{{short description|American politician}} {{COI|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = John Laird | image = Member of the California Senate John Laird.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2023 | state_senate1 = California | district1 = 17th | term_start1 = December 7, 2020 | preceded1 = Bill Monning | office2 = Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency | governor2 = Jerry Brown | term_start2 = January 5, 2011 | term_end2 = January 11, 2019 | preceded2 = Lester Snow | succeeded2 = Wade Crowfoot | state_assembly3 = California | district3 = 27th | term_start3 = December 2, 2002 | term_end3 = November 30, 2008 | preceded3 = Fred Keeley | succeeded3 = Bill Monning | office4 = Mayor of Santa Cruz | term_start4 = 1987 | term_end4 = 1988 | predecessor4 = Jane Weed<ref>{{cite web |last1=Salamon |first1=Kathy |title=Weed chosen as Santa Cruz mayor · SCPL Local History |url=https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/items/show/120496#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0 |website=SCPL Local History |access-date=29 May 2022}}</ref> | successor4 = Mardi Wormhoudt<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baine |first1=Wallace |title=Former Santa Cruz mayor, county supervisor Mardi Wormhoudt dies |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2009/10/21/former-santa-cruz-mayor-county-supervisor-mardi-wormhoudt-dies/ |website=The Mercury News |access-date=29 May 2022 |date=21 October 2009}}</ref> | term_start5 = 1983 | term_end5 = 1984 | predecessor5 = Bruce van Allen<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=James |title=Former mayor Bruce Van Allen makes another run for Santa Cruz council |url=https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2014/10/23/former-mayor-bruce-van-allen-makes-another-run-for-santa-cruz-council/ |website=Santa Cruz Sentinel |access-date=29 May 2022 |date=23 October 2014}}</ref> | successor5 = Mardi Wormhoudt | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|03|29}} | birth_place = Santa Rosa, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | profession = | spouse = John Flores | party = Democratic | other_party = Democratic Socialists of America {{small|({{circa}} 1980s)}} | alma_mater = University of California Santa Cruz | website = [http://www.lairdforcasenate.com/ Laird for Senate] }} '''John Laird''' (born March 29, 1950) is an American politician who is serving as the California State Senator for District 17 since December 7, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Laird |url=https://ballotpedia.org/John_Laird |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=30 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=John Laird sworn in as State Senator, announces staff |url=https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/john-laird-sworn-in-as-state-senator-announces-staff/118011/ |access-date=30 May 2022 |work=Paso Robles Daily News |date=8 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=John Laird Sworn in as State Senator |url=https://atascaderonews.com/news/john-laird-sworn-in-as-state-senator/ |access-date=31 May 2022 |work=Atascadero News |date=7 December 2020}}</ref> A Democrat, Laird was Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency<ref name="theunion.com">{{cite news |url=http://www.theunion.com/article/20110106/BREAKINGNEWS/110109846/1053%26parentprofile%3D1053 |title=Laird, Sierra Fund board member, appointed to CA Resources Agency |publisher=TheUnion.com |access-date=2013-12-03 |archive-date=2012-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323204320/http://www.theunion.com/article/20110106/BREAKINGNEWS/110109846/1053%26parentprofile%3D1053 |url-status=dead }}</ref> from 2011 to 2019 and represented the 27th District in the California State Assembly from 2002 to 2008. The 27th District included parts of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.

Laird, along with Mark Leno of San Francisco, was one of the first two openly gay men to serve in the California Legislature. In 1983, Laird became one of the United States' first openly gay mayors, when he took over the mayoralty of the city of Santa Cruz, California.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=University of California, Santa Cruz|url=http://library.ucsc.edu/reg-hist/oir.exhibit/john_laird|title=John Laird|first=Irene|last=Reti|year=2003|access-date=2009-09-29}}</ref>

==Early life== Laird was raised in Vallejo, California, and educated in Vallejo public schools. His parents were both educators. He graduated from Adlai Stevenson College of the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1972 with an A.B. in politics. His undergraduate thesis was on the history of water development in California.

He served for two years on the district staff of United States Representative Jerome Waldie, and worked during the summer of 1974 for Rep. Bill Gunter of Florida in his run for the U.S. Senate. Laird moved to Santa Cruz and joined the staff of the Santa Cruz County Administrator in 1974 and later served in the personnel and social services departments.

