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Democrat · California Senate, district 17

Serving since Dec 7, 2020CA 2025–26 session

Portrait of John Laird, rendered as a two-tone print
Official portrait
$639.1K
in itemized contributions in the 2024 cycle, in the top 5% of State Senate Democrats

The median for State Senate Democrats is $16.2K. Ranks 3rd of 55, where 1st raised the most. 433 itemized donors.

Itemized contributions reported to the state in the 2024 cycle, ranked among State Senate Democrats. State filings leave small gifts out, and totals depend on whether the seat is up this cycle.

At a glance

6 measures against State Senate Democrats. Laird sits at −0.89 on the CSIP scale, more liberal than 81% of State Senate Democrats. The policy areas Laird talks about and legislates on agree at 0.63 on a 0–1 scale, in the top half of State Senate Democrats.

The measures on which Laird sits furthest from the middle of State Senate Democrats, each against the same group, with the CSIP score when there is one. Every number is explained in its own section below.

Attendance

99.4%

California Senate average 93.8% · ranks 2nd of 39 · 3,673 roll calls

Itemized, 2024

$639.1K

State Senate Democrats’ median $16.2K · ranks 3rd of 55

Party unity

99.8%

California Senate average 98.7% · ranks 7th of 39 · 2 votes against the majority of California Senate Democrats

CSIP ideology

−0.89

More liberal than 81% of State Senate Democrats · ± 0.06

Talk-to-bills agreement

0.63

State Senate Democrats average 0.56 · ranks 61st of 228

From California, 2024

97%

Of itemized individual dollars · ranks 15th of 47 State Senate Democrats

Peer group: State Senate Democrats. Rank 1 is the highest value in the group; the thick bar is Laird, the thin grey bar the peer average. The headline is the measure on which Laird is most unusual among peers (Methods, §08).

Back to topNext: What politicians say

What Laird says

Laird attacks opponents personally less than 75% of State Senate Democrats. Personal attacks in 0% of 65 statements, against 2.4% for the average State Senate Democrat; 248th of 329.

An AI model reads each of Laird’s 65 statements in the CA 2025–26 session (65 posts on X) and marks the kinds of statement it contains: a personal attack, criticism of a policy, discussion of policy, bipartisanship, credit claiming, and extreme labels. A statement can carry several. Every rate is compared with the average for State Senate Democrats and ranked among them.

Kinds of statement

Share of statements carrying each label, the CA 2025–26 session

0%80%
Laird
Peers
Rank
Policy discussion43 statements
66%
43%
34th of 329
Credit claiming33 statements
51%
16%
5th of 329
Bipartisanship4 statements
6%
3%
54th of 329
Policy criticism1 statements
2%
10%
261st of 329
Personal attacks0 statements
0%
2%
248th of 329
Show the data
Laird's share of statements in each category against the State Senate Democrats average.
RowLairdPeers
Policy discussion66%43%
Credit claiming51%16%
Bipartisanship6%3%
Policy criticism2%10%
Personal attacks0%2%
65

statements classified

65 posts on X.

posts on X: 65 (100.0%)posts on X 65
Show the data
Laird's statements by source
PartValue
posts on X65
How to read the bars

The thick bar is Laird; the thin grey bar is the average State Senate Democrats. A longer thick bar means Laird does this more than peers. Rank 1 is the highest rate in the group.

Extreme labels

Laird used no extreme labels in 65 statements. The peer average is 0.8%.

No extreme labels in this window.

Who gets the labels

Targets named alongside an extreme label, by number of statements

No targets recorded.

What an extreme label is

Calls a politician, a party or a policy “far left”, “far right”, “MAGA”, “extreme”, “radical”, “woke”, “fascist” or “communist”. The target is who or what the label was aimed at. The lists show the five most used labels and targets; the toggle shows the rest.

