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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 1394

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1399

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1433

Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SCR 138

Senate 3rd Reading SCR138 Ashby

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on AB 2156

Assembly 3rd Reading AB2156 Rivas et al. By Limón Urgency Clause

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SB 968

Consent Calendar 2nd SB968 Becker et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SB 1005

Consent Calendar 2nd SB1005 Caballero

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SB 1080

Consent Calendar 2nd SB1080 Valladares

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SR 89

Senate 3rd Reading SR89 Alvarado-Gil et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SCR 141

Senate 3rd Reading SCR141 Wahab et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SCR 147

Senate 3rd Reading SCR147 Allen et al

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SJR 11

Consent Calendar 2nd SJR11 Cervantes

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SR 92

Relative to California Holocaust Memorial Day.

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 870

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 932

Do pass

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 893

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 899

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 949

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 973

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 994

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1001

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1021

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1100

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1108

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1153

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1159

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1189

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 1374

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 124

Be adopted and be ordered to the Consent Calendar

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SJR 12

Be adopted. Ordered to third reading

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SCR 149

World Autism Awareness Day.

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 132

Senate 3rd Reading SCR132 Ochoa Bogh et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 133

Senate 3rd Reading SCR133 Grayson et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 134

Senate 3rd Reading SCR134 Wahab et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 139

Senate 3rd Reading SCR139 Wahab et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 868

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 886

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 943

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 978

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Labor, Public Employment and Retirement ]

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 985

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 76

Senate 3rd Reading SR76 Menjivar et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 114

Senate 3rd Reading SCR114 Grove

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SR 85

Senate 3rd Reading SR85 Umberg

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 127

Special Consent ACR127 Muratsuchi et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 128

Special Consent ACR128 Stefani et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 132

Special Consent ACR132 Dixon et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on ACR 134

Special Consent ACR134 Bryan et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 110

Senate 3rd Reading SCR110 Grove et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 127

Senate 3rd Reading SCR127 Allen et al

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 137

Senate 3rd Reading SCR137 Ashby