Amid California politicos and family, Monique Limón takes Senate's top role

Kate Wolffe, The Sacramento Bee on Jan 5, 2026

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As California’s new Senate President pro tem, Monique Limón, D-Goleta. began to address reporters ahead of her swearing-in ceremony Monday, a sports-style chant came through from the adjoining room: “Monique! Monique! Rah! Rah! Rah!”

“And that would be my family,” Limon said. “Leave it to a good family to do a porra, which is a cheer.”

Limón, 46, was sworn in Monday during an ebullient ceremony that brought together current and former legislative leaders and centered her family’s immigrant history.

She brought almost 150 guests to the celebration — mostly family members who traveled from Santa Barbara. In the front row were her parents, Jesus and Oralia Limón, immigrants from Mexico.

“When I see the attacks on immigrants in this country,” she said, “I can’t help but see the sacrifices and contributions of my family also under attack.”

Like some other Latina lawmakers, she said, she carries her passport with her on her phone.

“I see that people are being targeted because of the way they look, the language they speak, and the jobs they hold.”

Limón is the first Latina to lead the Senate, the granddaughter of a farmworker who came to California from Mexico as part of the bracero program.

Several lawmakers recognized the historic nature of Limón’s ascension.

Sen. Caroline Menjivar called the new leader “una chingona,” a “badass,” during remarks in Spanish.

“I made sure to wear shoes with the extra traction and thickness at the bottom because of all the glass that's on the floor right now,” she said.

Limón hints at what the session holds

Limón takes the mantle from Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Santa Rosa, changing the makeup of the “Big Three,” which is composed of the Senate pro tem, the assembly speaker and the governor. The three work to resolve the budget, and set legislative priorities.

When McGuire was pro tem, the relationship with his counterparts didn’t always go smoothly. The 2024 legislative session saw leadership struggling with complicated legislation at last minute, and only the Assembly cooperating with Newsom’s request for a special session on gas prices.

The new pro tem has experience working with Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, on climate and farmworker housing legislation.

During her speech, she addressed Gov. Gavin Newsom, seated behind her, acknowledging the hard work she’s put in to get his signature on bills.

“Maybe it did take five years and perhaps four vetoes to get our boards and commissions bill signed, but we did it, but we did it,” referencing Senate Bill 702, a bill that Newsom signed in 2025.

While speaking to reporters, Limón acknowledged the difficult budget year that the Big Three face.

“On the health care side, this is going to be a tough year for the whole country.”

When it comes to raising additional revenue, which several progressive lawmakers have proposed, she took care to distance the Legislature from the billionaire tax ballot-measure proposal.

“I think the fact that you haven't seen it necessarily go through a legislative process probably signals, you know, where folks may or may not be,” although she said lawmakers would likely consider it.

California’s political stars come out

The Senate chambers were packed with California’s legislative who’s-who including Gov. Gavin Newsom, former State pro tems Toni Atkins and Darrell Steinberg, and former Assembly Speakers John Perez, Robert Hertzberg, and Antonio Villaraigosa.

Aside from Villaraigosa, there were other candidates for governor present, including Xavier Becerra, Ian Calderon and Tony Thurmond.

Attorney General Rob Bonta, who’s considering a run for governor, was also in attendance. Bonta told reporters he expects to decide whether he will throw his hat in the ring during the first two weeks of January.

“I love my job,” he said. “I love Attorney General, and I love what we’re able to accomplish.”

However, he did make a pitch for why he’d be a good candidate – saying a future governor would need to have experience working on the state and executive level and going head-to-head with Donald Trump. “I think I have that, and I don't think the experience and records of all the candidates are similar to mine,” he said.

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