who is the current california attorney general

by Prof. Kathleen Bednar II 9 min read

Attorney General Rob Bonta

How many attorney generals are in California?

33 California attorneysThere have been 33 California attorneys general since 1849. Of the 32 officeholders, 19 were Democrat, 13 were Republican and one was American Independent.

Who is California's deputy attorney general?

Together, through a broad range of unique responsibilities, each team member will contribute to the overall mission of serving the people and interests of California. Venus D. Johnson, Chief Deputy Attorney General.Oct 29, 2021

Is the attorney general in California elected or appointed?

Under the state Constitution, the Attorney General is elected to a four-year term in the same statewide election as the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Controller, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Insurance Commissioner.

Does each state have an Attorney General?

The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states, of the federal district, or of any of the territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer.

Who is the current US deputy attorney general?

Lisa MonacoUnited States Deputy Attorney GeneralIncumbent Lisa Monaco since April 21, 2021United States Department of JusticeStyleMadam. Deputy Attorney GeneralReports toUnited States Attorney General7 more rows

Who is the current California state controller?

Controller Betty T. YeeState Controller Betty T. Yee was elected in November 2014, following two terms of service on the California Board of Equalization. As Controller, she continues to serve the Board as its fifth voting member. Reelected for a second term as Controller in 2018, Ms.

Does CA have a Secretary of State?

About Secretary Shirley N. Weber was sworn in as California Secretary of State on January 29, 2021.

Who is the DA of Los Angeles?

George GasconIn his first year of office, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon has implemented reforms that have led to criticism of him being soft on crime.Dec 8, 2021

Who is Andrew Sheeler?

Andrew Sheeler. Andrew Sheeler covers California’s unique political climate for the Sacramento Bee. He has covered crime and politics from Interior Alaska to North Dakota’s oil patch to the rugged coast of southern Oregon. He attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Is Gov. Newsom a betting man?

While it’s unclear whether Gov. Newsom is a betting man, but if he is, he probably won’t like the odds of the Recall Gavin Newsom campaign collecting enough signatures by the March 17 deadline.

Why did Harris question Nielsen?

Later that month, Harris questioned Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen for favoring Norwegian immigrants over others and claiming to be unaware that Norway is a predominantly white country.

What did Harris do to reduce truancy?

In 2006, as part of an initiative to reduce the city's skyrocketing homicide rate, Harris led a city-wide effort to combat truancy for at-risk elementary school youth in San Francisco. Declaring chronic truancy a matter of public safety and pointing out that the majority of prison inmates and homicide victims are dropouts or habitual truants, Harris's office met with thousands of parents at high-risk schools and sent out letters warning all families of the legal consequences of truancy at the beginning of the fall semester, adding she would prosecute the parents of chronically truant elementary students; penalties included a $2,500 fine and up to a year in jail. The program was controversial when introduced.

Where did Donald Harris live?

Of Afro-Jamaican descent, Donald Harris met his future wife, Shyamala Gopalan through the civil rights movement. Harris' childhood home on Bancroft Way in Berkeley. Harris and her younger sister Maya lived in Berkeley, California, during and after her parents' studies.

Who is Kamala Harris?

Harris served as the junior United States senator from Cali fornia from 2017 to 2021. Harris defeated Loretta Sanchez in the 2016 Senate election to become the second African American woman and the first South Asian American to serve in the United States Senate.

Did Harris seek the death penalty?

In the runoff, Harris pledged never to seek the death penalty and to prosecute three-strike offenders only in cases of violent felonies. Harris ran a "forceful" campaign, assisted by former mayor Willie Brown, Senator Dianne Feinstein, writer and cartoonist Aaron McGruder, and comedians Eddie Griffin and Chris Rock.

Why does Kamala Harris wear pearls?

Although speculation during the 2020 presidential campaign emerged that she began wearing them as an homage to her Howard University sorority, or even to Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, known for wearing a distinctive collar when issuing a dissent, in her 2019 biography The Truths We Hold Harris had previously explained that she began doing so after being given some as a gift by her mother's mentor Howard.

