2026 is here, and with it are new leaders in the California State Senate. Taking the helm as Senate president pro tempore, Sen. Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, was selected for the role on Nov. 17, 2025, replacing President Pro Tempore Emeritus Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, who is now running for Congress.

She was formally sworn in Jan. 5 when the Senate returned to session, becoming the first Latina and first mom to serve as the Senate’s 50th president pro tempore. In December, Limón announced changes to her Senate leadership team by installing Sen. Angelique Ashby, D-Sacramento, as majority leader, Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, as budget chair, and Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, D-Riverside, as appropriations chair.

The new Senate leadership gives the California Apartment Association an improved outlook for the remainder of the legislative session.

Sens. Cervantes and Laird bring a wealth of knowledge and experience and have maintained open lines of communication with the association. Limón also announced a transition in the chair of the Senate Housing Committee by selecting Sen. Jesse Arreguín, D-Berkeley, to replace Sen. Aisha Wahab, D-Hayward. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Salinas, remains the leader of the Assembly, and CAA welcomes both leadership teams back to Sacramento.