Dave Cortese

Last updated
Dave Cortese
Dave Cortese 2020 Headshot.jpg
Official portrait, 2020
Member of the California State Senate
from the 15th district
Majority Whip
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 7, 2020
Education University of California, Davis
Lincoln Law School
Committees- Senate Transportation Committee, Chair

- Senate Ethics Committee, Chair

- Senate Agriculture Committee

- Senate Education Committee

- Senate Housing Committee

- Senate Insurance Committee

- Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee

Contents

- Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture

- Joint Committee on Rules
Website https://sd15.senate.ca.gov

David Dominic Cortese (born June 3, 1956) is an elected official from San Jose, California. He is currently serving in the California State Senate, representing District 15, which encompasses a majority of Santa Clara County. Before being elected to the California State Senate, Cortese served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors for 12 years, as a Councilmember and Vice Mayor for the City of San Jose [2] for eight years, and for eight years as a trustee for the East Side Union High School District [3] in San Jose. Cortese ran for mayor of San Jose and won the primary, losing the general election to District 3 councilmember Sam Liccardo. [4]

Early life and education

Cortese was born on born June 3, 1956. [5] He attended Bellarmine College Preparatory high school (1970–1974). He received his bachelor's degree from the University of California, Davis and graduated from Lincoln Law School (1991–1995). [6]

Personal life

Cortese is the son of former Santa Clara County Supervisor and California Assembly member Dominic L. Cortese and Suzanne Cortese. Cortese's paternal grandfather, Vince Cortese Sr., was an immigrant farmer from Sicily [7] who found success in agriculture and commercial development. His maternal grandfather, Ed Donovan, was a civic leader and executive of General Motors Credit Corp. who served as a Santa Clara City Councilman in 1949 and 1950. [8] Dave Cortese and his wife, Pattie, who serves on the East Side Union High School District Board, have four children.

Cortese creates the Silicon Valley Kids Climate Club in 2009 Cortese creates the Silicon Valley Kids Climate Club in 2009.jpg
Cortese creates the Silicon Valley Kids Climate Club in 2009

In 1986, following a successful tenure as a professional financial manager within a prominent corporation, Cortese assumed the role of general manager for a collection of enterprises in ranching and real estate. These enterprises have historical roots tracing back to their establishment in the Valley in 1917. His professional journey includes business endeavors involving the sale of agricultural produce, stewardship of a substantial multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio, construction, ownership of a dining establishments, and a private law practice. [9]

Political career

Cortese’s leadership positions include serving as Vice Mayor of the City of San Jose, Board President of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Board President of the East Side Union High School District Board, Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), President of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), President of the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), President of the Santa Clara County Cities Association (SCCCA), Founder of the Joint Policy Collaborative for Economic Development, Chair of the California Senate Labor, Public Employment & Retirement Committee, President of the San Jose East-Evergreen Rotary Club, Board of Directors for the East Valley YMCA, The Tech Interactive, Parents Helping Parents, and several other nonprofits, as well as a Founding Member of East Valley Girls Softball. [10]

For over a decade, Cortese has hosted the Day on the Bay multicultural resource and health fair Day on the Bay - 2014.jpg
For over a decade, Cortese has hosted the Day on the Bay multicultural resource and health fair

Electoral history

San Jose City Council

2000 San Jose City Council 8th district election [11] [12]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Dave Cortese 7,658 45.83
Nonpartisan Eddie Garcia 3,843 23.00
Nonpartisan Maria Fuentes2,73616.37
Nonpartisan Patricia Martinez-Roach2,47214.79
Total votes16,709 100.00
General election
Nonpartisan Dave Cortese 17,083 65.25
Nonpartisan Eddie Garcia9,50734.75
Total votes26,590 100.00
2004 San Jose City Council 8th district election [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Dave Cortese (incumbent) 12,855 100.00
Total votes12,855 100.00

Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

2008 Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors 3rd district election [14] [15]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Dave Cortese 17,813 42.02
Nonpartisan Otto Lee 13,280 31.32
Nonpartisan Jose Esteves 11,30326.66
Total votes42,396 100.00
General election
Nonpartisan Dave Cortese 56,845 54.87
Nonpartisan Otto Lee 46,75145.13
Total votes103,596 100.00
2012 Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors 3rd district election [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Dave Cortese (incumbent) 40,360 100.00
Total votes40,360 100.00
2016 Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors 3rd district election [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Dave Cortese (incumbent) 57,088 100.00
Total votes57,088 100.00

