Washington, D.C. – The members of the 118th Congress were sworn in during the early hours of January 7, 2023 when a new speaker was finally elected after several failed votes. Kevin Mullin, a 4th generation Californian and San Mateo County native was sworn in as the representative for CA-15, accompanied by his wife Jessica and sons Liam and Landon.
“I am so incredibly proud to be representing San Mateo County in the House of Representatives,” Mullin said. “I am deeply honored and humbled to be following in the footsteps of my political mentor, former Congresswoman Jackie Speier. I am very aware of the strong legacy associated with this seat, starting with Leo Ryan, then Tom Lantos and most recently Congresswoman Speier. I am ready to embrace my new role and fight for our future.”
Kevin’s passion for civic engagement and democracy started early. As the son of a high school government teacher and a mother who enjoyed lively discussion at the dinner table, Kevin learned early that civic engagement and being an active participant in the political process gives you a voice in your local, state and federal government.
His elected experience began as a member of the City of South San Francisco City Council from 2007-2012, serving as Mayor in 2011. He then represented San Mateo County in the California State Assembly from 2012-2022, serving as the Speaker pro Tem from 2014 until his departure, making him the longest tenured Speaker pro Tem of the modern era.
As the #2 officer in the Assembly, Kevin was part of the leadership team and presided regularly over floor sessions. In this role, Kevin made rulings on parliamentary inquiries and helped ensure bi-partisan cooperation and civility during Assembly business. Consequently, he is anxious to learn more about the procedures and rules of the house.
Kevin is a champion for climate resiliency. He was one of the architects of the $3.7 billion climate resilience package, helped ensure funding was allocated for Caltrain electrification, and worked to ensure the creation of San Mateo County’s OneShoreline, the agency that will help fight sea level rise and work to protect local, state, and federal assets and infrastructure.
During his Assembly tenure, Kevin had over 60 bills signed into law, many focusing on elections and democracy reform. He championed All-Vote-By-Mail elections, and was author of the landmark DISCLOSE Act as well as the Social Media DISCLOSE Act so voters can easily see who is actually paying for political advertisements on TV and social media.
“I am excited to begin serving my constituents at the federal level,” Mullin added. “As a state legislator, I’ve had the opportunity to help find solutions to problems and secure funding for critical projects and intend to continue to deliver for San Mateo County. While Congress is a different arena, district issues and constituent casework will remain my priority. My district office staff will be up running quickly, with the goal of providing the high level of service constituents expect.”
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