Catherine Blakespear

Catherine Smith Blakespear is an American politician and former journalist who is currently serving in the California State Senate. She is a Democrat representing the 38th Senate District, which encompasses parts of Northern San Diego County and Southern Orange County.

Early life and education

Blakespear was born on February 29, 1976, in Encinitas, California. She graduated from Torrey Pines High School in 1994 and graduated in 1999 from Northwestern University in Chicago where she earned a BS and MS degree in Journalism. In 2006, she received her JD from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law 2006.

Career

Her professional experience includes working as a journalist for the Los Angeles Times in 1994, and the Associated Press Associated Press reporter, as an attorney at Ray Quinney & Nebeker, and as the traffic commissioner for the City of Encinitas.
Prior to her time in elected office, Blakespear was an estate planning attorney.

Politics

Prior to her election to the State Senate, Blakespear served two years on the Encinitas City Council starting in 2014, followed by six years as mayor from December 2016 to November 2022. While mayor, she also served as chair of SANDAG.

California State Senate

Catherine Blakespear is a member of the California State Senate, representing District 38. She assumed office on December 5, 2022, and her current term ends on December 7, 2026. Blakespear won the general election for District 38 on November 8, 2022. She previously ran for election to represent District 36 but did not appear on the ballot for the primary on June 7, 2022.

Personal life

Blakespear's family has lived in the Encinitas area for nearly a century. Catherine met her husband while reporting on the Salt Lake City Olympics. Catherine and husband Jeremy reside in Encinitas. They have 2 children.