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Diane Papan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 21st district | |
| Assumed office December 5, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Adam Gray (redistricted) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 22, 1963 (age 62) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Relatives | Lou Papan (father) |
| Education | University of California, Los Angeles (BA) University of California, Hastings College of the Law (JD) |
Diane Papan (born August 22, 1963) is an American politician who is a Democratic party member of the California State Assembly from the 21st district. Before being elected in 2022, she served as Deputy Mayor of San Mateo.
Early life and education
[edit]
Papan was born on August 22, 1963, in Millbrae, California, to Greek-American Lou Papan, a longtime member and former Speaker of the State Assembly.[1] She attended Capuchino High School in San Bruno. Papan in 1985 earned a Bachelors of Arts in political theory from the University of California, Los Angeles, and in 1988 earned a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.[2]
In 2015, Papan announced that she was running for San Mateo City Council, where she won the election defeating incumbent Maureen Freschet.[3] She was elected as Deputy Mayor of San Mateo in 2018.[4] In January 2022, Papan announced her campaign for State Assembly for the newly-redrawn 21st district.[5][6] In the primary, Papan and Redwood City mayor Giselle Hale both advanced to the general election.[7] In July 2022, Hale announced that she would be withdrawing from the race, citing the smear campaign against her and the impact on her daughters.[8] Because of Hale's withdrawal, Papan ultimately won the general election.[9]
San Mateo City Council
[edit]
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diane Papan | 9,123 | 37.4 | |
| Maureen Freschet | 8,627 | 35.4 | |
| Thomas Royal Morgan II | 3,991 | 36.4 | |
| Karen Schmidt | 2,660 | 10.9 | |
| Total votes | 24,401 | 100.0 | |
California State Assembly
[edit]
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Diane Papan | 40,434 | 41.3 | |
| Democratic | Giselle Hale | 19,400 | 19.8 | |
| Republican | Mark Gilham | 19,078 | 19.5 | |
| Democratic | James H. Coleman | 11,269 | 11.5 | |
| Democratic | Alison M. Madden | 3,359 | 3.4 | |
| Democratic | Maurice Goodman | 2,664 | 2.7 | |
| Green | Tania Solé | 1,620 | 1.7 | |
| Total votes | 97,824 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Diane Papan | 94,676 | 72.4 | |
| Democratic | Giselle Hale (withdrawn) | 36,014 | 27.6 | |
| Total votes | 130,690 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Diane Papan (incumbent) | 77,204 | 75.3 | |
| Republican | Mark Gilham | 25,358 | 24.7 | |
| Total votes | 102,562 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Diane Papan (incumbent) | 147,291 | 73.8 | |
| Republican | Mark Gilham | 52,218 | 26.2 | |
| Total votes | 199,509 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
- ^ Toledo, Aldo (January 19, 2022). "Former San Mateo Mayor Diane Papan, daughter of former Assembly speaker, runs for new legislative District 21". The Mercury News. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ Browning, Corey (March 25, 2022). "San Mateo deputy mayor seeking an Assembly seat". San Mateo Daily Journal. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "San Mateo County: Election brings change to city councils". East Bay Times. November 3, 2015.
- ^ "Diane Papan, a daughter of the North County for Assembly". Philippine News Today. April 19, 2022.
- ^ Toledo, Aldo (January 18, 2022). "Former San Mateo Mayor Diane Papan, daughter of former Assembly speaker, runs for new legislative District 21". The Mercury News.
- ^ "San Mateo deputy mayor seeking an Assembly seat". San Mateo Daily Journal. May 25, 2022.
- ^ Toledo, Aldo (July 21, 2022). "Giselle Hale beats out Republican for top-two spot against Diane Papan for Assembly District 21 seat". The Mercury News.
- ^ Larson, Amy (July 22, 2022). "Redwood City mayor drops out of race, cites smear campaign". KRON-TV.
- ^ Mibach, Emily (July 22, 2022). "Hale quits Assembly race leaving Papan as the winner". Palo Alto Daily Post.
- ^ "November 3, 2015 Election Results". San Mateo County. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
- ^ "June 7, 2022 Primary Election-State Assembly" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^ "November 8, 2022, General Election State Assembly Member" (PDF). Secretary of State of California.
- ^ "March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
- ^ "November 5, 2024, General Election - State Assemblymember" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
- 1963 births
- Living people
- Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly
- California city council members
- 21st-century American women politicians
- Women state legislators in California
- People from Millbrae, California
- University of California, Los Angeles alumni
- University of California College of the Law, San Francisco alumni
- 21st-century members of the California State Legislature
- Politicians from San Mateo, California