NOVEMBER 2024 VOTER GUIDE
STATE SENATE
What Is a State Senator?
An elected official who represents a geographic district within California’s State Senate.
The State Senate is made up of 40 members, and is one part of the two part state legislature. Think of it like our statewide version of the United States Senate.
State Senators author legislation, build coalitions across the state and with their colleagues in the State Assembly, and represent their constituents’ interests at the state level.
San Francisco has one State Senator, who also represents Daly City and Colma.
They serve a four-year term, with a term limit of 12 years. The salary and benefits of this full-time position total $122,694 per year, which is the same as their counterparts in the State Assembly.
Why You Should Care
State senators have unique positions, sitting between the local and federal levels. Unlike the hyper-local Board of Supervisors, they have the power to craft and update state laws to address local problems. But unlike members of Congress, who need to split their attention between local and national issues, state senators can focus on the issues in their district.
Our Vision for This Office
We want skilled legislators who have proven they can pragmatically deal with pressing issues like homelessness, public safety, and our city’s economic recovery. The State Senate has the ability to craft targeted legislation to address these issues in San Francisco, while having to worry less about local opposition groups blocking their ideas. Our ideal candidate for this office is one that can maximize this power and deliver real results for our city.
During his nearly eight years in the California State Senate, Wiener has been a legislative powerhouse, demonstrating a strong ability to collaborate with colleagues and pass complex legislation that addresses the problems affecting everyday San Franciscans, like mental health, homelessness, and our housing crisis.
While housing remains Wiener’s signature legislative area, he’s a multifaceted legislator, passing bills that make it easier for cities to provide necessary care for unhoused people with mental illness and securing tens of millions of dollars for homeless youth programs across California.
Wiener has been angling for higher office in the United States Congress for a while now, and has focused on positioning himself as a leader in national conversations like LGBTQ+ rights, cultural issues, healthcare, and climate change.
Scott Wiener’s ability to get things done, commitment to crafting thoughtful legislation, and willingness to tackle difficult issues make him an excellent choice for District 11.
State Senate District 11 covers the entirety of San Francisco, as well as Daly City and Colma.
Paid for by TogetherSF Action. Not authorized by any candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. Financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org.
