5 Things to Know About Toni Atkins, California's Next Senate Leader

The California state Senate will get a new leader on Wednesday. Sen. Toni Atkins, a San Diego Democrat, will succeed Sen. Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) as president pro tempore.

Here are five things to keep in mind as Atkins takes over:

1.

Atkins will be just the third person to ever lead both the state Senate and Assembly, where she was speaker from May 12, 2014 to March 7, 2016.

It has been nearly 150 years since someone has served in both positions. Ransom Burnell was Assembly speaker in 1861 and Senate pro tem in 1864. James T. Farley was Assembly speaker in 1856 and Senate pro tem in 1871-1872.

2.

Atkins will be the first woman to serve as pro tem. She follows 48 men. She will also be the first openly gay lawmaker to hold the position.

While in the Legislature she has authored several bills aimed at the LGBTQ community including SB 179. The measure created a third gender marker on state-issued identification documents for people who identify as non-binary or intersex.

3.

Atkins grew up in poverty in rural Virginia.

Her father was a coal miner and her mother was a seamstress. Their home lacked indoor plumbing and running water. Her background has often influenced the policies she supports, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, which provides cash to low-income families.

4.

Atkins has made affordable housing one of her top priorities. She was the author of SB 2, which adds a $75 fee onto certain real estate transactions. The revenue is split between local governments and programs to prevent homelessness.

5.

Atkins was active in San Diego politics before coming to Sacramento. She sat on the City Council between 2000 and 2008 and served briefly as mayor between July and December of 2005 after several other city officials resigned following scandals. She was first elected to the state Assembly in 2010.