What former Deputy Assistant Secretary in the United States Department of Commerce under President Barack Obama currently represents California;s 17th congressional district?
Ro Khanna Rohit "Ro" Khanna (born September 13, 1976) is an American academic, lawyer, and politician serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 17th congressional district as a member of the Democratic Party. Khanna defeated eight-term incumbent Congressman Mike Honda in the general election held on November 8, 2016, after he ran unsuccessfully for the same seat in 2014. Khanna also served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the United States Department of Commerce under President Barack Obama.
John Laird (American politician) John Laird (born March 29, 1950) is the current Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency and a former legislator who represented the 27th district in the California State Assembly until 2008. The 27th district stretches from Santa Cruz County down through the Monterey Bay and down the coast below the San Luis Obispo county line into Santa Barbara county. Laird (along with Mark Leno) was one of the first two openly gay men to serve in the California legislature. Laird become one of the United States first openly gay mayors in 1983 when he took over the mayoralty of the city of Santa Cruz, California.