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Rebecca Bauer-Kahan

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Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 16th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 3, 2018
Preceded byCatharine Baker
Personal details
Born
Rebecca Beth Bauer

(1978-10-28) October 28, 1978 (age 46)
Portola Valley, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Darren Kahan
​
(m. 2007)​
Children3
Residence(s)Orinda, California, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (BA)
Georgetown University (JD)
WebsiteCampaign website
Government website

Rebecca Beth Bauer-Kahan (née Bauer; born October 28, 1978) is an American attorney and politician who has served as a member of the California State Assembly from the 16th district since 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, her district extends from Lamorinda to the Tri-Valley region of the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been described as a women's rights advocate.[1]

Early life and education

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Bauer-Kahan was born Rebecca Beth Bauer in Portola Valley, California, on October 28, 1978.[2] She is Jewish.[3] Her grandparents came to the United States as refugees in 1939 after fleeing Austria to escape the Holocaust.[4]

Bauer-Kahan spent her childhood in the Bay Area and attended Bay Area public schools. In 2000, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor of arts in psychology. She then enrolled at Georgetown University and graduated with a juris doctor in 2004.[5]

Early career

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Bauer-Kahan practiced law in Washington, D.C. before returning to the Bay Area in 2005. As an attorney specializing in environmental law, she led internal investigations into corporations to improve their environmental practices and worked with tech companies on intellectual property cases.[6] She was also an immigration attorney for the International Refugee Assistance Project, and on their behalf in 2017, she coordinated legal services at San Francisco International Airport to assist refugees and immigrants impacted by the Trump administration’s travel ban.[7]

In 2010, Bauer-Kahan became a law professor at Santa Clara University, teaching appellate law and legal research and writing. She joined the faculty of Golden Gate University as a law professor in 2014.[6][8] She decided to enter politics following the 2016 presidential election.[9]

California State Assembly

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Tenure

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Bauer-Kahan was first elected to the California State Assembly in 2018, narrowly defeating Republican incumbent Catharine Baker.

Soon after being sworn in, Bauer-Kahan ascended to a leadership role, becoming assistant speaker pro tempore of the Assembly; she left her leadership role after one term. She also founded the Select Committee on Reproductive Health—the first committee of its kind in the nation—during her first term.

To date, Bauer-Kahan has authored 16 pieces of legislation that have been signed into law.[10] Her legislation covers a variety of topics, such as gun control, food safety, reproductive rights, and environmental protection.[11] Her signature piece of legislation is AB 1666, which protects abortion providers from civil liability and was signed into law by Gavin Newsom on the day Roe v. Wade was overturned.[12] She also serves on 12 committees and currently chairs the Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee and the Select Committee on Reproductive Health.[13]

Bauer-Kahan is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.[14]

In May 2024 she spoke along with Juan Alanis in front of the California Assembly to support Assembly Bill 3080, requiring age verification on porn sites, which passed to the California Senate with 65 "yes" votes and 15 abstains.[1] She mentioned the statistic that about 40% of college women report being choked during sexual encounters, saying that it was the result of porn viewing,[1] describing the bill as being about "making sure [our children] learn healthy behaviours."[1]

Committees

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  • Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife
  • Committee on Banking and Finance
  • Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials
  • Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection (chair)
  • Committee on Utilities and Energy
  • Select Committee on Reproductive Health (chair)
  • Select Committee on California's Clean Energy Economy
  • Select Committee on Cybersecurity
  • Select Committee on Domestic Violence
  • Select Committee on Impact Investing for Improved Social and Environmental Outcomes
  • Select Committee on the Nonprofit Sector
  • Select Committee on Uplifting Girls and Women of Color in California

Caucus memberships

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  • Bay Area Caucus
  • California Legislative Environmental Caucus
  • California Legislative Jewish Caucus
  • California Legislative Women's Caucus

Elections

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2018

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2018 California's 16th State Assembly district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Catharine Baker (incumbent) 69,360 56.6
Democratic Rebecca Bauer-Kahan 53,269 43.4
Total votes 122,629 100.0
General election
Democratic Rebecca Bauer-Kahan 111,222 51.0
Republican Catharine Baker (incumbent) 106,683 49.0
Total votes 217,905 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2020

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2020 California's 16th State Assembly district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (incumbent) 85,751 67.3
Republican Joseph A. Rubay 41,757 32.7
Total votes 127,508 100.0
General election
Democratic Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (incumbent) 192,977 67.4
Republican Joseph A. Rubay 93,137 32.6
Total votes 286,114 100.0
Democratic hold

2022

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2022 California's 16th State Assembly district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (incumbent) 80,054 66.6
Republican Joseph A. Rubay 40,203 33.4
Total votes 120,257 100.0
General election
Democratic Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (incumbent) 130,813 65.7
Republican Joseph A. Rubay 68,149 34.3
Total votes 198,962 100.0

Personal life

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Bauer-Kahan married her husband, Darren Kahan, in 2007.[15] When they married, both took the surname Bauer-Kahan.

They have three children together and live in Orinda, California.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Sabalow, Ryan (May 22, 2024). "California could require age verification to visit porn sites". CalMatters. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  2. ^ "Rebecca Bauer-Kahan". CalMatters. September 8, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  3. ^ Goss, Emma (May 5, 2022). "2 Jewish legislators take lead on abortion rights in California". jweekly.com. The Jewish News of Northern California. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  4. ^ "Rebecca Bauer-Kahan: From Attorney To Tri-Valley Assemblywoman". Dublin, CA Patch. August 30, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  5. ^ Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca (May 6, 2022). "Rebecca Bauer-Kahan". LinkedIn. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Biography | Official Website - Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan Representing the 16th California Assembly District". a16.asmdc.org. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  7. ^ Alvero, Erika. "Two Democrats announce campaigns to unseat Assemblywoman Baker". www.danvillesanramon.com. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  8. ^ "Contact Rebecca Bauer-Kahan | Contact My Politician". www.contactmypolitician.com. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  9. ^ Hogarty, Sally (October 27, 2019). "Catching up With District 16 Assemblywoman Bauer-Kahan". The Orinda News. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "Bill Search". leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  11. ^ Walsh, Jeremy. "Rebecca Bauer-Kahan: A new voice in Sacramento". www.pleasantonweekly.com. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  12. ^ Gutierrez, Melody (June 24, 2022). "Newsom signs bill protecting California abortion providers from civil liability". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  13. ^ "Committees | Official Website - Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan Representing the 16th California Assembly District". a16.asmdc.org. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  14. ^ "Legislative Progressive Caucus". assembly.ca.gov. California State Assembly. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  15. ^ "Kahan/Bauer - Schedule". www.darrenandrebecca.com. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
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