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Portrait of Al Muratsuchi

Al Muratsuchi

Democratic

State Assembly · Assembly District 66

In office
2016–present
BiographyReporting (Tier 3) · reviewed

Before Sacramento, Al Muratsuchi served as a trustee for the Torrance Unified School District and the Southern California Regional Occupation Center and as a Deputy Attorney General. He also worked as a prosecutor in the California Department of Justice and served as regional director of the Japanese American Citizens League’s Pacific Southwest District. These roles included work in education, law enforcement and a regional civic organization. Muratsuchi was first elected to the Assembly in 2012 and now represents the 66th Assembly District. His tenure includes a narrow defeat in 2014, followed by a return two years later.

BACKGROUND AND FORMATION

Albert Yasuro Muratsuchi was born on September 4, 1964, and grew up on U.S. military bases in Okinawa, Japan. His father, a second-generation Japanese American, was a civilian employee of the United States Army. His mother was born in Gifu Prefecture on Honshu, Japan.

Muratsuchi attended the University of California, Berkeley, and UCLA School of Law. He became a prosecutor in the California Department of Justice and served as a Deputy Attorney General. He also served as regional director of the Japanese American Citizens League Pacific Southwest District.

His local public record includes two education posts: trustee for Torrance Unified and trustee for the Southern California Regional Occupation Center. In Sacramento, education finance became one of his committee responsibilities.

THE PATH TO OFFICE

Muratsuchi first won the 66th District seat in 2012. He was narrowly defeated during the 2014 Republican wave, then won back the seat in a 2016 rematch. He has held it since.

The elections that followed were less close. Muratsuchi was easily reelected over former Torrance Mayor Frank A. Scotto in 2018. In 2020, he won by a wide margin over Arthur C. Schaper. Former Hermosa Beach Mayor George Barks challenged him in 2022; Muratsuchi prevailed, 59.9% to 40.1%.

Term limits prevented him from seeking legislative reelection in 2026. He also ran unsuccessfully for Superintendent of Public Instruction, receiving 8% of the vote. His career included a local school district, the state Department of Justice and the Assembly seat he lost once and recovered.

THE WORK

Muratsuchi’s committee assignments cover the budget, schools, the environment, the courts, veterans and aerospace. He has served as chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies. He is chairman of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance and the Assembly Select Committee on Aerospace.

He is also a member of the Assembly committees on Natural Resources, Judiciary, Budget and Veterans Affairs. Outside the committee rooms, he was appointed to the California Coastal Conservancy and Governor Brown’s Military Council. He served on the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission and the Inter-agency Veterans Council.

His appointments and commission service span coastal conservation and bay restoration, military affairs and veterans. His chairmanships give him defined responsibilities in three areas—climate policy, education finance and aerospace—while his other committee seats extend into natural resources, the judiciary and the state budget.

THE POLICY SIGNATURE

Education is the clearest through line in Muratsuchi’s record. He served as a Torrance Unified trustee, sat on the Southern California Regional Occupation Center board, chairs the Assembly budget subcommittee responsible for education finance and later sought the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The documented offices and assignments repeatedly return to schools and their funding.

His environmental record is most concrete in AB-345, which he introduced in 2020. The bill sought a minimum setback of 2,500 feet between oil wells and public areas where children are present. It did not become law: the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee rejected it on a 5–4 vote. His climate chairmanship, Natural Resources Committee membership, Coastal Conservancy appointment and Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission service provide the institutional side of that work.

The interests most plainly present in his record are students and education systems, children near oil wells, coastal and climate programs, veterans, military affairs and aerospace. His record includes committee chairmanships, committee memberships and appointments alongside the AB-345 proposal.

Record of service
  • State Assembly · Assembly District 66 · 2016–present
BiographyReporting (Tier 3) · reviewed before publication

Before Sacramento, Al Muratsuchi served as a trustee for the Torrance Unified School District and the Southern California Regional Occupation Center and as a Deputy Attorney General. He also worked as a prosecutor in the California Department of Justice and served as regional director of the Japanese American Citizens League’s Pacific Southwest District. These roles included work in education, law enforcement and a regional civic organization. Muratsuchi was first elected to the Assembly in 2012 and now represents the 66th Assembly District. His tenure includes a narrow defeat in 2014, followed by a return two years later.

BACKGROUND AND FORMATION

Albert Yasuro Muratsuchi was born on September 4, 1964, and grew up on U.S. military bases in Okinawa, Japan. His father, a second-generation Japanese American, was a civilian employee of the United States Army. His mother was born in Gifu Prefecture on Honshu, Japan.

Muratsuchi attended the University of California, Berkeley, and UCLA School of Law. He became a prosecutor in the California Department of Justice and served as a Deputy Attorney General. He also served as regional director of the Japanese American Citizens League Pacific Southwest District.