==Santa Cruz City Council and Mayor== thumb|left|upright=0.8|Laird {{circa}} 1981 In 1981, Laird received the most votes in a field of eight for a seat on the Santa Cruz City Council. He was re-elected as top vote-getter in 1985, serving until term limits ended his Council service in 1990. Laird was elected by the council to one-year terms as mayor in 1983–84 and 1987–88.<ref>{{cite web |title=Biography |url=https://sd17.senate.ca.gov/biography |website=Senator John Laird |access-date=29 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref> During his time on the council, he worked with the environmental organization Save Our Shores to lead local governments in the fight against proposed offshore oil drilling and in favor of the designation of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sierra Club. |url=http://ventana.sierraclub.org/back_issues/0205/candidates.shtml |title=SierraClub.org "Candidates" |publisher=Ventana.sierraclub.org |access-date=2013-12-03}}</ref>

Around this time, he was a member of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee<ref name=moves>{{cite news |last1=Fremstad |first1=Lee |title=Left Moves To Change Santa Cruz |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/621803572/?terms=%22john%20laird%22&match=1 |access-date=3 August 2025 |work=The Sacramento Bee |date=15 February 1982 |location=Sacramento}}</ref> and its successor, the Democratic Socialists of America,<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Fleischman |first1=Harry |title=On The Left |journal=Democratic Left |date=January 1983 |volume=XI |issue=1 |page=14 |url=https://archive.org/details/democratic-left-volume-011-number-01/page/n13/mode/1up |access-date=3 August 2025}}</ref> although he "abhor[ed] labels" and preferred the term "progressive" to describe himself.<ref name=moves/>

==Cabrillo College Board== Laird was an elected member of the Cabrillo College Board of Trustees from 1994 to 2002.

==State Assembly== thumb|left|Portrait of Laird during his tenure in the State Assembly He ran unopposed in the 2002 Democratic primary and easily won election to the California Assembly. Laird was re-elected to the Assembly in 2004 and 2006 before being termed out in 2008. While serving the maximum three terms in the Assembly, Laird authored 82 bills that were signed into law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.montereyherald.com/2019/01/17/laird-to-run-for-state-senate-seat-to-replace-monning/|title=Laird to run for State Senate seat to replace Monning|date=17 January 2019}}</ref>

Over the years, his election campaigns have often won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.<ref>[http://secure.victoryfund.org/cand_detail.php?cand_id=2248 VictoryFund.org "Candidates"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061214001805/http://secure.victoryfund.org/cand_detail.php?cand_id=2248 |date=2006-12-14 }}</ref>

==2010 State Senate run== Laird ran for the 15th District California State Senate seat previously held by Republican Abel Maldonado, whom Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed lieutenant governor in November 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_13861277 |title=San Jose Mercury News, "Schwarzenegger chooses Maldonado for lieutenant governor" |work=Mercurynews.com |access-date=2013-12-03}}</ref> He lost to Republican state Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee in a special primary on June 22, 2010, and (when neither won a majority in the primary) subsequently in the special general election on August 17, 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blakeslee bests Laird in Senate runoff |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15810160 |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel |first=Kurtis |last=Alexander |date=2010-08-18 |access-date=2010-08-18}}</ref> Laird trailed Blakeslee by a 7.59% margin in the primary and lost by a 3.93% margin in the general.<ref>{{citation |title=Special Election Results |url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/Special/special-election-results.htm |access-date=2010-12-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125075857/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/Special/special-election-results.htm |archive-date=2010-11-25 }}</ref>

==California Resources Secretary== Laird was appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on January 5, 2011, as California's Secretary for Natural Resources.<ref name="theunion.com"/><ref name=Cal-NRA-bio/> In the Brown administration, Laird oversaw a $10 billion budget and 25 statewide departments, commissions and conservancies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://goodtimes.sc/santa-cruz-news/news/john-laird-2020/|title = John Laird Running for California State Senate in 2020|date = 17 January 2019}}</ref> He served in this post throughout Brown's last two of four terms as governor (2011–2019).