Month by month

Share of statements per month, the CA 2025–26 session

Statements2025-01: 32025-02: 22025-03: 22025-04: 22025-05: 02025-06: 02025-07: 02025-08: 02025-09: 02025-10: 02025-11: 02025-12: 02026-01: 02026-02: 02026-03: 02026-04: 32026-05: 82026-06: 72026-07: 52026-08: 72026-09: 162026-10: 10peak 16 · Sep ’26Personal attackspeak 0.0% · Sep ’26 · latest 0.0%Personal attacks, 2025-01: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-09: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-10: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-11: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-01: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-09: 0.0% of 16Personal attacks, 2026-10: 0.0% of 10Policy criticismpeak 6.3% · Sep ’26 · latest 0.0%Policy criticism, 2025-01: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-09: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-10: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-11: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-01: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-09: 6.3% of 16Policy criticism, 2026-10: 0.0% of 10Policy discussionpeak 75.0% · Sep ’26 · latest 60.0%Policy discussion, 2025-01: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-09: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-10: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-11: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-01: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-09: 75.0% of 16Policy discussion, 2026-10: 60.0% of 10Bipartisanshippeak 10.0% · Oct ’26 · latest 10.0%Bipartisanship, 2025-01: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-09: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-10: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-11: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-01: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-09: 0.0% of 16Bipartisanship, 2026-10: 10.0% of 10Credit claimingpeak 68.8% · Sep ’26 · latest 40.0%Credit claiming, 2025-01: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-09: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-10: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-11: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-01: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-09: 68.8% of 16Credit claiming, 2026-10: 40.0% of 10Extreme labelspeak 0.0% · Sep ’26 · latest 0.0%Extreme labels, 2025-01: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-09: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-10: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-11: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-01: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-09: 0.0% of 16Extreme labels, 2026-10: 0.0% of 10Jan ’25Jul ’25Jan ’26Jul ’26Oct ’26
Show the data
Monthly rates for Laird, each row shaded against its own peak, with statement volume. Months with fewer than 10 statements are left blank.
ColumnStatementsPersonal attacksPolicy criticismPolicy discussionBipartisanshipCredit claimingExtreme labels
Jan ’253— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Feb ’252— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Mar ’252— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Apr ’252— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
May ’250— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Jun ’250— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Jul ’250— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Aug ’250— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Sep ’250— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Oct ’250— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Nov ’250— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Dec ’250— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Jan ’260— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Feb ’260— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Mar ’260— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Apr ’263— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
May ’268— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Jun ’267— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Jul ’265— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Aug ’267— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Sep ’26160.0%6.3%75.0%0.0%68.8%0.0%
Oct ’26100.0%0.0%60.0%10.0%40.0%0.0%
How to read the strips

Each row is one kind of statement; each cell is a month, shaded against that row’s own peak (darker = closer to the peak), with the peak and the latest value written at the right. The top row counts statements. The strip covers every month of the CA 2025–26 session, the same span as the rates above, including months with no statements. A month with fewer than 10 statements is hatched, not shaded: one or two posts would swing its rate to 0% or 100%. 20 months are hatched here; 11 of them have no statements.

In Laird’s words

Real statements from the classifier’s example set, with the labels it assigned

Bipartisanship

The text of this post is on X; follow the source link to read it.

Oct 2, 2026 · Posts on X (state legislators) · bipartisanship; credit claiming · Source

Credit claiming

The text of this post is on X; follow the source link to read it.

Oct 13, 2026 · Posts on X (state legislators) · policy discussion; credit claiming; Economics and Public Finance; Government Operations and Politics; Public Lands and Natural Resources · Source

Policy criticism

The text of this post is on X; follow the source link to read it.

Sep 8, 2026 · Posts on X (state legislators) · policy criticism; policy discussion; credit claiming; Environmental Protection; Energy · Source

Examples by category

Up to five recent statements in each category

Category

Overtly questions a named person’s character, integrity or loyalty, or calls them names. Criticising a record or a policy does not count.

No statements in this category in this window.

All 65 statements

Newest first, the CA 2025–26 session

The full feed

Five statements at a time, newest first; filters apply to the statements loaded so far. Export saves the statements that match. Sources: 65 posts on X.

Back to topNext: Policy

Policy

Environmental Protection is what Laird talks about most: 30% of policy statements, 6.8 times the peer share. Talk and legislation agree at 0.63 on a 0–1 scale (State Senate Democrats average 0.56; 61st of 228).

