Rebecca Bauer-Kahan

Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Member of theCalifornia State Assembly from the16thdistrict
Incumbent
Assumed office December 3, 2018
Preceded by	Catharine Baker
Personal details
Born	Rebecca Beth Bauer (1978-10-28)October 28, 1978 Portola Valley, California,U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Darren Kahan ​ (m.2007)​
Children	3
Residence(s)	Orinda, California,U.S.
Education	University of Pennsylvania(BA) Georgetown University(JD)
Website	Campaign website Government website

Rebecca Beth Bauer-Kahan(néeBauer;born October 28, 1978) is an American attorney and politician who has served as a member of theCalifornia State Assemblyfrom the16th districtsince 2018. A member of theDemocratic Party,her district extends fromLamorindato theTri-Valleyregion of theSan Francisco Bay Area.She has been described as awomen's rightsadvocate.

Early life and education

Bauer-Kahan was born Rebecca Beth Bauer inPortola Valley, California,on October 28, 1978.She is Jewish.Her grandparents came to the United States as refugees in 1939 afterfleeing Austriato escapethe Holocaust.

Bauer-Kahan spent her childhood in the Bay Area and attended Bay Area public schools. In 2000, she graduated from theUniversity of Pennsylvaniawith abachelor of artsin psychology. She then enrolled atGeorgetown Universityand graduated with ajuris doctorin 2004.

Early career

Bauer-Kahan practiced law inWashington, D.C.before returning to the Bay Area in 2005. As an attorney specializing inenvironmental law,she led internal investigations into corporations to improve their environmental practices and worked with tech companies on intellectual property cases.She was also animmigration attorneyfor theInternational Refugee Assistance Project,and on their behalf in 2017, she coordinated legal services atSan Francisco International Airportto assist refugees and immigrants impacted by theTrump administration’stravel ban.

In 2010, Bauer-Kahan became a law professor atSanta Clara University,teaching appellate law and legal research and writing. She joined the faculty ofGolden Gate Universityas a law professor in 2014.She decided to enter politics following the2016 presidential election.

California State Assembly

Tenure

Bauer-Kahan was first elected to the California State Assembly in2018,narrowly defeatingRepublicanincumbentCatharine 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.Her legislation covers a variety of topics, such asgun control,food safety, reproductive rights, and environmental protection.Her signature piece of legislation is AB 1666, which protects abortion providers from civil liability and was signed into law byGavin Newsomon the dayRoe v. Wadewas overturned.She also serves on 12 committees and currently chairs the Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee and the Select Committee on Reproductive Health.

Bauer-Kahan is a member of theCalifornia Legislative Progressive Caucus.

In May 2024 she spoke along withJuan Alanisin front of the California Assembly to support Assembly Bill 3080, requiringage verificationon porn sites, which passed to the California Senate with 65 "yes" votes and 15 abstains.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,describing the bill as being about "making sure [our children] learn healthy behaviours."

Committees

• Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife (chair)
• Committee on Banking and Finance
• Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials
• Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection
• 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

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

Elections

2018

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
	DemocraticgainfromRepublican

2020

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
	Democratichold

2022

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

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

They have three children together and live inOrinda, California.

External links

• Campaign website
• Government website