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Headshot of Steve Padilla

Steve Padilla

Democrat, State Senate
District 18, Chula Vista
Time in office:
  • Senate: 2022-present

News coverage of Steve Padilla

Bio

Steve Padilla, 59, is a former police detective and chair of the California Coastal Commission. He worked for 13 years in law enforcement first in Chula Vista and then in Coronado, where he was a detective. He served for several years on the Chula Vista City Council, and as its mayor, he came out as LGBTQ. In 2020, Padilla was the first elected official in California to test positive for COVID-19. He would spend weeks in the ICU and 11 days on a ventilator. He has one daughter.

Leader Badges

Assistant Majority Whip Rank Badge

Ideology

Left

Moderate

Right

Bill Activity

0

Of 40 bills:
8 Passed
8 Failed
24 Pending

For this session year, this legislator initiated 40 bills: 8 passed, 8 failed, and 24 are currently pending.

Alignment Meter

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

xx%votes: xx

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).

No data found for Last Session.

No data found for Last Session.


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
Amplify Campaigns$203.55Aug 24, 2022concert at Pechanga Arena
San Diego Community Power$156Jun 8, 2022padres tickets
Ishrani Family$125Jun 3, 2022bottle of wine
Equality California Institute$90.44Aug 8, 2022food/beverage at summit
Karina's Ceviches & More LLC$66Oct 18, 2022food & drink
Equality California$60Jun 24, 2022succulent plant
San Diego Working Waterfront $55Sep 26, 2022dinner
Toni Atkins for Lt. Governor 2026$52.61Aug 18, 2022dinner

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
#75/120

This legislator is ranked 75th highest for the amount of personal gifts received.

Policy

Bills Authored by Steve Padilla

SB 996
Manufactured housing: classification as real property.

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Housing

In Progress
Manufactured housing: classification as real property. Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Housing
SB 876
Fire and residential property insurance.

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Insurance

In Progress
Fire and residential property insurance. Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Insurance
SB 1138
Load-serving entities: resource adequacy requirements.

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications

In Progress
Load-serving entities: resource adequacy requirements.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications
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.

Hearings

Featured Comments

Below are links to the video and transcript of recent, substantive comments by this legislator in committee hearings or floor sessions.

Preview image for SB 9416MIN
Apr 14, 2026

SB 941

Private detention facilities: canteens.

Preview image for SB 90331MIN
Apr 13, 2026

SB 903

Mental health professionals: artificial intelligence.

Preview image for SB 8761H
Apr 8, 2026

SB 876

Fire and residential property insurance.

Preview image for SB 113821MIN
Apr 7, 2026

SB 1138

Load-serving entities: resource adequacy requirements.

Preview image for SB 12473MIN
Apr 6, 2026

SB 1247

Social media platforms: child influencers.

Preview image for SB 86715MIN
Apr 6, 2026

SB 867

Toys: companion chatbots.

Preview image for SB 103315MIN
Mar 25, 2026

SB 1033

Protein products.

Preview image for SB 100616MIN
Mar 25, 2026

SB 1006

Student financial aid: Cal Grant B access costs award.

Preview image for SB 88726MIN
Mar 18, 2026

SB 887

California Environmental Quality Act: environmental leadership development projects: data centers: clean energy...

Preview image for SB 99615MIN
Mar 17, 2026

SB 996

Manufactured housing: classification as real property.

Preview image for SB 9418MIN
Mar 17, 2026

SB 941

Private detention facilities: canteens.

Preview image for SB 88644MIN
Mar 17, 2026

SB 886

California Technology Innovation and Ratepayer Protection Act.

View All Hearings

District

View of map with yellow overlay for Senate District 18 boundaries.
District 18 is a Safe Democratic District
Democratic Party candidate has a very high likelihood of winning in an election

Previous Election (2022):

Alejandro Galicia
40.2%
Steve Padilla
59.8%
WON

Party Registration

Census Data

Median age0102030

Median age