San José Mayor

2006 San Jose mayoral primary [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Chuck Reed 36,401 28.79
Nonpartisan Cindy Chavez 29,295 23.17
Nonpartisan David Pandori22,58117.86
Nonpartisan Dave Cortese20,69116.37
Nonpartisan Michael Mulcahy13,58010.74
Nonpartisan John Candeias1,1000.87
Nonpartisan Timmothy K. Fitzgerald1,0320.82
Nonpartisan Michael C Macarelli6540.52
Nonpartisan Larry Flores6530.52
Nonpartisan Jose Aurelio Hernandez4410.35
Total votes126,428 100.00
2014 San Jose mayoral election [19] [20] [21]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Dave Cortese 43,887 33.72
Nonpartisan Sam Liccardo 33,521 25.75
Nonpartisan Madison Nguyen 26,36520.26
Nonpartisan Pierluigi Oliverio 13,19710.14
Nonpartisan Rose Herrera7,9506.11
Nonpartisan Mike Alvarado1,9591.51
Nonpartisan Timothy Harrison1,7151.32
Nonpartisan Bill Chew1,5631.20
Total votes130,157 100.00
General election
Nonpartisan Sam Liccardo 91,840 50.76
Nonpartisan Dave Cortese89,09049.24
Total votes180,930 100.00

California State Senate

2020 California State Senate 15th district election [22] [23]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dave Cortese 79,507 33.9
Democratic Ann Ravel 51,752 22.1
Democratic Nora Campos 39,68316.9
Republican Robert Howell23,84010.2
No party preference Johnny Khamis 23,74710.1
Republican Ken Del Valle14,2806.1
No party preference Tim Gildersleeve1,6350.7
Total votes234,444 100.0
General election
Democratic Dave Cortese 212,207 54.8
Democratic Ann M. Ravel 175,20345.2
Total votes387,410 100.0
Democratic hold
2024 California State Senate 15th district election [24] [25]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dave Cortese (incumbent) 124,539 69.0
Republican Robert Howell 34,205 19.0
Republican Tony Loaiza21,64312.0
Total votes180,387 100.0
General election
Democratic Dave Cortese (incumbent) 260,719 68.6
Republican Robert Howell119,31031.4
Total votes380,029 100.0
Democratic hold

See also

References

  1. ↑ "David Dominic Cortese Profile | Morgan Hill, CA Lawyer". martindale.com. Retrieved Feb 2, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Home". sanjoseca.gov.
  3. ↑ "Home". esuhsd.org.
  4. ↑ Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters
  5. ↑ "JoinCalifornia - Dave Cortese". www.joincalifornia.com. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Dave Cortese's home base on San Jose's East Side". 28 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "Herhold: How the Cortese family ascended on San Jose's East side". 28 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Herhold: How the Cortese family ascended on San Jose's East side". San Jose Mercury News. September 28, 2014. (subscription required)
  9. ↑ "Full Biography for Dave Cortese. Dave Cortese Biography". May 18, 2006.
  10. ↑ "Full Biography for Dave Cortese. Dave Cortese Biography". May 18, 2006.
  11. ↑ "March 7, 2000, Presidential Primary Election Official Final Results". Santa Clara County . May 10, 2000. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  12. ↑ "November 7, 2000, Presidential General Election Official Final Results". Santa Clara County . Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  13. ↑ "March 2, 2004, Primary Election Official Final Results" (PDF). Santa Clara County . March 30, 2004. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  14. ↑ "June 3, 2008, Primary Election Official Final Results" (PDF). Santa Clara County . June 25, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  15. ↑ "November 4, 2008, Presidential Election Official Final Results" (PDF). Santa Clara County . November 25, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  16. ↑ "June 5, 2012, Presidential Primary Election Official Final Results" (PDF). Santa Clara County . July 3, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  17. ↑ "June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election Official Final Results". Santa Clara County . June 30, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Santa Clara County June 6th Gubernatorial Primary Election 2006 June 6 2006 Official Final Results". Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. 26 June 2006. Archived from the original on 30 April 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  19. ↑ "Santa Clara - Election Results". Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters. June 30, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters - Election Results, Mayor, City of San Jose". November 20, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  21. ↑ Rosenberg, Mike (November 14, 2014). "No recount set in close San Jose mayor's race after speculation". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  22. ↑ "March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California . Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  23. ↑ "November 3, 2020, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California . Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  24. ↑ "March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California . Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  25. ↑ "November 5, 2024, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California . Retrieved July 10, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.