Elaine Kontominas Alquist (August 21, 1944 – July 9, 2024) was a Democratic

state senator A state senator is a member of a State legislature (United States), state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. History There are typically fewer state senators than there ...

from California's 13th Senate District. Prior to serving in the Senate, she served in the

California State Assembly The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature (the upper house being the California State Senate). The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, Califor ...

for six years. The 13th Senate District (2001 Redistricting) was centered in Santa Clara County and included the cities of San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Gilroy. Alquist served in the State Senate from December 2004 to November 2012. She succeeded

John Vasconcellos John Bernard Vasconcellos Jr. (May 11, 1932 – May 24, 2014) was an American politician from California and member of the Democratic Party. He represented Silicon Valley as a member of the California State Assembly for 30 years and a Califor ...

, who himself succeeded Alquist's husband, the late

Al Alquist Alfred E. Alquist (August 2, 1908 – March 27, 2006) was an American politician who was a California State Senate, California state senator from 1976 to 1996. Biography Born in 1908 in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of a Sweden, Swedish immigrant ...

, who represented the district for 30 years. She died on July 9, 2024, aged 79.

Early life and education

Alquist graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from

MacMurray College MacMurray College was a private college in Jacksonville, Illinois, United States. Its enrollment in fall 2015 was 570. Founded in 1846, the college closed in May 2020. History Although founded in 1846 by a group of Methodist clergymen as the ...

in 1966 and a Master of Arts degree from

Washington University in St. Louis Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is a private research university in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1853 by a group of civic leaders and named for George Washington, the university spans 355 acres across its Danforth ...

in 1967. Her professional career began as an algebra and trigonometry teacher and a counselor in the public schools. In 1981, she served as PTA president and then beginning in 1983 served eight years as a member and then president of the board of education of the Cupertino Union School District.

State Assembly

Alquist was elected to the California State Assembly's 22nd District in November 1996, and was re-elected in 1998 and 2000. Under the provisions of California's 1990 term limits law, she termed out in 2002.

State Senate

Alquist was elected to the California State Senate's 13th District in November 2004, and was re-elected in 2008. She termed out in 2012.

References

External links

Official site

Join California Elaine Alquist
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alquist, Elaine 1944 births 2024 deaths Schoolteachers from California 20th-century American women educators Democratic Party California state senators MacMurray College alumni Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly Politicians from Chicago Politicians from San Jose, California People from Santa Clara, California School board members in California Spouses of California politicians Washington University in St. Louis alumni Women state legislators in California 21st-century American women politicians 21st-century members of the California State Legislature 20th-century members of the California State Legislature 20th-century American women politicians