Politracks is a work in progress under active development — data may be incomplete while we build.
Politracks
Portrait of Henry Stern

Henry Stern

Democratic

State Senate · Senate District 27

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

Henry Stern was born in Malibu and represents California’s 27th Senate District, encompassing parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. His predecessor was Fran Pavley. An environmental attorney before he became a legislator, Stern also served as counsel to Representative Henry Waxman on the House Energy & Commerce Committee and as Pavley’s senior advisor. The Democrat was elected to the California State Senate on November 8, 2016, defeating Republican Steve Fazio. He became the first millennial elected to the Senate. In 2022, he sought a different place in local government—the District 3 seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors—but conceded after receiving 24% in the June primary.

ROOTS

Stern was born to a Jewish family in Malibu on April 12, 1982. His father is actor Daniel Stern, best known for playing Marv Murchins in *Home Alone* and *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York*. Henry Stern’s own early pursuit was water polo, which he played in high school and college.

He graduated from Harvard University and then from the UC Berkeley School of Law. His professional work moved among law, government, education and technology. He practiced as an environmental attorney, worked as an American-law lecturer at UCLA and UC Berkeley, taught civics, founded a tech incubator and advocated for juvenile justice.

His résumé included classrooms, legal work, technology and public institutions. Environmental issues also appeared in his legal practice and in his work helping to construct clean-energy projects for businesses.

THE JOB BEFORE THE JOB

Before his Senate election, Stern served as senior advisor to Fran Pavley, the senator he would succeed. He also served as counsel to Representative Henry Waxman on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, helping to construct clean-energy projects for businesses.

Those roles gave Stern experience in congressional committee work and in the office of the senator he would succeed. When he ran for Pavley’s seat in 2016, she endorsed him. So did the Sierra Club and the California League of Conservation Voters. President Barack Obama and Governor Jerry Brown also backed his candidacy.

Stern’s campaign joined environmental policy to other concerns in the district. He called for clean transportation and renewable-energy infrastructure, economic improvement through small businesses, education funding and money for community safety. The coalition around him included environmental organizations, but the platform extended to schools, employment and local government services.

THE PATH THROUGH OFFICE

Stern’s victory over Fazio gave him the seat representing parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. His election also made him the first member of the millennial generation to serve in the California State Senate. His path to office included work for Pavley and Waxman and endorsements from Pavley, Obama, Brown, the Sierra Club and the California League of Conservation Voters.

Six years later, Stern entered the race for the District 3 seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He received 24% of the vote in the June 7, 2022, primary and conceded on June 22.

He remained a member of the California State Senate, representing the 27th district.

THE POLICY SIGNATURE

Stern’s documented record includes environmental and clean-energy policy. That record includes environmental law, work on clean-energy projects for businesses, service under Pavley, support from the Sierra Club and the California League of Conservation Voters, and a Senate campaign that included clean transportation and renewable-energy infrastructure.

His work included helping to construct clean-energy projects for businesses, while environmental organizations backed his Senate candidacy. His 2016 platform also included small businesses, clean technology, good-paying jobs and job training, education funding, and funding for local governments to provide safer communities. Separately, he advocated for juvenile justice.

Stern’s résumé extends beyond environmental work to teaching, technology and juvenile justice advocacy. Environmental issues appear repeatedly in his legal work, government service and campaign priorities. Education and community safety were among his 2016 campaign issues. Clean energy appeared in his work for Waxman and in his campaign priorities, while environmental organizations supported his candidacy.

Record of service
  • State Senate · Senate District 27 · 2016–present
BiographyReporting (Tier 3) · reviewed before publication

Henry Stern was born in Malibu and represents California’s 27th Senate District, encompassing parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. His predecessor was Fran Pavley. An environmental attorney before he became a legislator, Stern also served as counsel to Representative Henry Waxman on the House Energy & Commerce Committee and as Pavley’s senior advisor. The Democrat was elected to the California State Senate on November 8, 2016, defeating Republican Steve Fazio. He became the first millennial elected to the Senate. In 2022, he sought a different place in local government—the District 3 seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors—but conceded after receiving 24% in the June primary.

ROOTS

Stern was born to a Jewish family in Malibu on April 12, 1982. His father is actor Daniel Stern, best known for playing Marv Murchins in *Home Alone* and *Home Alone 2: Lost in New York*. Henry Stern’s own early pursuit was water polo, which he played in high school and college.

