Jesse Arreguín (7)

Jesse Arreguín is a Democrat representing California's 7th State Senate District , elected in November 2024. A lifelong advocate for economic and social justice, he serves as chair of the Senate Committees on Housing and Public Safety, and on committees for Business, Professions and Economic Development; Energy, Utilities and Communications; and Local Government. Notable achievements include reducing unsheltered homelessness in Berkeley by 45% as mayor, overseeing zoning reforms that spurred Berkeley's largest housing boom in decades , strengthening sanctuary policies, and passing Senate bills to accelerate housing development, protect clinics from ICE enforcement, ban masked law enforcement, and regulate AI in police reports. He lives in Oakland with his partner, Peralta Community College District Trustee Dyana Delfín Polk.

Education and Political Experience

• Early Activism: Began at age nine, marching with Dolores Huerta for farmworkers’ rights.
• Local Government: Berkeley City Councilmember , Mayor of Berkeley , where he passed a housing bond, launched Berkeley Promise scholarships, banned ghost guns, increased police oversight, shifted mental health calls to social workers, and established sanctuary status for reproductive and gender-affirming care.
• Regional Role: President of the Association of Bay Area Governments , leading plans for 440,000 new homes and Plan Bay Area 2050 .
• State Senate: Elected 2024 , authored 39 bills in first session , including SB 9 , SB 91 , and SB 63 .