==2020 State Senate campaign== In January 2019, Laird announced his intention to run for the 17th District state Senate seat in 2020. He pledged to focus on a range of issues if elected, from managing the impact of climate change and wildfires, to protecting California's ocean policies, supporting the middle class and expanding access to health care, education and affordable housing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2019/01/17/john-laird-to-run-for-state-senate-in-2020/|title = John Laird to run for state Senate in 2020|date = 18 January 2019}}</ref> Laird was elected on November 3, 2020, after defeating Republican Vicki Nohrden, 64.7% to 35.3%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/John_Laird|title = John Laird State Senate final results}} {{Cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-general/sov/complete-sov.pdf|title = State of Vote: General Election November 3, 2020}}</ref>

During his first term (2020–2024), Laird authored 59 bills signed into law – addressing fentanyl overdose reversal drugs, survival benefits for families of fallen officers, services for foster youth who attend community college, support for older Californians living with HIV, and protections against excessive rents for mobile home residents, and requiring propane cylinders sold in the state to be refillable or reusable by 2028.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sd17.senate.ca.gov/news/senator-john-lairds-statement-final-actions-2023-2024-legislative-session | title=Senator John Laird's Statement on Final Actions of the 2023-2024 Legislative Session | date=30 September 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://sd17.senate.ca.gov/news/press-release-state-senator-john-lairds-statement-final-actions-2022-legislative-session | title=PRESS RELEASE: State Senator John Laird's Statement on Final Actions of the 2022 Legislative Session | date=30 September 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://sd17.senate.ca.gov/news/senator-john-laird-celebrates-end-legislative-session | title=Senator John Laird Celebrates End of Legislative Session | date=13 September 2021 }}</ref>

In December 2021, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission adopted new state Assembly and Senate district maps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/12/21/california-redistricting-midterms-525815|title = California's new congressional map boosts Democrats| website=Politico |date = 21 December 2021}}</ref> The redrawn 17th Senate District spans the northern Central Coast, including the entirety of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties and most of San Luis Obispo County. Previously, District 17 included sections of Santa Clara County and did not include San Benito County or the Salinas Valley.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/California_State_Senate_District_17#cite_note-pol20-5|title=Ballotpedia California State Senate District 17 Map}}</ref>

On March 7, 2023, Laird announced his campaign for a second term in the state Senate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2023/03/07/state-sen-john-laird-launches-reelection-bid/f|title=John Laird Announces State Senate Re-Election Campaign|date= 7 March 2022}}</ref>

==2024 State Senate campaign== In November 2024, Laird was re-elected to the state Senate with 67.4% of the vote to 32.6% for Republican Tony Virrueta.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement of Vote |url=https://electionresults.sos.ca.gov/returns/state-senate/district/17 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=electionresults.sos.ca.gov}}</ref> Laird was sworn in on December 2, 2024, to what will be his last term in the Senate due to term limits.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-02 |title=Senator John Laird sworn in for Second Term |url=https://sd17.senate.ca.gov/news/senator-john-laird-sworn-second-term |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Senator John Laird |language=en}}</ref>

==Community activism== Laird has been active in the Santa Cruz community, serving as vice chair of the City Charter Review Committee, a founder of the Santa Cruz Community Credit Union, and a board member of the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce. He has been active on a variety of community boards.

He has been active with the LGBTQ+ community, as a columnist for the Lavender Reader, a commentator on "Closet Free Radio" on UC Santa Cruz's KZSC station, and a founding member of the International Network of Gay and Lesbian Officials, and was an original board member of BAYMEC, the gay and lesbian political action committee for Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties. In the Assembly, he chaired the California Legislative LGBT Caucus.

Laird was a founding member of the Santa Cruz AIDS Project. He served as its executive director from 1991 to 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://library.ucsc.edu/reg-hist/oir.exhibit/john_laird|title = John Laird &#124; University Library}}</ref> He also has served on the Santa Cruz Community Foundation's Advisory Committee for the Lesbian and Gay Grants Partnership.

Laird lives in Santa Cruz with his spouse John Flores.<ref name=Cal-NRA-bio>{{cite web |title=John Laird, California Secretary for Natural Resources |url=http://www.resources.ca.gov/laird.html |publisher=California Natural Resources Agency |access-date=March 21, 2013 |archive-date=March 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310233409/http://resources.ca.gov/laird.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He is fluent in Spanish.<ref name=Cal-NRA-bio/>

==Personal life==

Laird has been a long-time resident of Santa Cruz with his spouse John Flores.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lairdforcasenate.com/about-john | title=About John &#124; Laird for Senate 2020 }}</ref>