What is the privacy policy of Harris?

In February 2012, Harris announced an agreement with Apple, Amazon, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, and Research in Motion to mandate that apps sold in their stores display prominent privacy policies informing users of what private information they were sharing, and with whom. Facebook later joined the agreement. That summer, Harris announced the creation of a Privacy Enforcement and Protection Unit to enforce laws related to cyber privacy, identity theft, and data breaches. Later the same year, Harris notified a hundred mobile-app developers of their non-compliance with state privacy laws and asked them to create privacy policies or face a $2,500 fine each time a non-compliant app is downloaded by a resident of California.

What committee did Becerra serve on?

And on December 23, 2011, he was appointed to serve on a bicameral conference committee to find bipartisan solutions on middle-class tax cuts, unemployment insurance, and the Medicare physician payment rate. Becerra had a seat on the House Ways and Means Committee and was the first Latino to serve on the committee.

How many times has Becerra sued Trump?

border. As of September 26, 2019, Becerra had sued the Trump administration 62 times in total.

When was Becerra elected?

Becerra was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1992. He represented California's 30th congressional district from 1993 to 2003, California's 31st congressional district from 2003 to 2013, and California's 34th congressional district from 2013 to 2017.

Who won the 1994 Democratic primary?

Becerra won the Democratic primary with a plurality of 32% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated Republican nominee Morry Waksberg 58%–24%. He won re-election to a second term in 1994 with 66% of the vote. His district was renumbered as the 31st district after the 2000 census.

When did Edward Roybal retire?

In 1992, 25th district congressman Edward Roybal announced his retirement after 30 years in Congress. Becerra entered the race for the seat, which had been renumbered as the 30th district after redistricting.

Who is the running mate of Kamala Harris?

In August 2020, California Senator Kamala Harris was selected by Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden as his Vice-President ial running mate. After Biden ultimately won the general election, Becerra was floated as a possible replacement for Harris, along with others such as Representative Karen Bass, Representative Barbara Lee, Secretary of State Alex Padilla (who was eventually chosen), and former Secretary of Labor Hilda Solís. Early December reports that Biden planned to nominate Becerra as Secretary of Health and Human Services rendered such speculation moot.

Who is the attorney general of California?

As Attorney General of California, Becerra was tasked with writing ballot titles and summaries that appeared on voter information guides and ballots in both the 2018 and 2020 elections. Proponents accused Becer ra multiple times of writing biased descriptions that violated the law, which requires "a true and impartial statement of the purpose" of measures. In one of many unsuccessful lawsuits against Becerra, a state judge wrote that attorneys general have "wide latitude" in how they write ballot descriptions. Critics said the responsibility to write the ballot title and summary should be transferred to a different, non-partisan office.

What is the role of a deputy attorney general?

The Deputy Attorney General advises and assists the Attorney General in formulating and implementing the Department’s policies and programs.

Who is the deputy attorney general of the United States?

Deputy Attorney General. Lisa O. Monaco is the 39 th Deputy Attorney General of the United States. As the Deputy Attorney General, she is the Department’s second-ranking official and is responsible for the overall supervision of the Department.

How to become an attorney general?

Additionally, each candidate for attorney general must: 1 Be a registered voter 2 Be registered with their party for at least three months#N#Not have been registered with a different political party in the last 12 months 3 Not have been previously term-limited out

What does the Attorney General do?

Further, the attorney general plays a direct role in law enforcement efforts and "coordinates statewide narcotics enforcement efforts, participates in criminal investigations and provides forensic science services, identification and information services and telecommunication support.".

How many terms can a Lieutenant Governor serve?

No Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Controller, Secretary of State, or Treasurer may serve in the same office for more than 2 terms.

When is the attorney general election?

