SACRAMENTO – After receiving more than two-thirds of all votes cast in the November 8 election for the new 24^th Senate District, Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) was sworn into office today at the Capitol. Both houses of the California Legislature kicked off the 2023-2024 legislative session with organizational votes and family celebrations. Legislators will be in recess until January 5.

“Over the past several years, the Legislature and the Governor have strengthened our state’s fiscal condition despite unprecedented surprises. We built up reserves, paid down debts, assisted struggling Californians in a pandemic, and continued to address the effects of climate change,” said Senator Allen. “As we prepare to tackle the next wave of economic and policy challenges, I want to congratulate my new and returning legislative colleagues on their electoral victories. Having authored the Voter’s Choice Act of 2016, I’m heartened that Californians benefitted from our convenient and secure voting system to make their voices heard.”

Senator Allen was first elected to the Senate in 2014. An attorney and former school board member, he has authored crucial legislation in the areas of environmental protection, climate change, green transit, education funding, government transparency, electoral reform, economic development, and access to housing. Raised in Santa Monica, Allen is a son of teachers and holds degrees from Harvard, Cambridge, and UC Berkeley. He and his wife Melanie have one son.

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Ben Allen represents the 24^th State Senate District, which consists of the Westside, coastal South Bay, and Santa Monica Mountains communities of Los Angeles County.