==Electoral history== === California State Assembly === {{Election box open primary begin no change | title = 2002 California State Assembly 27th district election<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2002-primary/state-assemb.pdf|title=March 5, 2002, Primary Election - Member of the State Assembly|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=July 11, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2002-general/state-assemb.pdf|title=November 5, 2002, General Election - Member of the State Assembly|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=July 11, 2025}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = John Laird | votes = 39,684 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 39,684 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = John Laird | votes = 77,212 | percentage = 61.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = California Republican Party | candidate = Chuck Carter | votes = 44,444 | percentage = 35.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Libertarian Party of California | candidate = Gordon Sachtjen | votes = 4,294 | percentage = 3.4 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 125,950 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = California Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change | title = 2004 California State Assembly 27th district election<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2004-primary/assembly.pdf|title=March 2, 2004, Presidential Primary Election - Member of the State Assembly|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=July 11, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2004-general/formatted_st_AD_all.pdf|title=November 2, 2004, Presidential General Election - Member of the State Assembly|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=July 11, 2025}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = John Laird (incumbent) | votes = 55,231 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 55,231 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = John Laird (incumbent) | votes = 129,410 | percentage = 68.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = California Republican Party | candidate = Jack D. Barlich | votes = 59,076 | percentage = 31.3 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 188,486 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = California Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change | title = 2006 California State Assembly 27th district election<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2006-primary/sov_detail_primary_assembly.pdf|title=June 6, 2006, Gubernatorial Primary Election - Member of the State Assembly|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=July 11, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2006-general/assembly.pdf|title=November 7, 2006, General Election - Member of the State Assembly|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=July 11, 2025}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = John Laird (incumbent) | votes = 45,360 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 45,360 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = John Laird (incumbent) | votes = 99,530 | percentage = 70.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = California Republican Party | candidate = Michael Morrison | votes = 42,411 | percentage = 29.8 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 141,941 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = California Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}

=== California State Senate === {{Election box open primary begin no change | title = 2020 California State Senate 17th district election<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-primary/sov/143-state-senators-formatted.pdf|title=March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=July 11, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-general/sov/36-state-senate.pdf|title=November 3, 2020, General Election - State Senator|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=July 11, 2025}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = John Laird | votes = 138,986 | percentage = 44.4 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = California Republican Party | candidate = Vicki Nohrden | votes = 98,649 | percentage = 31.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = Maria Cadenas | votes = 65,525 | percentage = 20.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = John M. Nevill | votes = 10,040 | percentage = 3.2 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 313,200 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = John Laird | votes = 320,090 | percentage = 64.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = California Republican Party | candidate = Vicki Nohrden | votes = 174,587 | percentage = 35.3 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 494,677 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = California Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change | title = 2024 California State Senate 17th district election<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2024-primary/sov/92-state-senators-formatted.pdf|title=March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=July 11, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2024-general/sov/37-state-senator.pdf|title=November 5, 2024, General Election - State Senator|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=July 11, 2025}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = John Laird (incumbent) | votes = 143,912 | percentage = 64.5 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = California Republican Party | candidate = Tony Virrueta | votes = 48,829 | percentage = 21.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = California Republican Party | candidate = Eric Tao | votes = 25,845 | percentage = 11.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Libertarian Party of California | candidate = Michael Oxford | votes = 4,591 | percentage = 2.1 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 223,177 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = John Laird (incumbent) | votes = 269,862 | percentage = 65.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = California Republican Party | candidate = Tony Virrueta | votes = 144,992 | percentage = 35.0 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 414,854 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = California Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}

==Footnotes== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070616015649/http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/fam/biol1/lair1.html The Living Room Biographies] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070611172436/http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a27/news/a272004001.htm Native Son: Good Times talks with Assemblymember John Laird about how he's tackling the big issues in Sacramento.] *[http://lairdforcasenate.com Official Senate Campaign Site]

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{succession box| before= Bruce Van Allen | title=Mayor of Santa Cruz | years=1983&ndash;1984 | after= Mardi Wormhoudt }}

{{succession box| before= Jane Weed | title=Mayor of Santa Cruz | years=1987&ndash;1988 | after= Mardi Wormhoudt }} {{s-par|us-ca-hs}} {{succession box| before= Fred Keeley | title=California State Assembly, District 27 | years=2002&ndash;2008 | after= Bill Monning }} {{s-end}}

{{California State Senate}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laird, John}} Category:State cabinet secretaries of California Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:California Natural Resources Agency Category:American gay politicians Category:LGBTQ people from California Category:LGBTQ state legislators in California Category:LGBTQ mayors of places in the United States Category:Mayors of Santa Cruz, California Category:Members of the Democratic Socialists of America from California Category:Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly Category:Democratic Party California state senators Category:University of California, Santa Cruz alumni Category:20th-century mayors of places in California Category:Politicians from Vallejo, California Category:Appropriations Committee member, California State Senate Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people Category:21st-century members of the California State Legislature