Elections. Attorneys general are elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in federal midterm election years, e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030. Like all constitutional state officers, the attorney general assumes office on the first Monday in the new year following the election.

Who won the 2018 California primary?

Nonpartisan primary election. Incumbent Xavier Becerra and Steven Bailey defeated Dave Jones and Eric Early in the primary for Attorney General of California on June 5, 2018.

What happens when a governor vacancy occurs?

When a vacancy occurs, the governor nominates a replacement to serve the remainder of the term under the next election. The appointee must be confirmed by a majority of both house of the California legislature. Until the replacement is approved, the former officeholder's chief deputy exercises the office.

What is the job of the Attorney General of California?

Duties. The attorney general acts as the state's chief law officer and oversees the California Department of Justice. He or she supervises the state's district and city attorneys, as well as its law enforcement officers.

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Past Salaries of Elected Officials, 2019-2020

  1. Governor $209,747
  2. Lieutenant Governor $157,310
  3. Attorney General $182,189
  4. Controller $167,796
See more on calhr.ca.gov

Past Salaries of Elected Officials, 2018-2019

  1. Governor $201,680
  2. Lieutenant Governor $151,260
  3. Attorney General $175,182
  4. Controller $161,342
See more on calhr.ca.gov

Past Salaries of Elected Officials, 2017-2018

  1. Governor $195,806
  2. Lieutenant Governor $146,854
  3. Attorney General $170,080
  4. Controller $156,643
See more on calhr.ca.gov

Past Salaries of Elected Officials, 2016-2017

  1. Governor $190,103
  2. Lieutenant Governor $142,577
  3. Attorney General $165,126
  4. Controller $152,081
See more on calhr.ca.gov

Past Salaries of Elected Officials, 2015-2016

  1. Governor $182,791
  2. Lieutenant Governor $137,093
  3. Attorney General $158,775
  4. Controller $146,232
See more on calhr.ca.gov

Past Salaries of Elected Officials, 2014-2015

  1. Governor $177,467
  2. Lieutenant Governor $133,100
  3. Attorney General $154,150
  4. Controller $141,973
See more on calhr.ca.gov

Past Salaries of Elected Officials, 2013-2014

  1. Governor $173,987
  2. Lieutenant Governor $130,490
  3. Attorney General $151,127
  4. Secretary of State $130,490
See more on calhr.ca.gov

Past Salaries of Elected Officials, 2012-2013

  1. Governor $165,288
  2. Lieutenant Governor $123,965
  3. Attorney General $143,571
  4. Secretary of State $123,965
See more on calhr.ca.gov

Past Salaries of Elected Officials, 2009

  1. Governor $173,987 (salary reduction)
  2. Lieutenant Governor $130,490 (salary reduction)
  3. Attorney General $151,127 (salary reduction)
  4. Secretary of State $130,490 (salary reduction)
See more on calhr.ca.gov

Past Salaries of Elected Officials, 2008

  1. Governor $212,179 (no change)
  2. Lieutenant Governor $159,134 (no change)
  3. Attorney General $184,301 (no change)
  4. Secretary of State $159,134 (no change)
See more on calhr.ca.gov

Overview

Xavier Becerra is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 25th United States secretary of health and human services since March 2021. Becerra previously served as the attorney general of California from January 2017 until March 2021. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Downtown Los Angelesin Congress from 1993 to 2017. Becerra, …

California Attorney General (2017–2021)

Becerra accepted Governor Jerry Brown's offer to be the attorney general of California on December 1, 2016. The California Legislature confirmed Becerra to the post on January 23, 2017. He succeeded Kamala Harris, who was elected to the United States Senate. Becerra was sworn in January 24, 2017, becoming the first Latino to serve as California's attorney general. Becerra was elected to a f…

Early life and education

Born in Sacramento, California, on January 26, 1958, Becerra is the son of working-class parents, Maria Teresa and Manuel Guerrero Becerra. His father was born in the U.S. and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, and his mother was from Guadalajara. As a child, Becerra grew up in a one-room apartment with his three sisters. He graduated in 1976 from C.K. McClatchy High School, located in the center of Sacramento. He studied abroad at the University of Salamanca in Salamanca, Spa…

