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Joan Buchanan
Joan Buchanan was a 2015 special election Democratic candidate for District 7 of the California State Senate.[1] She previously served in the California State Assembly, representing District 16 from 2008 to 2014. Buchanan did not seek re-election in 2014.
Biography
Buchanan's previous professional experience includes working as director of commercial operations for Delta Dental and as president of the San Ramon County School Board.[2]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Buchanan served on the following committees:
| California committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Accountability and Administrative Review |
| • Education, Chair |
| • Transportation |
| • Utilities and Commerce |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Buchanan served on these committees:
| California committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Accountability and Administrative Review |
| • Budget |
| • Education |
| • Transportation |
| • Utilities and Commerce |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Buchanan served on these committees:
| California committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Accountability and Administrative Review |
| • Education |
| • Transportation |
| • Utilities and Commerce |
Issues
Sponsored legislation
Buchanan's sponsored legislation includes:
- AB 483 - Workers' compensation: Internet Web sites
- AB 1307 - Newborn genetic screening
- AB 1454 - Property taxation: refunds
For details and a full listing of sponsored bills, see the House site.
Political Courage test
Buchanan did not provide answers to the California State Legislative Election 2008 Political Courage Test. The test informs voters how a candidate would vote on the issues if elected.[3]
Legislative scorecard
Capitol Weekly, California's major weekly periodical covering the state legislature, publishes an annual legislative scorecard to pin down the political or ideological leanings of every member of the legislature based on how they voted on an assortment of bills in the most recent legislative session. The 2009 scores were based on votes on 19 bills, but did not include how legislators voted on the Proposition 1A (2009). On the scorecard, "100" is a perfect liberal score and "0" is a perfect conservative score.[4][5]
On the 2009 Capitol Weekly legislative scorecard, Buchanan ranked as a 94.[6]
Elections
2015
Susan Bonilla (D) and Steve Glazer (D) advanced past Joan Buchanan (D) and Terry Kremin (D) in the primary election on March 17.[7][1] Glazer defeated Bonilla in the special election on May 19.[8] Michaela M. Hertle (R) withdrew from the race shortly after the official candidate list came out.[9]
The seat was vacant following Mark DeSaulnier's (D) election to Congress.[10]
A special election for the position of California State Senate District 7 was called for May 19. A primary election took place on March 17, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 23, 2015.[11]
| California State Senate, District 7, Special Election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Steve Glazer |
54.5% | 68,996 | |
| Democratic | Susan Bonilla | 45.5% | 57,491 | |
| Total Votes | 126,487 | |||
2012
Buchanan won re-election in the 2012 election for California State Assembly District 16. She was displaced from her current district by redistricting. She and Al Phillips (R) advanced past the blanket primary on June 5, 2012, unopposed. He was subsequently elected in the general election on November 6, 2012.[12][13][14]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joan Buchanan Incumbent |
59.2% | 125,952 | |
| Republican | Al Phillips | 40.8% | 86,803 | |
| Total Votes | 212,755 | |||
2010
Buchanan won re-election to the 15th District seat in 2010. She had no opposition in the June 8 primary. She defeated Abram Wilson in the November 2 general election.[15]
| California State Assembly, District 15 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Joan Buchanan (D)
|
104,441 | |||
| Abram Wilson (R) | 91,378 | |||
2008
In 2008, Buchanan was elected to the California State Assembly District 15. Buchanan (D) finished with 125,897 votes while her opponent Abram Wilson (R) finished with 115,096 votes.[16] Buchanan raised $2,508,726 for her campaign fund.[17]
| California State Assembly District 15 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Joan Buchanan (D)
|
125,897 | |||
| Abram Wilson (R) | 115,096 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of California scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2014
In 2014, the California State Legislature was in session from January 6 to August 30.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the chamber.
- Legislators are scored by the California Civil Liberties Council on their votes on "bills related to due process, privacy rights, equal protection, and criminal justice."
- Legislators are scored by California Clean Money Action on their votes on bills "to limit the undue influence of Big Money in politics in California."
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to labor.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to water policy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills that relate to senior issues
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to consumers.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on taxpayer-related issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on their stances on secular policy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the California State Legislature was in session from December 3, 2012, to September 13, 2013
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the California State Legislature was in session from January 4 to August 31.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Buchanan has five children.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Joan + Buchanan + California + Legislature
See also
- California State Legislature
- California State Assembly
- California Assembly Committees
- California State Assembly District 16
- State legislative special elections, 2015
External links
- Joan Buchanan's personal website
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile of Joan Buchanan on Project Vote Smart
- Biographical profile of Joan Buchanan on Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2010, 2008
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Sacramento Bee, "Democrats Steve Glazer, Susan Bonilla proceed to Senate runoff," March 17, 2015
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Issue Positions," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ Capitol Weekly, "Capitol Weekly's Legislative Scorecard," December 17, 2009
- ↑ Fox and Hounds Daily, "Random Thoughts on the Political Scene," December 18, 2009
- ↑ Capitol Daily, "2009 Capitol Weekly State Legislative Scorecard," December 18, 2009
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed January 28, 2015
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Special General Election, May 19, 2015," accessed June 8, 2015
- ↑ Vallejo Times-Herald, "Lone Republican quits East Bay state Senate election," February 2, 2015
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Gov. Brown calls special election for three vacant state Senate seats," January 13, 2015
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Special election calendar," accessed January 14, 2015
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2012 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2008 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 Campaign funds," accessed March 13, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sandré Swanson (D) |
California State Assembly District 16 2012–2014 |
Succeeded by Catharine Baker (R) |
| Preceded by - |
California State Assembly District 15 2008–2012 |
Succeeded by Nancy Skinner (D) |