His local public record includes two education posts: trustee for Torrance Unified and trustee for the Southern California Regional Occupation Center. In Sacramento, education finance became one of his committee responsibilities.

THE PATH TO OFFICE

Muratsuchi first won the 66th District seat in 2012. He was narrowly defeated during the 2014 Republican wave, then won back the seat in a 2016 rematch. He has held it since.

The elections that followed were less close. Muratsuchi was easily reelected over former Torrance Mayor Frank A. Scotto in 2018. In 2020, he won by a wide margin over Arthur C. Schaper. Former Hermosa Beach Mayor George Barks challenged him in 2022; Muratsuchi prevailed, 59.9% to 40.1%.

Term limits prevented him from seeking legislative reelection in 2026. He also ran unsuccessfully for Superintendent of Public Instruction, receiving 8% of the vote. His career included a local school district, the state Department of Justice and the Assembly seat he lost once and recovered.

THE WORK

Muratsuchi’s committee assignments cover the budget, schools, the environment, the courts, veterans and aerospace. He has served as chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies. He is chairman of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance and the Assembly Select Committee on Aerospace.

He is also a member of the Assembly committees on Natural Resources, Judiciary, Budget and Veterans Affairs. Outside the committee rooms, he was appointed to the California Coastal Conservancy and Governor Brown’s Military Council. He served on the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission and the Inter-agency Veterans Council.

His appointments and commission service span coastal conservation and bay restoration, military affairs and veterans. His chairmanships give him defined responsibilities in three areas—climate policy, education finance and aerospace—while his other committee seats extend into natural resources, the judiciary and the state budget.

THE POLICY SIGNATURE

Education is the clearest through line in Muratsuchi’s record. He served as a Torrance Unified trustee, sat on the Southern California Regional Occupation Center board, chairs the Assembly budget subcommittee responsible for education finance and later sought the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The documented offices and assignments repeatedly return to schools and their funding.

His environmental record is most concrete in AB-345, which he introduced in 2020. The bill sought a minimum setback of 2,500 feet between oil wells and public areas where children are present. It did not become law: the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee rejected it on a 5–4 vote. His climate chairmanship, Natural Resources Committee membership, Coastal Conservancy appointment and Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission service provide the institutional side of that work.

The interests most plainly present in his record are students and education systems, children near oil wells, coastal and climate programs, veterans, military affairs and aerospace. His record includes committee chairmanships, committee memberships and appointments alongside the AB-345 proposal.

The record

4,436 events, each with its source
VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 2566

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1875

AB 1875 Hart Consent Calendar Second Day

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1893

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Emergency Management] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1780

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 2483

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Public Safety]

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 1777

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 2494

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1938

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 2051

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Water, Parks, and Wildlife]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 2156

AB 2156 RIVAS Third Reading Urgency By AGUIAR-CURRY

Cosponsored
Cosponsored ACR 164

Mexican Consulate: County of Kern.

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1891

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

Cosponsored
Cosponsored ACR 163

Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month.

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 125

SCR 125 Wahab Consent Calendar Second Day

Cosponsored
Cosponsored AR 94

Relative to Major League Baseball Opening Day 2026.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored ACR 160

Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month.

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 1555

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 1552

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1534

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Labor and Employment]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1871

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Education] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1728

Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1831

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 1829

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services]

Cosponsored
Cosponsored AR 92

Relative to Cinco de Mayo Week.

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1549

AB 1549 Krell Consent Calendar Second Day

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1597

AB 1597 Castillo Consent Calendar Second Day

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 111

SCR 111 Niello Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1656

AB 1656 Davies Assembly Third Reading

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1583

AB 1583 Rogers Consent Calendar Second Day

Cosponsored
Cosponsored ACR 159

Indigent defense.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SCR 141

Women’s Equal Pay Day.

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 135

ACR 135 Patel Consent Calendar Second Day

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 144

ACR 144 Hadwick Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 122

SCR 122 Weber Pierson Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session

Cosponsored
Cosponsored AR 90

Relative to Nowruz.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored ACR 158

Donate Life Month.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored ACR 156

National Day of Play.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored ACR 154

California Down Syndrome Awareness Week and Day.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored ACR 153

Irish American Heritage Month.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored ACR 152

American Red Cross Month.

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 115

SCR 115 Dahle Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 112

SCR 112 Grove Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 109

SCR 109 Grove Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AJR 27

AJR 27 Harabedian Assembly Third Reading

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 136

ACR 136 Harabedian Consent Calendar Second Day

Cosponsored
Cosponsored ACR 151

Greek Independence Day.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SCR 136

California Coastal Act of 1976.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored ACR 150

California Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored ACR 149

California Coastal Act of 1976.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored ACR 148

Family Physician Week.