Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón was elected to the Senate in November 2020 and represents the 21st Senate District, which includes Santa Barbara County and parts of Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties. Before being chosen by her colleagues to lead the Senate, Monique served as the Assemblymember for the region. 

Born and raised in Senate District 21, Monique has supported the community that raised her as an educator, local leader, and advocate for causes that advance the quality of life in her community. Monique worked in higher education for over 14 years, at both the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Santa Barbara City College, mentoring students and preparing them for their continued educational journey in all fields.

 
After seeing firsthand the impacts that families and her community were experiencing in classrooms, Monique was called to serve students in a new way. From 2010 to 2016, she represented the diverse needs of students and families in the region as a Santa Barbara Unified School Board Member. As an English as a Second Language Learner and the daughter of immigrants, she brought her personal experiences both as a student and as an educator to the school board – helping students through policy actions that support the needs of all families.
 

After six years on the school board, she was elected to serve the Central Coast in the California State Assembly. While in the Assembly, Monique expanded her work to help support students, expand access to higher education, address student hunger on UC campuses, and establish a model curriculum to teach Native American studies for grades nine through 12.

As the Leader of the Senate, it is critical that the Legislature bring all perspectives to the table to help author policies that serve the needs of all Californians.

With a strong background in education and deep roots in the Central Coast, Monique has been responsible for dozens of landmark policies that enhance the lives of Californians, strengthen worker rights, safeguard the environment, and protect consumers. Monique’s legislation, in both the Assembly and the Senate, has garnered 87% bipartisan support.

Before becoming the Senate President pro Tempore, Monique served in several leadership roles. She served as Assembly Assistant Majority Whip, Vice Chair of the Women’s Caucus, Chair of the Banking and Financial Institutions Committee in both the Senate and Assembly, Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, and Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus.
 

 
As the Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, she served on numerous negotiating teams and working groups, including the Senate Negotiating Team on oil profits, the Infrastructure Working group to streamline climate-friendly energy proposals, and the negotiating team to create the state’s largest clean water and wildfire bond. Additionally, in 2025, she served as the Chair of the Senate Working Group on the state premier climate program, Cap-and-Invest. Through Cap-and-Invest, the state has invested in a multitude of projects that advance our climate goals, including transit, affordable housing, clean drinking water, and wildfire protection.