Steve Padilla

Steve Padilla
Member of the California Senate from the 18th district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 5, 2022
Preceded by	Ben Hueso[1]
38th Mayor of Chula Vista
In office 2002–2006
Preceded by	Shirley Horton
Succeeded by	Cheryl Cox
Member of the Chula Vista City Council
In office 2016–2022
Preceded by	Pamela Bensoussan
Constituency	Seat 3
In office 1994–2002
Preceded by	Len Moore[2]
Succeeded by	John McCann[3]
Constituency	Seat 2
California Coastal Commission
Incumbent
Assumed office 2017
Appointed by	Anthony Rendon
In office 2005–2007
Appointed by	Fabian Núñez
Member of the Board of Port Commissioners
In office 2009–2011
Personal details
Born	1967 (age 56–57) San Diego, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Residence(s)	Chula Vista, California

Stephen C. Padilla (born 1967) is an American politician, public policy, advocacy and communications consultant serving in the California State Senate since 2022. From 1994 to 2002, he served two terms on the city council of Chula Vista, California. He served as Mayor of Chula Vista (Pop. 240,000) from 2002 to 2006 and as a member of the California Coastal Commission from 2005 to 2007, and again since 2017. He served as a member of the Board of Port Commissioners of the Unified Port of San Diego, as Board Secretary and Vice Chairman-Elect from 2009 to 2011. In 2016, he was again elected to the Chula Vista City Council.

He is also noted for being one of the state's increasing number of openly gay political leaders.