Oct 2, 2025 | Italian Caucus of CA - donation to general fund |
| San Francisco Giants Baseball Club LLC | $6,633 | Sep 24, 2025 | Italian Heritage Night |
| NATERA ATTN: Todd Trautner | $5,000 | Dec 15, 2025 | Italian Caucus of California - donation to general fund |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a legislator to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a legislator requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
Behests Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 48th highest for the amount of behests received.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Turo Inc. | $50,000 | Mar 2, 2026 | Italian Caucus of California - donation to general fund |
| PhRMA | $15,000 | Feb 11, 2026 | Italian Caucus of California - donation to general fund |
| Turo, Inc. | $6,230 | Feb 5, 2026 | Event Sponsorship |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a legislator to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a legislator requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
Behests Received Rating
This legislator is ranked 13th highest for the amount of behests received.
Featured Comments
Below are links to the video and transcript of recent, substantive comments by this legislator in committee hearings or floor sessions.
42SEC
SB 1375
California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: urban intermodal rail station project.
The maps and information about this district reflect the boundaries when this Senator was last elected in 2020. Since then legislative districts have been redrawn according to the latest US Census. This district will change after the 2024 election.
Previous Election (2024):