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| Senator Darrell Steinberg | |
|---|---|
| Name | Darrell Steinberg |
| Office | Mayor of Sacramento |
| Term start | December 13, 2016 |
| Predecessor | Kevin Johnson |
| Birth date | January 5, 1959 |
| Birth place | San Francisco, California |
| Party | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Davis School of Law |
Senator Darrell Steinberg is an American politician and attorney who has served as Mayor of Sacramento and previously served in the California State Legislature, including as President pro Tempore of the California State Senate. Known for work on mental health reform, criminal justice, public safety, and urban policy, he has been active in California politics since the 1980s and has authored landmark legislation affecting California policy debates. Steinberg’s career intersects with numerous figures and institutions across Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and statewide initiatives.
Born in San Francisco, California, Steinberg grew up in the Bay Area and attended the University of California, Berkeley where he studied politics-adjacent subjects, interacting with student organizations linked to California State University, Sacramento activists and Bay Area civic groups. He later earned a juris doctor from the University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall), aligning with alumni networks that include judges from the California Courts of Appeal and advocates connected to the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. During this period he engaged with legal clinics and community legal services associated with the California State Bar and nonprofit legal organizations.
After law school Steinberg practiced law and worked with labor and civil rights entities such as the Service Employees International Union and advocacy groups with ties to the California Labor Federation. He served on local boards and commissions in Sacramento County and was involved in campaigns coordinated with the California Democratic Party and national organizations like the Democratic National Committee. Early political mentors and allies included members of the California State Assembly Democratic Caucus and Sacramento municipal leaders who had worked with figures from the Mayor's Office, City of Sacramento and the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors.
Elected to the California State Assembly in the late 1980s, Steinberg represented Sacramento-area districts and served on committees that intersected with members from the California Senate, the California Legislative Black Caucus, and policy task forces convened by the Governor of California. During his Assembly tenure he collaborated with legislators connected to the California Teachers Association, the California Hospital Association, and civil rights organizations including MALDEF on legislation addressing local public services, health programs, and community safety. His work in the Assembly brought him into contact with statewide leaders who later served in cabinets for governors from Jerry Brown to Gray Davis.
Steinberg was elected to the California State Senate in 1998 and represented a Sacramento-centered district, participating in budget negotiations with the California Department of Finance and policy deliberations with members of the Legislative Analyst's Office. In the Senate he served alongside senators linked to the California Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and advocacy coalitions such as NAMI California and statewide public safety groups. Steinberg’s Senate years overlapped with legislative leaders who later collaborated with governors from the Republican Party (United States) and the Democratic Party (United States).
As President pro Tempore of the California State Senate, Steinberg led the Democratic caucus during budget battles with the offices of the Governor of California and the California State Controller. He worked with committee chairs connected to the Senate Rules Committee, the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, and policy partners from organizations such as the California Hospital Association, the California Teachers Association, and mental health coalitions including Mental Health America affiliates. His leadership intersected with prominent state figures such as former governors Arnold Schwarzenegger opponents, and allies within the United States Congress from California's congressional delegation.
Steinberg authored and championed major initiatives on mental health reform, criminal justice realignment, and public safety that engaged stakeholders including the California Psychiatric Association, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, and advocacy organizations like ACLU of California. Notable legislation addressed involuntary treatment statutes and community-based mental health programs, intersecting with federal statutes such as those administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and funding streams from the United States Department of Health and Human Services. He negotiated legislative packages with budget officials from the California Department of Finance and partnered with nonprofit networks like NAMI and hospital systems including Dignity Health and Kaiser Permanente on implementation frameworks. Steinberg’s bills influenced county practices across Los Angeles County, San Diego County, and Orange County and prompted discussion among municipal leaders from San Jose to Fresno.
Elected Mayor of Sacramento in 2016, Steinberg succeeded Kevin Johnson and has overseen initiatives involving the Sacramento City Council, the Sacramento Police Department, and regional partners such as the Sacramento County administration and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. His mayoralty has addressed homelessness in partnership with nonprofits like SHELTER Inc. and Sacramento Steps Forward, transit projects with Sacramento Regional Transit District, and urban development engaging developers associated with the California Building Industry Association. Steinberg has worked with state leaders including the Governor of California and members of the California State Legislature to coordinate funding for local priorities and has engaged federal agencies such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development on housing and community development programs.
Category:Mayors of Sacramento, California Category:Members of the California State Senate Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni Category:University of California, Davis School of Law alumni