Steven Bradford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steven Bradford
Bradford in 2016
Member of the California State Senate from the 35th district
In office December 5, 2016 – November 30, 2024
Preceded by	Isadore Hall III
Succeeded by	Laura Richardson
Member of the California State Assembly
In office September 10, 2009 – November 30, 2014
Preceded by	Curren Price
Succeeded by	Autumn Burke
Constituency	51st district (2009–2012) 62nd district (2012–2014)
Personal details
Born	Steven Craig Bradford (1960-01-12) January 12, 1960 (age 65) Gardena, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	San Diego State University California State University, Dominguez Hills (BA)

Steven Craig Bradford (born January 12, 1960) is an American politician from California. As a member of the Democratic Party, he has served in the government of California, helping to make laws for the state.

From 2016 to 2024, he was a member of the California State Senate. Before that, he was in the California State Assembly from 2009 to 2014. Both of these are parts of California's state government, where leaders are elected to represent the people in their areas. Bradford represented several communities in Los Angeles County.

Before working for the state, Bradford was a member of the City Council in his hometown of Gardena. He is currently running for the office of California Insurance Commissioner in the 2026 election.

Early Life and Education

Steven Bradford's family moved to Gardena, California, when he was nine years old. He went to local schools, including Purche Avenue Elementary School and Gardena High School.

After high school, he studied at San Diego State University. He later earned a bachelor's degree in political science from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Political science is the study of government and how it works.

Starting a Career in Public Service

Bradford made history by becoming the first African American elected to the Gardena City Council. He served on the council for more than 12 years, helping to lead his city.

Besides his work in government, he also worked for companies like Southern California Edison and IBM. He also helped young people as a program director at the Los Angeles Conservation Corps.

Work in the California Assembly

Bradford speaks at a meeting in support of a new commissioner for the California Energy Commission.

While in the California State Assembly, Bradford was the chairman of an important group called the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce. This committee works on laws about things we use every day, like electricity, natural gas, and the internet. Its decisions can affect families, businesses, and the environment in California.

As chairman, Bradford led important meetings to figure out why major power outages happened. He worked to find ways to prevent them in the future and help communities respond better when they do occur.

Helping Young Men of Color

In 2013, Bradford was chosen to lead a special group called the Assembly Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color. This committee's job was to study the challenges faced by young men, especially Black and Latino boys, in California. They looked for ways to help them succeed.

Because of this work, Bradford was invited to the White House in 2014. He attended President Barack Obama's announcement of a program called "My Brother's Keeper." This program aimed to support boys and young men of color across the country.

Creating New Laws

Bradford in 2023.

As a lawmaker, Steven Bradford wrote and passed many new laws, called bills. Here are some of the important laws he helped create.

Public Safety and Transportation

• Gas Pipeline Safety: He wrote a law that requires people selling a house to tell the buyers if a natural gas pipeline is nearby. This was created to keep people safe.
• Bicycle Safety: Bradford created the "Three Feet for Safety Act." This law requires cars to stay at least three feet away from bicyclists when passing them on the road. If there isn't enough room, the driver must slow down to a safe speed.
• Hit-and-Run Consequences: He worked on a bill to make sure that drivers who cause an accident and leave the scene face criminal charges.
• Airport Police: He passed a bill that gave the police at Los Angeles International Airport the same level of authority as city police officers. This helps them do their jobs more effectively.

Energy and the Environment

• Supporting Solar Power: Bradford wrote a law to continue a program that helps low-income families install solar panels on their homes. This makes clean energy more affordable for everyone.
• Drone Regulations: He co-wrote a bill to create rules for how government groups can use drones. The law requires a warrant to use a drone for an investigation and sets rules for how data is handled, protecting people's privacy.

Future Political Plans

In 2024, Bradford first announced he would run for lieutenant governor of California. A few months later, in May 2025, he decided to run for California Insurance Commissioner in the 2026 election instead. The Insurance Commissioner is an official who oversees the insurance industry in the state.

Election History

Steven Bradford was first elected to the State Assembly in a special election in 2009. He won his first full term in 2010. After California's voting districts were redrawn, he was re-elected in 2012 to represent a new district.

Here are his winning percentages in those elections: