Fran Pavley Endorses Dave Jones

In a significant boost to his campaign for California’s 6th State Senate District, Dave Jones has received the endorsement of Fran Pavley, a former State Senator and one of the state’s most influential environmental leaders. Pavley, whose legislative legacy includes landmark climate laws, announced her support today, citing Jones’s deep understanding of climate risk and his commitment to equity and justice. Her endorsement adds to a growing list of Democratic leaders backing Jones in this open-seat race.

A Champion for Climate Action

Fran Pavley is widely recognized as a trailblazer in California’s fight against climate change. During her tenure in the State Assembly from 2000 to 2006 and the State Senate from 2008 to 2016, she authored two of the most consequential environmental laws in the state’s history. The first, AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, established a comprehensive program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The second, SB 32, extended those targets to 2030, requiring a 40 percent reduction below 1990 levels. These laws have served as models for climate policy across the nation and around the world.

Before her legislative career, Pavley served on the California Coastal Commission, where she gained firsthand experience in protecting the state’s natural resources. Her endorsement carries weight not only because of her policy achievements but also because of her reputation for integrity and her ability to build bipartisan coalitions on environmental issues. In a state where climate leadership is a defining issue for voters, Pavley’s support signals that Jones is a candidate who can be trusted to continue this legacy.

Why Pavley Chose Dave Jones

In her endorsement statement, Pavley emphasized the urgency of climate action and Jones’s unique qualifications. She pointed to his role as Director of the Climate Risk Initiative at U.C. Berkeley Law, where he has worked on understanding and communicating the financial and societal risks posed by climate change. This experience, she argued, gives him a perspective that few other candidates possess.

“California’s future hinges on the environment, and Dave Jones understands that without rapid and effective action to combat climate change, all our communities are in danger. As the Director of the Climate Risk Initiative at U.C. Berkeley Law, Dave understands the risks and opportunities we are facing like few others. Dave is deeply committed to advancing equity and climate justice, and I know that in the State Senate, Dave will be a part of creating solutions and building coalitions to protect future generations of Californians.”

Pavley’s mention of equity and climate justice reflects an evolving understanding of environmental policy—one that recognizes the disproportionate impact of pollution and climate change on low-income communities and communities of color. Jones’s background as a legal aid attorney and his work on affordable housing and consumer protection align with this broader vision of environmental justice.

A Career Built on Public Service

Dave Jones’s path to the State Senate has been defined by a commitment to serving the public interest. He began his career as a legal aid attorney with Legal Services of Northern California, providing free legal assistance to those who could not afford representation. In 1995, he was selected as a White House Fellow, one of only 13 Americans to receive that honor that year. He went on to serve as Special Assistant and Counsel to United States Attorney General Janet Reno, gaining valuable experience in federal policy and law.

Jones’s local roots run deep. As a Sacramento City Councilmember from 1999 to 2004, he authored groundbreaking laws that required developers to include more affordable housing, established a living wage for workers, and recognized domestic partnerships. These early achievements demonstrated his ability to turn progressive values into practical policy. He then served in the State Assembly from 2004 to 2010, where he chaired the Assembly Health Committee, the Assembly Judiciary Committee, and the Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. During that time, he authored 70 bills that were signed into law, focusing on consumer protection, healthcare access, affordable housing, early childhood education, environmental protection, and support for working families.

Proven Leadership as Insurance Commissioner

From 2011 to 2018, Jones served as California’s seventh Insurance Commissioner, a role in which he represented the interests of 38 million Californians. His tenure was marked by a focus on consumer savings and accountability. He implemented regulations that saved consumers money on insurance premiums and took on powerful industry interests to protect policyholders. This experience in a statewide executive office gave him a deep understanding of how to navigate complex regulatory systems and deliver tangible results for the public.

Jones’s work as Insurance Commissioner also intersected with climate issues. He was a vocal advocate for requiring insurance companies to disclose their exposure to climate-related risks, recognizing that the financial sector has a critical role to play in addressing the climate crisis. This forward-thinking approach aligns with his current work at U.C. Berkeley Law’s Climate Risk Initiative, where he continues to explore how to integrate climate risk into decision-making across sectors.

A Growing Coalition of Support

Pavley’s endorsement is the latest in a series of high-profile endorsements for Jones. He has already received the backing of numerous Democratic leaders, including Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, Congressmember Ted Lieu, Congresswoman Katie Porter, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and former Assemblymember Helen Thomson. This broad coalition reflects Jones’s ability to build relationships across different wings of the Democratic Party and his reputation as a pragmatic, effective leader.

The 6th State Senate District, which includes parts of Sacramento and surrounding areas, is a key battleground for Democrats. With an open seat and a competitive primary, endorsements from respected figures like Pavley can help voters distinguish between candidates. Jones’s campaign has emphasized his experience, his policy achievements, and his commitment to progressive values, and Pavley’s endorsement reinforces that message.

What This Means for the Race

Fran Pavley’s endorsement is particularly significant because of her standing among environmental voters, a crucial constituency in California. Her name is synonymous with climate action, and her support can mobilize activists and donors who prioritize environmental issues. For Jones, this endorsement not only validates his climate credentials but also signals that he is the candidate best positioned to carry forward California’s ambitious climate agenda.

As the campaign progresses, Jones is likely to continue highlighting his environmental record and his plans for the State Senate. With Pavley’s backing, he can credibly claim to be a leader who understands both the science and the policy of climate change—and who has the experience to turn that understanding into action. In a state that has often led the nation on environmental policy, the stakes are high, and Pavley’s endorsement makes clear that she believes Jones is the right person for the job.