State Senator

California State Senator Tom Hayden is known locally as the “conscience of the Senate” and the “liberal rebel” because of his adopted role as watchdog. 

A long-time political activist and environmental crusader, Hayden serves as the chairman of the California Senate Natural Resources and Wildlife Committee. 

He is also a member of Senate committees on education, energy and public utilities, toxins and public safety management, and transportation. 

Two years ago he ran as a protest candidate for California’s governorship, urging a total reform of campaign finance and lobbying practices, and he won 14 percent of the vote. His platform of “reforming the special interest State” led to his election to the State Senate in 1992 after he had served ten years in the Assembly. Hayden had authored 100 measures which were enacted into law or legislative policy. 

Hayden is also an accomplished author, with seven books published, one of which, Reunion, was named one of the 200 best books of 1988 by The New York Times. He teaches a course at Santa Monica College, his home town. Hayden is married to actress Barbara Williams.