Each policy statement is tagged by the AI model with one or more of 25 policy areas from the Congressional Research Service list, so the shares say what Laird talks about. The bills Laird sponsors and cosponsors carry the same areas, so the two can be compared.

What Laird talks about

Share of policy statements by area, the CA 2025–26 session

0%35%
Laird
Peers
Environmental Protection13 statements
30%
4%
Government Operations and Politics8 statements
19%
14%
Health8 statements
19%
17%
Economics and Public Finance7 statements
16%
10%
Public Lands and Natural Resources7 statements
16%
1%
Show the data
Policy areas Laird talks about, as a share of policy statements, against the State Senate Democrats average.
RowLairdPeers
Environmental Protection30%4%
Government Operations and Politics19%14%
Health19%17%
Economics and Public Finance16%10%
Public Lands and Natural Resources16%1%
How to read the bars

The thick bar is the share of Laird’s policy statements in an area; the thin grey bar is the average share for State Senate Democrats. A statement counts once in each of its areas, so shares can add to more than 100%. The five largest areas are shown; the toggle shows the rest.

Talks about · legislates on

Left: share of statements by policy area. Right: share of bills. Areas in order of their share of statements; both sides run from 0 to 35%. Grey ticks are the State Senate Democrats averages.

Talks aboutLegislates onEnvironmental ProtectionEnvironmental Protection, talks about: 30% (State Senate Democrats 4%)30%Environmental Protection, legislates on: 7% (State Senate Democrats 3%)7%Government Operations andPoliticsGovernment Operations and Politics, talks about: 19% (State Senate Democrats 14%)19%Government Operations and Politics, legislates on: 7% (State Senate Democrats 8%)7%HealthHealth, talks about: 19% (State Senate Democrats 17%)19%Health, legislates on: 7% (State Senate Democrats 15%)7%Economics and Public FinanceEconomics and Public Finance, talks about: 16% (State Senate Democrats 10%)16%Economics and Public Finance, legislates on: 21% (State Senate Democrats 3%)21%Public Lands and NaturalResourcesPublic Lands and Natural Resources, talks about: 16% (State Senate Democrats 1%)16%Public Lands and Natural Resources, legislates on: 8% (State Senate Democrats 2%)8%
Show the data
Laird's share of statements against share of bills in each policy area.
AreaTalks aboutState Senate Democrats, talks aboutLegislates onState Senate Democrats, legislates on
Environmental Protection30%4%7%3%
Government Operations and Politics19%14%7%8%
Health19%17%7%15%
Economics and Public Finance16%10%21%3%
Public Lands and Natural Resources16%1%8%2%
0.63

talk-to-bills agreement, 0 to 1

State Senate Democrats average 0.56. Ranks 61st of 228.

What agreement means, and what it doesn’t

Agreement is 1 minus the distance between the two distributions (Jensen–Shannon): 1 means Laird legislates on exactly the areas Laird talks about, in the same proportions; 0 means no overlap. It does not say whether the bills match the positions in the statements, only the subjects. Bills Laird sponsored count fully, cosponsored bills a quarter. Shown with at least 20 policy statements and 5 bills.

Back to topNext: Ideology

Ideology

Laird sits at −0.89 on the CSIP scale, left of 0, more liberal than 81% of State Senate Democrats. Approximate range −0.95 to −0.83, which understates the uncertainty; from 1,018 donors and 887 roll calls.

CSIP, the lab’s Common-Space Ideal Point, places every official, federal and state, on one left–right scale, estimated from roll-call votes, who gives money to whom, and the text of statements. Negative is left of 0, positive right of it; 0 is the centre of the scale, not a definition of “moderate”.

−0.89

CSIP ideal point

Approximate range −0.95 to −0.83. From 1,018 donors and 887 roll calls. Run 2026-10-25T215945. Blue is left of 0, red right of 0.

← More liberalMore conservative →0Laird −0.9State Senate Democrats −0.7California Senate −0.7All State Senate +0.1

The outlined dot is Laird, coloured by its side of 0 (blue left, red right, deeper further out); the bar through it is the approximate range (±1.96 standard errors), which understates the uncertainty; the grey ticks below are the medians of Laird’s groups. 0 is the centre of the scale, not “moderate” by definition.

