State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson is a former prosecutor, educator, and small business owner who has lived in the 19th State Senate district for over 35 years. She was first elected to the California State Senate in 2012, representing all of Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County — and previously represented parts of both counties in the State Assembly from 1998 to 2004.
Jackson has proven her ability to work with Democrats and Republicans throughout her legislative career — and has written more than 80 substantive bills that have been signed by Governors from both parties.
The Huffington Post recently named Hannah-Beth Jackson as one of eleven women around the country “blazing new trails” in American politics. Perhaps best known as the author of the California Fair Pay Act — the landmark legislation that established the strongest equal pay law in the nation — Jackson has proven to be one of the most effective legislators in tackling the issues most important to the people of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, if not throughout California. She’s a leader in protecting the environment and our coast, advancing legislation to reduce gun violence, championing equality for women, advocating for commuter rail to reduce traffic, improving access to early childhood education, protecting consumers and supporting veterans, among other issues.
Jackson was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Ventura County chapter and over the years has been named “Legislator of the Year” by many organizations, including:
American Legion, California Chapter
National Organization for Women, California
California League of Conservation Voters
Consumer Federation of California
Californians Against Waste
Congress of California Seniors
Junior League of California
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers
In the Senate, she is chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, and serves on the Environmental Quality Committee and the Natural Resources and Water Committee. She also chairs the Select Committee on Passenger Rail and vice-chairs the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management.
A graduate of Scripps College in Claremont, California with a joint major in government and sociology, Jackson received her law degree from Boston University Law School before returning to California to work as a deputy district attorney for Santa Barbara County. Eventually, she became the managing partner for the Law Offices of Eskin and Jackson, with offices in Ventura and Santa Barbara.
Jackson served as the first policy-maker in residence at UC Santa Barbara, and served as adjunct professor at Antioch University. She co-founded and helped establish the Santa Barbara Shelter Services for Women (now known as Domestic Violence Solutions) and Women Against Gun Violence. She is also a founding member and past president of the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee.
Hannah-Beth is married to retired Superior Court Judge George Eskin. She has a daughter, two stepchildren and six grandchildren.