Henry Stern (California politician)

Henry Stern
Henry Stern
Member of the California Senate; from the 27th district
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; December 5, 2016
Preceded by	Fran Pavley
Personal details
Born	Henry Isaac Stern; April 12, 1982 (age 42); Malibu, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Alexandra Kaufman
Parent(s)	Daniel Stern (father); Laure Mattos (mother)
Relatives	David M. Stern (uncle)
Residence	Calabasas, California
Alma mater	Harvard University; UC Berkeley School of Law
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Environmental attorney

Henry Isaac Stern (born April 12, 1982) is an American politician elected to the California State Senate. He is a Democrat representing the 27th district, encompassing parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. He was elected in November 2016. Prior to being elected to the State Senate, he was an environmental attorney and senior advisor to his predecessor Fran Pavley. He is the first millennial elected to the California State Senate. He was also an American law lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles and UC Berkeley.^[1]

Stern has served as counsel to Representative Henry Waxman on the House Energy & Commerce Committee to help construct clean energy projects for businesses. He has also taught civics, founded a tech incubator, and advocated for juvenile justice.

Early life and education

Henry Isaac Stern was born to a Jewish family^[2] in Malibu, California on April 12, 1982. His father is actor Daniel Stern, who is best known for his role as Marv Murchins in the films Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

A former high school and collegiate water polo player, Stern graduated from Harvard University.^[3] He went on to graduate from the UC Berkeley School of Law, before becoming an environmental attorney.

California State Senate (2016–)

Election

Henry Stern represented the Democratic Party in the 2016 race for California's 27th State Senate district against Republican Steve Fazio.^[4] On November 8, 2016, he was elected for California's 27th District State Senate.^[5]

Stern ran on a platform of five main issues in the 2016 elections. These included standing up to oil and gas companies, fighting to create incentives for companies to create "clean transportation and renewable energy infrastructure," improving the economy with small businesses, clean technology, good-paying jobs and job training, supporting education by securing funding, and creating safer communities by providing funding to local governments.^[6]

During the 2016 election, Stern was endorsed by Senator Fran Pavley, the Sierra Club, the California League of Conservation Voters, teachers and school board members from Los Angeles and Ventura county school districts, the Association of Los Angeles County Sheriffs, and the California Association of Highway Patrolmen.^[7] He was endorsed by elected officials such as President Barack Obama and Governor Jerry Brown, among many more. Publications such as the Ventura County Star and Ventura County Signal endorsed him as well.^[7]

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors election

Stern announced his candidacy for the District 3 seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in 2022.^[8] On June 22, Stern conceded the race after receiving 24% of the vote in the June 7 primary.^[9]

In popular culture

Henry's father, Daniel Stern, performed the narrative voiceover of adult Kevin Arnold for the hit television series The Wonder Years for six seasons. At the end of the show's series finale, Henry delivered the next-to-last line of the entire series when he called to his father—in voiceover—"Hey Dad, wanna play catch?" to which his father replies "I'll be right there."^[10]