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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
Cosponsored
Cosponsored SB 895

California Science and Health Research Bond Act.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SJR 12

Proposed 2026–2031 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program: opposition.

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 33

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 46

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 99

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 300

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 342

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 381

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 479

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 574

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 719

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 747

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 832

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 327

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 742

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

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SCR 106

Senate 3rd Reading SCR106 Choi

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SB 872

Delta Levees and Canal Subsidence Fund.

Cosponsored
Cosponsored SR 67

Relative to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 226

Assembly 3rd Reading AB226 Calderon et al. By Umberg Urgency Clause

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 825

Assembly 2nd Reading AB825 Petrie-Norris et al. By Becker

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 888

Assembly 3rd Reading AB888 Calderon et al. By Grayson

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1207

Assembly 2nd Reading AB1207 Irwin et al. By Limón Urgency Clause

VoteYea
Voted Yea on AB 1231

Assembly 3rd Reading AB1231 Elhawary et al. By Cortese

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 11

Unfinished Business SB11 Ashby Concurrence

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SB 34

Unfinished Business SB34 Richardson Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 34

Unfinished Business SB34 Richardson Motion to Reconsider Concurrence Reconsider

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 42

Unfinished Business SB42 Umberg et al. Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 48

W/O REF. TO FILE SB48 Gonzalez

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 53

Unfinished Business SB53 Wiener et al. Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 57

Unfinished Business SB57 Padilla et al. Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 59

Unfinished Business SB59 Wiener et al. Urgency Clause Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 63

Unfinished Business SB63 Wiener et al. Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 67

Unfinished Business SB67 Seyarto et al. Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 75

Unfinished Business SB75 Smallwood-Cuevas Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 80

Unfinished Business SB80 Caballero et al. Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 155

Unfinished Business SB155 B. & F.R. (Wiener) Concurrence

VoteNay
Voted Nay on SB 158

W/O REF. TO FILE SB158 B. & F.R. (Wiener)

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 237

W/O REF. TO FILE SB237 Grayson

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 245

Unfinished Business SB245 Reyes Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 254

W/O REF. TO FILE SB254 Becker

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 254

W/O REF. TO FILE SB254 Becker Urgency Clause

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 271

Unfinished Business SB271 Reyes Concurrence

VoteAbsent
Voted Absent on SB 274

Unfinished Business SB274 Cervantes et al. Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 294

Unfinished Business SB294 Reyes et al. Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 326

Unfinished Business SB326 Becker et al. Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 351

Unfinished Business SB351 Cabaldon et al. Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 352

W/O REF. TO FILE SB352 Reyes

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 378

Unfinished Business SB378 Wiener Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 414

Unfinished Business SB414 Ashby Concurrence

VoteYea
Voted Yea on SB 404

Unfinished Business SB404 Caballero et al. Concurrence