What this means, and what it doesn’t

The score summarises how an official votes, who funds them and how they talk, relative to everyone else. It does not grade positions as good or bad, and two officials with the same score can differ on any single issue. The ± range is 1.96 standard errors, which understates the uncertainty: scores whose ranges overlap may not differ at all, and even scores whose ranges do not overlap may not differ.

Where Laird sits

Every official in each group, on the CSIP scale

−2.0−1.00.0+1.0+2.0← More liberalMore conservative →State Senate Democratsmedian −0.7Laird −0.9California Senatemedian −0.7All State Senatemedian +0.1
Show the data
Laird's CSIP score of −0.89 placed against State Senate Democrats, California Senate, All State Senate.
GroupOfficialsMedianShare left of Laird
State Senate Democrats825−0.719%
California Senate39−0.726%
All State Senate1909+0.18%
How to read the strips

Every small dot is one official on the same scale, coloured by its own score (blue left of 0, red right of 0, grey at 0, deeper further out) and spread up and down only to keep dots apart; where a group is crowded the dots overlap, and darker patches mean more officials. The large outlined dot is Laird in every row; the rule is each group’s median. The table under the figure gives the share of each group to the left of Laird.

Back to topNext: Money

Money

Laird reported $639.1K in the 2024 cycle, 39.5 times the State Senate Democrats’ median of $16.2K. State filings report no small-donation total. 97% of itemized individual money came from California.

Campaign money from state campaign-finance filings, as aggregates only; the lab never shows an individual donor. Campaigns must report by name every person who gives them more than $200 in a cycle (“itemized”); smaller gifts are reported only as one total (“unitemized”), so donor counts, donor states, employers and occupations describe itemized donors only. State filings report no small-gift total, so these figures add up itemized contributions only.

Election cycle
$639.1K

itemized in the 2024 cycle

From 433 itemized donors. State Senate Democrats’ median $16.2K.

Where the money came from

Each square is one percent of itemized contributions in the 2024 cycle.

Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)Individuals (itemized): $201.7K (31.6%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)PACs and other committees: $437.5K (68.4%)
  • Individuals (itemized)32 squares$201.7K
  • PACs and other committees68 squares$437.5K
Show the data
Sources of Laird's money, 2024 cycle, one square per percent
SourceAmountShare
Individuals (itemized)$201.7K31.6%
PACs and other committees$437.5K68.4%
What this means, and what it doesn’t

Totals say how much a campaign took in, not how it was spent, and they rise sharply when a seat is up for election; compare cycles with that in mind.

Receipts by cycle

Itemized contributions, 2020 to 2024. The grey line is the State Senate Democrats’ median for 2024.

2020 cycle: $903.9K$903.9K20202022 cycle: $483.3K$483.3K20222024 cycle: $639.1K$639.1K2024State Senate Democrats median $16.2K
Show the data
Laird's receipts by cycle against the 2024 State Senate Democrats median.
ItemValue
2020 cycle$903.9K
2022 cycle$483.3K
2024 cycle$639.1K

Top donor states, 2024

Itemized contributions by donor state. 97% came from California.

  1. California$195.0K
  2. Michigan$2,000
  3. Texas$1,250
  4. Illinois$1,150
  5. Connecticut$1,000

Small donations

State filings report no total for small gifts.

Not reported in state filings.

