Assemblymember Chris Ward was first elected in 2020, and re-elected in 2022 to serve the 78th Assembly District representing San Diego and El Cajon. He currently serves as Chair of the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee, as well as the Select Committee on Biotechnology. He is also currently serving as the Assembly designee on the California State Coastal Conservancy and Vice Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assemblymember Ward served on the San Diego City Council and authored San Diego's landmark Equal Pay Ordinance. He chaired the San Diego County Regional Task Force on the Homeless and served as chair of the Land Use and Housing Committee. Before being elected to office, Assemblymember Ward was the Chief of Staff to Senator Marty Block and an environmental planner at the firm EDAW.