SACRAMENTO, CA – California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) released the following statement today:
"For nearly four years, it's been a profound honor to lead a unified, progressive and collaborative California State Senate. Together, we've put the public interest over individual ambitions and made enduring progress on behalf of millions of Californians.
“Unfinished work remains - and so does our Senate's important tradition of seamless and peaceful leadership transitions.
“To that end, I have announced to our Senate Democratic Caucus that a formal vote to elect our next Senate President pro Tempore will be held in early January and a formal transition later in the year.
“Better yet, I'm pleased to announce that our Caucus is unified in support for Senator Toni G. Atkins of San Diego to serve as our next President pro Tempore.
“We aren't just making consensus - we're making history.
“Four years ago, our Caucus elected the first Latino leader in over a century to lead the California State Senate - and, next year, Senator Atkins will become our first ever woman to be elected Senate Leader.
“Toni is a leader of great experience, achievement and integrity, and I have every confidence that she will lead America's most accomplished legislative chamber to even greater heights.
“As always, I thank the members of the Senate for their confidence, camaraderie and unwavering commitment to the future of this state.
“Working together, I look forward to another year of extraordinary progress.”