Where itemized donors live

Individuals who gave more than $200, by donor state

Alaska: no dataAKMaine: $100MEVermont: no dataVTNew Hampshire: no dataNHWashington: no dataWAIdaho: no dataIDMontana: no dataMTNorth Dakota: no dataNDMinnesota: no dataMNIllinois: $1,150ILWisconsin: no dataWIMichigan: $2,000MINew York: $500NYRhode Island: no dataRIMassachusetts: no dataMAOregon: no dataORNevada: no dataNVWyoming: no dataWYSouth Dakota: no dataSDIowa: no dataIAIndiana: no dataINOhio: no dataOHPennsylvania: no dataPANew Jersey: no dataNJConnecticut: $1,000CTCalifornia: $195.0KCAUtah: no dataUTColorado: no dataCONebraska: no dataNEMissouri: no dataMOKentucky: no dataKYWest Virginia: no dataWVVirginia: no dataVAMaryland: no dataMDDelaware: no dataDEArizona: no dataAZNew Mexico: $150NMKansas: no dataKSArkansas: no dataARTennessee: no dataTNNorth Carolina: $100NCSouth Carolina: no dataSCDistrict of Columbia: $325DCOklahoma: no dataOKLouisiana: no dataLAMississippi: no dataMSAlabama: no dataALGeorgia: no dataGAHawaii: $100HITexas: $1,250TXFlorida: no dataFL
Show the data
Laird's itemized individual contributions by donor state, 2024 cycle
StateValue
California$195.0K
Michigan$2,000
Texas$1,250
Illinois$1,150
Connecticut$1,000
New York$500
District of Columbia$325
New Mexico$150
Maine$100
North Carolina$100
Hawaii$100
AlaskaNo data
VermontNo data
New HampshireNo data
WashingtonNo data
IdahoNo data
MontanaNo data
North DakotaNo data
MinnesotaNo data
WisconsinNo data
Rhode IslandNo data
MassachusettsNo data
OregonNo data
NevadaNo data
WyomingNo data
South DakotaNo data
IowaNo data
IndianaNo data
OhioNo data
PennsylvaniaNo data
New JerseyNo data
UtahNo data
ColoradoNo data
NebraskaNo data
MissouriNo data
KentuckyNo data
West VirginiaNo data
VirginiaNo data
MarylandNo data
DelawareNo data
ArizonaNo data
KansasNo data
ArkansasNo data
TennesseeNo data
South CarolinaNo data
OklahomaNo data
LouisianaNo data
MississippiNo data
AlabamaNo data
GeorgiaNo data
FloridaNo data
433

itemized donors

People who gave more than $200

97%

from California

Of itemized individual dollars

How to read the map

Every state the same size. Darker states gave more itemized money; hatched states had no itemized donors; the outlined state is California. Gifts of $200 or less carry no address and are left out.

Top donor occupations

Itemized, 2024 cycle.

  1. RETIRED$101.2K 237 donors
  2. ATTORNEY$16.1K 32 donors
  3. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER$9,700 9 donors
  4. OWNER$7,277 12 donors
  5. FARMER$5,299 7 donors

Top committees

PAC and committee contributions, 2024 cycle.

  1. CALIFORNIA STATE COUNCIL OF SERVICE EMPLOYEES SMALL CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE$21.8K
  2. CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION/ASSOCIATION FOR BETTER CITIZENSHIP SMALL CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE$21.8K
  3. SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 1000 CANDIDATE PAC SMALL CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE$21.8K
  4. STATE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA PAC SMALL CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE$21.8K
  5. CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS COPE SMALL CONTRIBUTOR COMMITTEE$12.5K

Top employers

Itemized, 2024 cycle.

  1. ROYAL OAKS FARMS, LLC$4,000 3 donors
  2. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ$2,179 6 donors
  3. CITY OF SANTA CRUZ$1,450 3 donors
  4. COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ$300 3 donors

Aggregates only. Individual donors are never named.

Back to topNext: Votes

Votes

Laird voted with the majority of California Senate Democrats on 99.8% of party-line votes and missed 0.6% of 3,673 roll calls. California Senate on average: 98.7% party unity, 93.8% attendance. Across all roll calls, Laird voted against the majority of California Senate Democrats 2 times.

3,673 roll calls Laird could vote on in the CA 2025–26 session, compared with California Senate. Attendance is the share with a vote recorded. Party unity counts only party-line roll calls, where most Democrats and most Republicans voted on opposite sides, and is the share of those where Laird voted with the majority of California Senate Democrats. The count of votes against that majority covers every roll call where the majority took a side.

2

votes against the majority of California Senate Democrats

Party unity 99.8%, California Senate average 98.7%, ranks 7th of 39. 3,673 roll calls in the CA 2025–26 session.

