Catherine Blakespear

Blakespear was born on February 29, 1976, in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Encinitas, California. She graduated from Torrey Pines High School in 1994 and graduated in 1999 from Northwestern University in Chicago where she earned a BS and MS degree in Journalism.^[1] In 2006, she received her JD from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law 2006.^[2]

Her professional experience includes working as a journalist for the Los Angeles Times in 1994, and the Associated Press Associated Press reporter,^[1] as an attorney at Ray Quinney & Nebeker, and as the traffic commissioner for the City of Encinitas.^[3]

Prior to her time in elected office, Blakespear was an estate planning attorney.^[1]

Catherine Blakespear is a member of the California State Senate, representing District 38. She assumed office on December 5, 2022, and her current term ends on December 7, 2026.^[3] Blakespear won the general election for District 38 on November 8, 2022. Blakespear appointed Jack Christensen as her chief of staff in 2023, a former SANDAG government relations officer.^[5]

Blakespear's family has lived in the Encinitas area for nearly a century. Catherine met her husband while reporting on the Salt Lake City Olympics. Catherine and husband Jeremy reside in Encinitas. They have 2 children.^[1]