He graduated from Harvard University and then from the UC Berkeley School of Law. His professional work moved among law, government, education and technology. He practiced as an environmental attorney, worked as an American-law lecturer at UCLA and UC Berkeley, taught civics, founded a tech incubator and advocated for juvenile justice.

His résumé included classrooms, legal work, technology and public institutions. Environmental issues also appeared in his legal practice and in his work helping to construct clean-energy projects for businesses.

THE JOB BEFORE THE JOB

Before his Senate election, Stern served as senior advisor to Fran Pavley, the senator he would succeed. He also served as counsel to Representative Henry Waxman on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, helping to construct clean-energy projects for businesses.

Those roles gave Stern experience in congressional committee work and in the office of the senator he would succeed. When he ran for Pavley’s seat in 2016, she endorsed him. So did the Sierra Club and the California League of Conservation Voters. President Barack Obama and Governor Jerry Brown also backed his candidacy.

Stern’s campaign joined environmental policy to other concerns in the district. He called for clean transportation and renewable-energy infrastructure, economic improvement through small businesses, education funding and money for community safety. The coalition around him included environmental organizations, but the platform extended to schools, employment and local government services.

THE PATH THROUGH OFFICE

Stern’s victory over Fazio gave him the seat representing parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. His election also made him the first member of the millennial generation to serve in the California State Senate. His path to office included work for Pavley and Waxman and endorsements from Pavley, Obama, Brown, the Sierra Club and the California League of Conservation Voters.

Six years later, Stern entered the race for the District 3 seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He received 24% of the vote in the June 7, 2022, primary and conceded on June 22.

He remained a member of the California State Senate, representing the 27th district.

THE POLICY SIGNATURE

Stern’s documented record includes environmental and clean-energy policy. That record includes environmental law, work on clean-energy projects for businesses, service under Pavley, support from the Sierra Club and the California League of Conservation Voters, and a Senate campaign that included clean transportation and renewable-energy infrastructure.

His work included helping to construct clean-energy projects for businesses, while environmental organizations backed his Senate candidacy. His 2016 platform also included small businesses, clean technology, good-paying jobs and job training, education funding, and funding for local governments to provide safer communities. Separately, he advocated for juvenile justice.

Stern’s résumé extends beyond environmental work to teaching, technology and juvenile justice advocacy. Environmental issues appear repeatedly in his legal work, government service and campaign priorities. Education and community safety were among his 2016 campaign issues. Clean energy appeared in his work for Waxman and in his campaign priorities, while environmental organizations supported his candidacy.

The record

4,182 events, each with its source
VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1433

Consent Calendar 2nd SB1433 JUD. (Umberg)

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 91

Senate 3rd Reading SR91 Gonzalez

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 98

Senate 3rd Reading SR98 Wiener

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 133

Special Consent ACR133 Johnson et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 135

Special Consent ACR135 Patel et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 136

Special Consent ACR136 Harabedian et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 138

Special Consent ACR138 Hadwick et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 139

Special Consent ACR139 Calderon et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 140

Special Consent ACR140 Patel et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 144

Special Consent ACR144 Hadwick

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 145

Special Consent ACR145 Caloza et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 146

Special Consent ACR146 Ransom et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 147

Special Consent ACR147 Lackey et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 148

Special Consent ACR148 Addis et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 151

Special Consent ACR151 Papan et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 153

Special Consent ACR153 Calderon et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 154

Special Consent ACR154 Patterson et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 156

Special Consent ACR156 Hoover et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 149

Senate 3rd Reading SCR149 Valladares et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 150

Senate 3rd Reading SCR150 Choi

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SCR 152

Senate 3rd Reading SCR152 Reyes et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 870

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

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SB 875

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Energy, Utilities and Communications]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 883

Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 895

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 902

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 904

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 909

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 941

Do pass

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 963

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 982

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Insurance]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 982

[First] hearing set for [04-15-2026]: Failed passage in Committee. Reconsideration granted

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 985

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 988

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1085

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Local Government]

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SB 1074

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1091

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1093

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Housing]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1181

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Education]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1129

Do pass as amended, and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1135

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1139

Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1146

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1167

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

VoteNay
Voted Nay on SB 1176

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Agriculture]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1194

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1207

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Labor, Public Employment and Retirement ] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1234

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1253

Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Environmental Quality] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1257

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]