Attendance and party unity

The thick bar is Laird, the thin grey bar the California Senate average. The scale runs from 80% to 100% to show the gap.

80%100%
Laird
Peers
Rank
Attendance
99.4%
93.8%
2nd of 39
Party unity
99.8%
98.7%
7th of 39
Show the data
Laird's attendance and party unity against California Senate.
RowLairdPeers
Attendance99.4%93.8%
Party unity99.8%98.7%
What this means, and what it doesn’t

A missed roll call has many causes, from illness to campaigning, so attendance says how often, not why. A vote against the majority can be on procedure as well as substance, and many fall on roll calls where both parties split; the key votes below show the ones that decided something.

Key votes

25 roll calls the lab flagged as key in the CA 2025–26 session

Key votes
Party split (yea–nay)Why it’s key
Sep 1, 2026
AB 113
Budget Act of 2026.
3rd Reading AB113 Gabriel By Laird
YeaWith majoritypassD 29–0 · R 0–4Democrats 29 yea, 0 nay; Republicans 0 yea, 4 naybecame law
Aug 31, 2026
AB 2564
Surveillance pricing.
3rd Reading AB2564 Ward et al. By Wiener
YeaWith majoritypassD 22–5 · R 0–9Democrats 22 yea, 5 nay; Republicans 0 yea, 9 nayparty crossover
Aug 31, 2026
AB 1349
Consumer protection: ticket sellers.
3rd Reading AB1349 Bryan et al. By Cabaldon
YeaWith majoritypassD 25–1 · R 4–4Democrats 25 yea, 1 nay; Republicans 4 yea, 4 naybecame law
Aug 31, 2026
AB 187
Employment.
3rd Reading AB187 BUDGET (Gabriel) By Laird
YeaWith majoritypassD 30–0 · R 10–0Democrats 30 yea, 0 nay; Republicans 10 yea, 0 naybecame law
Aug 31, 2026
AB 2694
Public postsecondary education: community colleges: statewide baccalaureate degree program.
3rd Reading AB2694 Alvarez et al. By Cabaldon
YeaWith majoritypassD 27–0 · R 6–1Democrats 27 yea, 0 nay; Republicans 6 yea, 1 naybecame law
How key votes are chosen

Automatically: a final-passage or override vote where the measure became law, the margin was under 10%, at least 10% of either party voted against its majority, or the bill was among the 25 most mentioned in officials’ own statements. Up to 25 per window, most recent first; five are shown. Bars show yea on the left, nay on the right, per party.

Votes most often with

The colleagues who voted the same way as Laird most often

  1. Eloise ReyesD2,414 shared votes100%
  2. Mike McGuireD3,642 shared votes100%
  3. Monique LimónD3,444 shared votes100%
  4. Jesse ArreguínD3,612 shared votes100%
  5. Sasha PérezD3,494 shared votes100%

Votes least often with

The colleagues who voted the same way as Laird least often

  1. Marie Alvarado-GilR3,065 shared votes73%
  2. Kelly SeyartoR3,360 shared votes74%
  3. Tony StricklandR3,409 shared votes75%
  4. Brian JonesR3,276 shared votes75%
  5. Shannon GroveR3,298 shared votes76%
How to read the agreement lists

The share of roll calls both members voted on where they voted the same way, among colleagues sharing at least 50 such votes. High agreement with members of the other party is common on routine votes.

Full voting record

CA 2025–26 session, loads in batches

Back to topNext: Legislation

Legislation

Laird sponsored 49 bills in the CA 2025–26 session; 39 became law. Cosponsored 82 others. 96% of sponsored bills got out of committee (California Senate average 88%; 14th of 39).

The bills Laird sponsored and cosponsored in the CA 2025–26 session, from the official bill records, and how far each got: introduced, referred to or acted on in committee, passed one chamber, passed both, became law. A bill counts at every stage it has reached, so the blocks only shrink to the right.

