Damon Connolly is a Democratic Assemblymember representing California's 12th Assembly District, which includes Marin and Sonoma counties. He was elected in November 2022 and serves as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, with notable achievements in environmental protection, affordable housing, renewable energy, and passing legislation on issues like solar fees, pesticide regulations, and climate investments.

Damon Matthew Connolly, born June 19, 1963, is an American attorney and politician with nearly two decades of public service in the North Bay region. Prior to the California State Assembly, he served on the San Rafael City Council , including as Vice Mayor and School Board President; Marin County Board of Supervisors ; and as a founding board member and Chair of Marin Clean Energy . As a prosecutor, he served as Supervising Deputy Attorney General, targeting energy companies during California's 2000-2001 energy crisis. In the Assembly, he has authored 13 bills in his first two years, including measures limiting residential solar fees, strengthening pesticide regulations near schools, protecting wetlands and mobile home residents, preventing teen suicide, and improving school wildfire evacuation plans. He helped secure $5 million in state funding for local projects, co-authored the $10 billion California Climate Bond , and advocated for budget protections in transportation, healthcare, and marine mammal rescue. Other key laws include prohibiting convicted criminals from buying body armor and enabling penalties against flavored tobacco sellers.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Earned undergraduate and law degrees from UC Berkeley.
• Political Experience:
  • California State Assembly, District 12 : Chair, Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee; member of Judiciary, Budget, Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Natural Resources, and Agriculture committees.
  • Marin County Board of Supervisors .
  • San Rafael City Council .
  • San Rafael School Board President.
  • Additional roles: President of Workforce Alliance of the North Bay; member of Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Housing Authority, Open Space District; Marin County representative on Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
  • Legal career: Associate at Thelen LLP ; Deputy Attorney General and Supervising Deputy Attorney General , California Department of Justice; partner at Girard Gibbs LLP ; later opened his own law practice in San Rafael.