Patrick Ahrens
- Assembly: 2024-Assembly
News coverage of Patrick Ahrens
Bio
Patrick Ahrens, 36, is the former district director for Assemblymember Evan Low, who vacated his seat in a failed Congressional bid in 2024. Before winning his Assembly seat with Low’s endorsement, Ahrens was president of the Foothill De Anza College Board of Trustees. He says his family struggled with substance abuse and he was the first of them to attend college. At one point, he lived in a Ford hatchback with his twin brother, who later died from cancer. Aherns has a master’s degree in public administration from San Jose State University.
Bill Activity
0
Of 41 bills:For this session year, this legislator initiated 41 bills: 4 passed, 8 failed, and 29 are currently pending.
Alignment Meter
See all-time percentage of this legislator’s alignment with any organization based on total votes.
Financials
This feature tracks three sources of money intended to help a candidate win election: 1-Money given directly to a candidate’s committee, 2-Money given to an Independent Expenditure Committee, 3-Money given to a political party. (NOTE: Senators are elected every four years. Twenty of the 40 Senators are on the ballot in even-numbered years, so Senators may do little or no fundraising in the first two-year session of their Senate term).
Election
This display shows money given directly to the incumbent’s campaign committee (NOTE: The industry categories for donors come from Open Secrets, a nonpartisan research organization for campaign finance. Some contributions are “uncoded,” meaning they have not been assigned to an industry sector. As a result, the total for each sector is also an estimate).
Candidate Contributions
Communications & Electronics
Construction
Defense
Energy & Natural Resources
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
General Business
Government Agencies/Education/Other
Health
Ideology/Single Issue
Labor
Lawyers & Lobbyists
Transportation
Uncoded
Unitemized Contributions
Candidate Donations
Individuals, corporations, organizations and committees are limited to a maximum donation to candidates of $5,500 for the primary and for the general elections.
134.0% higher than the average legislators
Independent Expenditures
Money from Independent Expenditure Committees (IEC) for advertising or grassroots activity targeting a candidates run for office is unlimited, but it cannot be spent in coordination with the candidate or the candidate's campaign.
388.0% higher than the average legislators
Grand Total for Elections
174.0% higher than the average legislators
This is a total of the money targeting this legislator's campaign(s) including direct donations to the candidate, money spent by Independent Expenditure Committees and money from political parties.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California | $199.88 | Dec 9, 2024 | Food and Beverages |
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
This legislator is ranked 102nd highest for the amount of personal gifts received.
Policy
Bills Authored by Patrick Ahrens
Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education
Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources
Committee: Assembly Standing Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection
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.
Interest Group Rankings
Hearings
Featured Comments
Below are links to the video and transcript of recent, substantive comments by this legislator in committee hearings or floor sessions.
9MINAB 2766
Public postsecondary education: student housing: foster youth and homeless youth.
District
Previous Election (2024):
Party Registration
Key
District
State
Census Data
Median age