Leadership • Experience • Progress
I’m David Cohen, and I’m running for California State Senate District 10 to represent a dynamic, diverse region stretching from Sunnyvale through Santa Clara, North San José, Milpitas, Fremont, Newark, Union City, and Hayward. The district is the heart of Silicon Valley. Our communities share common challenges: housing affordability, environmental threats, public safety concerns, and the need for a high quality of life.
As your State Senator, I will stand up for California’s diverse population by fighting for practical, equitable solutions that protect California's residents and expand opportunity for everyone. From families struggling with the high cost of housing, to seniors who deserve to age in place with dignity, to workers, students, and small business owners who form the backbone of our economy, I believe every Californian deserves stability, respect, and a fair shot at a better future.
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At the state level, we can deliver:
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Affordable housing for every income, with specific incentives for family, senior, and workforce housing.
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Public safety that supports trust, training, and community-driven prevention.
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Quality of life policies that keep transit running, parks thriving, and small businesses growing.
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Climate leadership that strengthens local jobs and protects our shoreline and neighborhoods from wildfire and flooding.
Join me — let’s build a California that works for everyone who calls this region home.
Issues and Priorities
Public Safety & Community Trust
Public safety means safe streets and trusted institutions:
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Support for community policing with accountability, mental health response teams, and youth engagement programs.
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State investments in fire prevention, emergency response training, and equipment, especially in wildfire-prone zones like Sunol, Fremont hills, and East Bay suburbs.
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Protect our immigrant community.
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Strengthen programs for rehabilitation, reentry services, and drug diversion with measurable outcomes.
Housing Affordability & Economic Security
California’s housing crisis is a statewide emergency with local impacts:
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Push for statewide tenant protections while incentivizing community-based affordable housing development.
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Expand density bonuses, streamlining for affordable units near transit (BART, VTA, ACE).
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Support first-time homebuyer assistance and workforce housing tax credits.
Education Excellence
A strong public education system is essential to California’s future:
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Bring over a decade of experience as a school board member to the State Senate, with a focus on restoring California’s education system to a high national standard.
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Advocate for equitable school funding, strong accountability, and career-ready pathways that support students, educators, and families.​
Quality of Life & Transportation
Our families need mobility and affordability:
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Advocate for expanded transit funding — improving BART, VTA, ACE, and local shuttle services.
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Increase state dollars for bike/pedestrian infrastructure, especially around schools and transit hubs.
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Expand access to parks, libraries, and community centers across our region.
Environment & Climate Resilience
Our region faces rising heat, wildfires, air pollution, and shoreline sea level threats:
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Expand funding for regional climate adaption, including flood protection, shoreline resilience, and urban cooling programs.
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Provide incentives for clean energy, electrification, and renewable jobs in manufacturing, tech, and construction.
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Support local water recycling, purification, and conservation projects critical to Silicon Valley and the East Bay.
I’m incredibly excited about what we can accomplish together at the state level.
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Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of serving our community right here in San José — first as an engineer working alongside some of the most innovative companies in Silicon Valley, then as a leader on the Berryessa Union School District Board, and now on the San José City Council.
Each step of that journey has given me a deeper understanding of what it takes to solve real problems — not in theory, but in practice. Whether it’s improving our schools, building more housing, strengthening public safety, or investing in sustainable infrastructure, I’ve seen firsthand how thoughtful, collaborative leadership can deliver results for families.
Local government teaches you something important: policy isn’t abstract. It affects the street you live on, the school your kids attend, the commute you take to work, and whether your neighborhood feels safe and supported. That experience gives me a practical perspective that I’m ready to bring to Sacramento.
As your State Senator, I know we can do even more — expanding opportunity, tackling affordability, protecting our environment, and making sure government works for the people it serves.
I’m optimistic because I’ve seen what’s possible when we bring people together, listen closely, and focus on solutions. And I’m ready to fight every day to make sure the future of District 10 — and California — is brighter than ever.​​
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David Cohen
How You Can Support My Campaign
Running a campaign takes real resources, and every contribution helps us reach more voters with a positive vision for California’s future. Unfortunately, campaigns are expensive — but every dollar raised is essential to share this message, build a strong grassroots effort, and fight for the safer, more affordable, and more just California we all deserve.
California Senate District 10
California’s Senate District 10 sits at a crossroads of the East Bay and the northwest edge of Silicon Valley, stretching across communities like Hayward, Union City, Newark, Fremont, Milpitas, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and parts of San Jose, including areas like Berryessa and Alviso. It’s a district defined by motion: of people, ideas, and industries. Again and again, it punches above its weight in shaping what the rest of the world uses, watches, listens to, and aspires to.
On the global stage, this year’s spotlight is especially bright. Levi’s Stadium will host Super Bowl LX in February 2026, and the region is also slated to welcome major FIFA World Cup matches later the same year. But the district’s importance isn’t just a “big event” story. It’s a “big legacy” story.
Innovation is the headline people know best. The district sits in the orbit of one of the world’s most influential technology and manufacturing ecosystems, where new products, platforms, and breakthroughs ripple outward into nearly every country and sector. At the same time, it carries a deep agricultural lineage rooted in the Santa Clara Valley, once celebrated as the “Valley of Heart’s Delight” for its orchards and fruit production. It’s a reminder that today’s cutting-edge economy grew from fertile ground and a culture of making things.
Arts and entertainment have equally long roots here, from early film history in Niles to the everyday creative energy that comes with being a true crossroads of cultures. Underpinning it all is a population that’s remarkably diverse, one of the district’s greatest strengths, fueling high standards, global fluency, and a civic identity that feels future-facing while still grounded in history.
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David Cohen’s commitment to public service is rooted in his family’s belief in opportunity and justice. Raised by parents who ensured he had a fair shot, David grew up with a desire to make his community stronger and more equitable for everyone.
For 14 years, he served the families and students of the Berryessa Union School District. He built relationships with parents, teachers, and students, listened closely to their concerns, and delivered results — safeguarding small class sizes, preserving music and science programs, expanding early literacy, protecting immigrant families, and securing additional funding for local classrooms.
In 2020, David brought that same community-centered leadership to the San José City Council representing District 4. From Alviso to North San José, Berryessa, and River Oaks, he has been an accessible advocate — attending neighborhood meetings, partnering with schools, investing in parks, improving pedestrian safety, and strengthening community life through local events.
On the Council, David helped lead San José through one of its most consequential periods. Over the last five years, the city has delivered more affordable housing than in the previous decade, expanded shelter and services for people experiencing homelessness, advanced climate action policies, and strengthened infrastructure that improves neighborhood safety and quality of life.
Now, David is ready to bring that record of results to the state level at a time when bold leadership is needed. In Sacramento, he will fight for strong investments in public education, defend our environment, and protect civil rights for all people, regardless of nation of origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
With deep local experience, an understanding of statewide challenges, and a steadfast belief in inclusion and opportunity, David Cohen will be a courageous and optimistic voice for California — building a future that reflects our highest values.
