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Catherine Blakespear

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Catherine Blakespear
Image
Official portrait, 2025
Member of the California State Senate
from the 38th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 5, 2022
Preceded byBrian Jones
Mayor of Encinitas
In office
February 8, 2016 – December 3, 2022
Preceded byKristin Gaspar
Succeeded byTony Kranz
Encinitas City Council
In office
2014–2016
Personal details
BornCatherine Blake
(1976-02-29) February 29, 1976 (age 50)
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseJeremy Spearman
Children2
EducationNorthwestern University (BS, MS)
University of Utah (JD)
OccupationEstate planning attorney
ProfessionPolitician
journalist (formerly)
Websitesd38.senate.ca.gov

Catherine Smith Blakespear (née Blake; born February 29, 1976) 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

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Blakespear was born on February 29, 1976, in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, 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.[1] In 2006, she received her JD from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law 2006.[2]

Career

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Her professional experience includes working as a journalist for the Los Angeles Times in 1994, and the Associated Press Associated Press reporter,[1] as an attorney at Ray Quinney & Nebeker, and as the traffic commissioner for the City of Encinitas.[3]

Prior to her time in elected office, Blakespear was an estate planning attorney.[1]

Politics

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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.[4]

California State Senate

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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.[3] Blakespear won the general election for District 38 on November 8, 2022. Blakespear appointed Jack Christensen as her chief of staff in 2023, a former SANDAG government relations officer.[5]

Personal life

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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.[1]

Electoral history

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2014 Encinitas City Council election[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Catherine Blakespear 6,588 39.4
Nonpartisan Alan Lerchbacker 5,290 31.6
Nonpartisan Julie Graboi 3,382 20.2
Nonpartisan Bryan M. Ziegler 1,430 8.6
Total votes 16,690 100.0
2016 Encinitas mayoral election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Catherine Blakespear 21,083 67.2
Nonpartisan Paul Gasper 10,270 32.8
Total votes 31,353 100.0
2018 Encinitas mayoral election[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Catherine Blakespear 24,851 83.68
Nonpartisan John Paul Elliott 4,845 16.32
Total votes 29,696 100.0
2020 Encinitas mayoral election[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Catherine Blakespear 20,973 55.02
Nonpartisan Jule Thunder 17,144 44.98
Total votes 38,117 100.0
2022 California State Senate 38th district election[10][11]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Gunderson 106,358 45.9
Democratic Catherine Blakespear 99,583 43.0
Democratic Joe Kerr 25,908 11.2
Total votes 231,849 100.0
General election
Democratic Catherine Blakespear 190,992 52.2
Republican Matt Gunderson 174,581 47.8
Total votes 365,573 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "Up Close & Personal – Inside Look at Encinitas' New Mayor Catherine Blakespear".
  2. ↑ "Catherine Smith Blakespear".
  3. 1 2 "Catherine Blakespear". Ballotpedia. Lucy Burns Institute. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  4. ↑ " "The Mayor: Interview with Catherine Blakespear, 38th District candidate". May 15, 2009.
  5. ↑ https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2023/12/10/blakespear-appoints-christensen-as-new-chief-of-staff/
  6. ↑ "COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO - GUBERNATORIAL GENERAL ELECTION - Tuesday, November 4, 2014 - Official Results" (PDF). San Diego County. December 2, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  7. ↑ "COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO - PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION - Tuesday, November 8, 2016 - Official Results" (PDF). San Diego County. December 8, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  8. ↑ "County of San Diego - Gubernatorial General Election - November 6, 2018 - Official Results" (PDF). San Diego County. December 6, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  9. ↑ "County of San Diego Presidential General Election - November 3, 2020 - Official Results" (PDF). San Diego County. December 3, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  10. ↑ "June 7, 2022, Primary Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  11. ↑ "November 8, 2022, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
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