Brian Maienschein
Brian Maienschein (born May 22, 1969) is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly, representing the 77th district, encompassing parts of northeastern San Diego since 2012. Prior to serving in the state assembly, he was a member of the San Diego City Council, and the city’s first Commissioner on Homelessness. He is most known for his response to two wildfires in his district, the 2003 Cedar Fire and the 2007 Witch Creek Fire, as well as for the completion of California State Route 56 and the preservation from development of 10,000 acres in the San Pasqual Valley.[3]
Brian Maienschein | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 77th district | |
| Assumed office December 3, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Nathan Fletcher (redistricted) |
| Member of San Diego City Council from the 5th district | |
| In office December 2000 – December 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Barbara Warden |
| Succeeded by | Carl DeMaio |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 22, 1969 Independence, Missouri, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic (2019–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Republican (before 2019)[1][2] |
| Children | Brenna Maienschein |
| Residence | San Diego, California |
| Alma mater | University of California, Santa Barbara California Western School of Law |
Early life and education
Maienschein is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and California Western School of Law. He served as the executive director of Youth Court, a nonprofit organization that works with first-time juvenile offenders.[4] Maienschein also teaches a course on Election Law at USD School of Law.[5]
San Diego City Council
Maienschein ran for city council in November 2000 and was elected with 63% of the vote. He was re-elected in 2004, and retired in 2008 due to term limits. In 2008, he ran for San Diego City Attorney but lost in the primary.[6] The United Way of San Diego then appointed him San Diego's first Commissioner on Homelessness.
California State Assembly
Maienschein was first elected to the California State Assembly in 2012, where he now serves on the following committees:
- Ending the School to Prison Pipeline
- Housing Affordability for the Middle and Working Class
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Local Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
- Technological Advances
- Nonprofit Sector
In 2019-20 Manienschein passed AB 960 which aids in resolving the housing crisis by allowing CalWORKS recipients to use housing assistance vouchers on a shared housing setting-such as staying with family and friends- rather than solely at motels and hotels.
He sponsored AB 465, which allows youth sports groups to require background checks on coaches and other volunteers. The bill passed and was signed into law in August 2013; it becomes effective January 1, 2014. Maienschein himself is a volunteer coach.[7]
Maienschein was also one of two incumbent Republican legislators to earn an endorsement from Equality California, the state's largest LGBT organization.
In 2018, he was reelected by 607 votes out of 199,153 cast.
On January 24, 2019, Maienschein switched his political party affiliation from Republican to Democratic.[1][2]
2014 California State Assembly
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Brian Maienschein (incumbent) | 57,147 | 70.6 | |
| Democratic | Ruben "RJ" Hernandez | 23,821 | 29.4 | |
| Total votes | 80,968 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Brian Maienschein (incumbent) | 82,987 | 65.8 | |
| Democratic | Ruben "RJ" Hernandez | 43,038 | 34.2 | |
| Total votes | 126,025 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2016 California State Assembly
2018 California State Assembly
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Brian Maienschein (incumbent) | 63,269 | 56.1 | |
| Democratic | Sunday Gover | 49,554 | 43.9 | |
| Total votes | 112,823 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Brian Maienschein (incumbent) | 99,880 | 50.2 | |
| Democratic | Sunday Gover | 99,273 | 49.8 | |
| Total votes | 199,153 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2020 California State Assembly
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Brian Maienschein (incumbent) | 86,998 | 57.5 | |
| Republican | June Yang Cutter | 64,384 | 42.5 | |
| Total votes | 151,382 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Brian Maienschein (incumbent) | 149,367 | 55.8 | |
| Republican | June Yang Cutter | 118,396 | 44.2 | |
| Total votes | 267,763 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Other activities
He teaches a course on election law at California Western School of Law and University of San Diego School of Law.[4] He lives in Carmel Mountain Ranch, San Diego.
References
- "Assemblyman Brian Maienschein Switches Parties, From Republican to Democrat". KNSD (NBC San Diego). January 24, 2019.
- "California Republican Party gets even smaller: A GOP lawmaker defects to the Democrats". The Sacramento Bee. January 24, 2019.
- "Biography". Assemblymember Brian Maienschein. 2016-06-07. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
- "Official biography". California State Assembly. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
- "Biography". Assemblymember Brian Maienschein. 2016-06-07. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
- Gustafson, Craig (June 4, 2008). "It's Aguirre vs. Goldsmith". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
- Gardner, Michael (August 27, 2013). "A step toward background checks for youth sports". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