Bills by stage

Counts for the CA 2025–26 session

Sponsored49 billsSponsored, Introduced: 4949Sponsored, In committee: 4949Sponsored, Passed one chamber: 4545Sponsored, Passed both chambers: 3939Sponsored, Became law: 3939Cosponsored82 billsCosponsored, Introduced: 8282Cosponsored, In committee: 8181Cosponsored, Passed one chamber: 7979Cosponsored, Passed both chambers: 5454Cosponsored, Became law: 4949IntroducedIncommitteePassed onechamberPassed bothchambersBecamelaw
Show the data
Bills Laird sponsored and cosponsored, by furthest stage reached
RoleIntroducedIn committeePassed one chamberPassed both chambersBecame law
Sponsored4949453939
Cosponsored8281795449
How to read the blocks

Ink blocks are bills Laird sponsored, ochre blocks bills Laird cosponsored; the figure above each block is the count. Most bills in any legislature never leave committee, so a short staircase is the norm.

96%

of sponsored bills got out of committee

California Senate average 88%. Ranks 14th of 39.

Cosponsorship partners

Colleagues who most often cosponsor with Laird, by number of shared bills in the CA 2025–26 session; the square shows their party.

  1. Christopher Cabaldon32
  2. Scott Wiener29
  3. Sasha Pérez25
  4. Steve Padilla25
  5. Sabrina Cervantes24
What this means, and what it doesn’t

The score is the share of sponsored bills that a committee reported out or a chamber passed, with at least 5 sponsored bills, ranked within the peer group. Members of the majority party and committee chairs move more bills, so the rank reflects position in the chamber as well as effort. Cosponsorship partners are the five colleagues who share the most of Laird’s bills; the toggle shows more.

Bill list

Sponsored and cosponsored, with status and policy area; five are shown, the toggle shows the rest

Bills sponsored and cosponsored
SR 135Relative to 40th Infantry Division of the California National Guard.CosponsorAug 6, 2026Passed one chamberUnassignedRead. Adopted. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 5352.) Aug 13, 2026
HR 127Relative to Transgender History Month.CosponsorAug 3, 2026Passed one chamberUnassignedRead. Adopted. (Page 6107.). Aug 10, 2026
ACA 20A resolution to propose to the people of the State of California an amendment to the Constitution of the State, by amending Sections 20 and 22 of Article XVI thereof, relating to state finance.CosponsorJun 22, 2026Became lawEconomics and Public Finance(model)Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 130, Statutes of 2026. Jun 25, 2026
SCR 187Relative to Father's Day.CosponsorJun 15, 2026Became lawUnassignedChaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 143, Statutes of 2026. Jul 2, 2026
SR 116Relative to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month.CosponsorMay 26, 2026Passed one chamberUnassignedRead. Adopted. (Ayes 28. Noes 0. Page 4898.) Jun 22, 2026

Back to topNext: Online

Online

A site that changed 76 times in 90 days. Laird’s official site had 28 pages when last crawled on Oct 1, 2026.

The lab crawls Laird’s official and campaign websites (weekly for Congress, monthly for the states) and keeps every page’s text, so changes can be read later; it also records social accounts and describes the images Laird posts with a vision model.

Websites

How to read the counts

“Pages crawled” is the size of the site at the last crawl; “changes in 90 days” counts pages whose text differed from the previous crawl. Sites change for many routine reasons, such as new press releases, so a high count is not by itself notable.

Images Laird posted

No images from Laird’s posts have been described.

About the descriptions

Written by a vision model and may be wrong. Open the post to see the original. Five are shown; the toggle shows the rest.

State floor speeches

271 turns, May 26, 2022 to Sep 1, 2026

Floor speeches

Transcribed from chamber video or captions by the lab. They are not classified for kinds of statement.

Back to topNext: Methods and sources

Methods and sources

How this page was made. Profile built Oct 28, 2026; site last built Oct 28, 2026. Every number on the page is computed from the sources listed here, by the same rules for every official; nothing is written by hand.

The headline

The headline is the measure on which Laird is most unusual among State Senate Democrats, chosen by one rule for every official of every party. The candidates are the rate of each kind of statement and of extreme labels, party unity, attendance, the small-donor share, the in-state share and total receipts of the latest cycle, the share of sponsored bills that got out of committee, talk-to-bills agreement, and the CSIP score’s place within the party group.