Early career

Becerra began his career as a lawyer, working on cases involving individuals who had mental disorders for the Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts (now Community Legal Aid).
Becerra worked as an administrative assistant for California state senator Art Torres in 1986. He served as a deputy attorney general in the California Department of Justice under Attorney General John …

U.S. House of Representatives (1993–2017)

In 1992, 25th district congressman Edward Roybal announced his retirement after 30 years in Congress. Becerra entered the race for the seat, which had been renumbered as the 30th district after redistricting.
Becerra won the Democratic primary with a plurality of 32% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated Republican nominee Morry Waksberg, 58%–24%…

Other political ambitions

Becerra ran for mayor of Los Angeles in 2001. He finished with 6% of the primary vote, finishing behind businessman Steve Soboroff, Councilman Joel Wachs, former California State Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, and the eventual winner, then-City Attorney James Hahn.
In 2008, Becerra was considered for the position of U.S. Trade Representativein the administration of President-elect Obama. While it was reported that he had already accepted, he announced on …

Secretary of Health and Human Services (2021–present)

After Joe Biden's election as president in November 2020, Becerra was considered a candidate for United States Attorney General. The New York Times reported in early December 2020 that Biden would nominate Becerra as Secretary of Health and Human Services. His nomination to lead the Health and Human Services Department has been criticized by pro-life and conservative leaders led by Students for Life of America, citing his "absence of health care experience and his disregar…

Personal life

Becerra is married to physician Carolina Reyes, and they have three daughters. He is a member of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank, based in Washington, D. C. Becerra is Roman Catholic.

Current Officeholder

  • The current officeholder is Rob Bonta, a Democrat. He was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to replace Xavier Becerra (D), who left office when he was confirmed as U.S. secretary of health and human services.
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Authority

  • The office of attorney general is established by the California Constitution. California Constitution, Article 5, Section 11
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Qualifications

  • State law requires that the attorney general be admitted to practice before the California Supreme Courtfor five years before election. California Government Code, Section 12503 Additionally, each candidate for attorney general must: 1. Be a registered voter 2. Be registered with their party for at least three months 2.1. Not have been registered with a different political party in the last 12 mo…
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Elections

  • Attorneys general are elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in federal midterm election years, e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030.Like all constitutional state officers, the attorney general assumes office on the first Monday in the new year following the election. California Constitution, Article 5, Section 11
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Vacancies

  • The vacancy procedure for the office of attorney general is determined by the Constitution. When a vacancy occurs, the governornominates a replacement to serve the remainder of the term under the next election. The appointee must be confirmed by a majority of both house of the California legislature. Until the replacement is approved, the former officeholder's chief deputy exercises th…
See more on ballotpedia.org

Duties

  • The attorney general acts as the state's chief law officer and oversees the California Department of Justice. He or she supervises the state's district and city attorneys, as well as its law enforcement officers. The attorney general may personally prosecute any case that would normally be handled by a district or city attorney and represents the state in all cases before the …
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Divisions

  • As of January 12, 2021, the California Attorney General's Office is composed of the following divisions. 1. Public Safety 2. Opinions and Quo Warranto 3. Research Advisory Panel 4. Research Center 5. Children & Families 6. Civil Rights 7. Consumer Protection 8. Environment & Public Health
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Historical Officeholders

  • There have been 33 California attorneys general since 1849. Of the 32 officeholders, 19 were Democrat, 13 were Republican and one was American Independent.
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Recent News

  • The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California Attorney General Rob Bonta.These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
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Contact Information

  • Physical address: Attorney General's Office California Department of Justice Attention: Public Inquiry Unit Post Office Box 944255 Sacramento, CA 94244-2550 Phone: 916-210-6276 Fax:916-323-5341
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