Janice Hahn

Janice Kay Hahn (born March 30, 1952) is an American politician serving as a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from the 4th district since 2016. A member of the Democratic Party, she was a U.S. representative from California from 2011 to 2016, elected in the 36th congressional district until 2013 and later in the 44th congressional district. She was previously a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 15th district from 2001 to 2011. From 1997 to 1999, she served as an elected representative on the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission. In the general election, Hahn defeated Steve Napolitano to succeed Don Knabe to become the next Los Angeles County supervisor from the 4th district. She was sworn in on December 5, 2016.

Early life and education Hahn was born in Los Angeles and raised in a politically involved family. She is the daughter of Ramona Belle (née Fox) and Kenneth Frederick Hahn, a career member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors who also served on the Los Angeles City Council. As a Commissioner, she fought for many of the reforms included in the new charter, including Area Planning Commissions, local representation on the citizen commissions governing Los Angeles International Airport and the Port of Los Angeles, and a system of neighborhood councils.

In the all-party primary (created as a result of Proposition 14), she finished first over Richardson by a wide margin, taking 60 percent of the vote to Richardson's 40 percent. This was all the more remarkable since Hahn was running in territory that was more than 60 percent new to her. In the general election, Hahn defeated Richardson with 60.2 percent of the vote to Richardson's 39.7 percent.

Committee assignments House Committee on Homeland Security House Committee on Small Business

Caucuses PORTS Caucus Congressional Progressive Caucus Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Out of Afghanistan Caucus

Political positions

On Nov. 19, 2015, Hahn voted for HR 4038, legislation that would effectively halt the resettlement of refugees from Syria and Iraq to the United States. Hahn supports the conversion of dangerous Modified Hydrofluoric Acid (MHF) at refineries to a safer alternative.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

In 2018, Hahn supported the appointment of Nicole Tinkham as interim public defender, despite a letter signed by 390 public defenders who were concerned that Tinkham lacked criminal law experience and the potential for a conflict of interest, given Tinkham’s prior representation of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Recognition Some of the awards received by Hahn include the Rosa Parks Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Bold Vision Award from the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, the Public Service Award from the African-American Chamber of Commerce, the Recognition Award from the Harbor Area Gang Alternative Program, and enshrinement on the Promenade of Prominence in Watts.

Electoral history