Which California lawmakers have had COVID-19? 10 have revealed positive tests
Ten of California’s 120 state legislators have disclosed that they’ve tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic almost two years ago, according to a Sacramento Bee analysis.
Three of the 10, State Sens. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, and Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner Horvath, D-Encinitas, tested positive within the past week as the omicron variant continued to spread rapidly across the state.
After Becker announced a positive test on Wednesday, several members of the Legislature, including Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, stayed home from Thursday’s legislative session. Rendon, Becker and other lawmakers had attended a goodbye party for outgoing Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, earlier in the week.
A spokesperson for Rendon said Assembly members and staff are required to show proof of vaccination to Capitol Health Services. Members who are granted a medical or religious exemption must test twice a week.
Members and staff who are required on the floor, regardless of vaccination status, must test twice a week, Rendon spokesperson Katie Talbot said in an email.
State senators are also required to test twice a week, including before traveling to the Capitol. The Senate does not mandate vaccinations, said Erika Contreras, secretary of the Senate.
“Over 90% of Senators are vaccinated and our Senate vaccination rate for all employees in the Capitol – which includes members and Capitol and (legislative office building) staff – is 93.5%,” Contreras said in an email. “Masking and social distancing continue to be practiced in the Senate.”
Sacramento County officials on Thursday ordered all public board meetings, council meetings, and commission meetings be held virtually in response to an extremely high rate of COVID-19 transmission.
Contreras said the Legislature, which is guided by the state constitution, is exempt from the county order.
The following are members of the Legislature who publicly announced a positive COVID-19 test.
Assembly
Assemblywoman Autumn Burke, D-Inglewood, announced a positive test on July 6, 2020. Burke tested positive along with four legislative staffers, sending the Assembly into a temporary hiatus.
Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, announced he was positive days after Burke on July 8, 2020. Lackey was hospitalized for his infection.
Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, announced a breakthrough COVID-19 case Aug. 23 amid a nationwide surge caused by the delta variant.
Assemblywoman Janet Nguyen, R-Huntington Beach, said Aug. 27 she tested positive for COVID-19 but had no symptoms.
Assemblyman Isaac G. Bryan, D-Los Angeles, announced on New Year’s Day 2022 that he and his partner had both tested positive despite being vaccinated.
Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner Horvath, D-Encinitas, via a spokesperson, told CalMatters on Thursday, Jan. 6 that she was quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19 during the legislative recess.
State Senate
Sen. Brian Jones, R-Santee, announced a positive test on Aug. 26, 2020. Jones’ infection prompted the senate to temporarily ban 10 of his 11 fellow Republican senators from the Capitol since they were exposed to Jones in a caucus meeting.
Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvin, was briefly hospital in early 2021 for “COVID-related issues” which may have resulted from a previous infection.
Sen. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, announced on Monday, Jan. 3 that he had tested positive the day prior to returning to the Legislature. Wilk said he is fully vaccinated, asymptomatic, and had planned to get his booster this week.
Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, confirmed he contracted COVID-19 on Wednesday, Jan. 5 after attending a going-away event for Gonzalez the night before.
This story was originally published January 7, 2022 at 5:00 AM.