The builder ranks every measure within the same peer group the page compares it with, and writes each official’s percentile: the share of the group below the value, ties counting half, so 0.5 is the median and a value shared by many never ranks first. A measure’s score is how far that percentile sits from the median (0 in the middle, 0.5 at either end), and the highest score leads if it is above 0.25, outside the middle half of the group. Scores within 0.03 of each other are a tie, broken in this order: votes against the party majority, kinds of statement, ideology, roll calls missed, small donations, in-state money, legislation, agreement, extreme labels, receipts.

A measure counts only with at least 200 statements, 100 roll calls or 5 sponsored bills behind it and a peer group of at least 10. Two things never lead: high party unity or attendance, where most members sit, and a high rate of a kind of statement backed by fewer than 10 statements. When nothing qualifies, the headline is a neutral fact instead: statements classified, or years in office. The wording always names the direction (“in the bottom 5% of …”, “votes against the majority of …”).

Identifiers

Profile id
7476789f-49a4-491a-b294-9d1486f24193
Open States
ocd-person/7476789f-49a4-491a-b294-9d1486f24193

Bulk files with the same data for every official:

Freshness of this profile’s data

  • What politicians sayOct 27, 20261 days agoMembers of Congress: tweets since 2017; press releases, newsletters and floor speeches since 2022. State legislators: tweets since May 2024. Governors: tweets since January 2025. Labels from an LLM classifier.
  • Roll calls (state)Oct 21, 20267 days agoOpen States floor roll calls, 2019 on (none for AK and MO).
  • Bills (state)Oct 28, 2026todayOpen States bills and sponsors, 2019 on; stages from roll calls.
  • Campaign money (state)no dateState campaign-finance agencies, 2019 on; aggregates only.
  • Ideology (CSIP)Oct 25, 20263 days agoCommon-Space Ideal Points (CSIP), current validated run.
  • WebsitesOct 25, 20263 days agoWeekly crawls of federal sites since April 2026; monthly state crawls since June 2026.
  • State floor speechesOct 21, 20267 days agoState floor speech turns (published transcripts and captions), 2020 on; not LLM-classified.

How the measures work

What politicians say
Every post, press release, newsletter and congressional floor speech is read by a language model and marked for personal attacks, policy criticism, policy discussion, bipartisanship and credit claiming. A statement can be in several. Rates are shares of statements in the window. The methods paper.
Extreme labels
A statement has an extreme label when it calls a politician, party or policy “far left”, “far right”, “MAGA”, “extreme”, “radical”, “woke”, “fascist” or “communist”. The target is who the label is aimed at.
Policy areas and agreement
Statements and bills share 25 Congressional Research Service policy areas (state bills are assigned by a language model). Agreement is 1 − Jensen–Shannon distance between the two distributions, shown with at least 20 policy statements and 5 bills.
Ideology (CSIP)
Common-Space Ideal Points place federal and state officials on one left–right scale, estimated jointly from roll calls, campaign contributions and the text of statements, with standard errors. Only a validated run is shown. The methods paper.
Campaign money
Campaigns report by name only donors who give more than $200 in a cycle; smaller gifts are reported as one total. Federal totals and the small-donor share come from the FEC’s financial summaries of each campaign committee. Donor counts, donor states, employers and occupations cover itemized donors only. State filings report no small-gift totals, so state figures are itemized only. The lab never publishes donor names.
Votes and key votes
Attendance, party unity and the count of votes against the majority of an official’s own party come from roll calls (Voteview for Congress, chamber records for the states). Key votes are final-passage or override votes that became law, were decided by under 10%, saw at least 10% of a party vote against its majority, or concerned one of the 25 bills most mentioned in officials’ statements.
Peers and ranks
Comparisons are with the same party, chamber and level (for example House Democrats); state legislators are compared within their state and chamber for votes. Every comparison names its group. Rank 1 is the highest value in the group; tied values share the average of their ranks, and the percentile is the share of the group below the value, ties counting half.

America’s Political Pulse · Polarization Research Lab

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