Bob Huff

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title: "Bob Huff" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1953-births", "american-protestants", "businesspeople-in-agriculture", "california-city-council-members", "republican-party-california-state-senators", "living-people", "republican-party-members-of-the-california-state-assembly", "people-from-calexico,-california", "people-from-diamond-bar,-california", "westmont-college-alumni", "candidates-in-the-2018-united-states-house-of-representatives-elections", "21st-century-members-of-the-california-state-legislature"] description: "American politician" topic_path: "politics" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Huff" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American politician ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox officeholder"]

Field	Value
name	Bob Huff
image	Senator Bob Huff.jpg
office	Minority Leader of the California Senate
term_start	January 5, 2012
term_end	August 27, 2015
predecessor	Bob Dutton
successor	Jean Fuller
office2	California State Senate
Republican Caucus Chair
term_start2	August 1, 2009
term_end2	January 5, 2012
predecessor2	George Runner
successor2	Tom Harman
state_senate3	California State
district3	29th
term_start3	December 1, 2008
term_end3	November 30, 2016
preceded3	Bob Margett
succeeded3	Josh Newman
office4	California State Assembly
Republican Caucus Chair
term_start4	December 8, 2006
term_end4	November 30, 2008
predecessor4	Greg Aghazarian
successor4	Cameron Smyth
state_assembly5	California
district5	60th
term_start5	December 6, 2004
term_end5	November 30, 2008
preceded5	Bob Pacheco
succeeded5	Curt Hagman
birth_date
birth_place	Calexico, California, U.S.
party	Republican
spouse	Mei Mei
children	4
residence	San Dimas, California
occupation	Agriculture businessman
alma_mater	Westmont College
website
::

| name = Bob Huff | image = Senator Bob Huff.jpg | office = Minority Leader of the California Senate | term_start = January 5, 2012 | term_end = August 27, 2015 | predecessor = Bob Dutton | successor = Jean Fuller | office2 = California State Senate Republican Caucus Chair | term_start2 = August 1, 2009 | term_end2 = January 5, 2012 | predecessor2 = George Runner | successor2 = Tom Harman | state_senate3 = California State | district3 = 29th | term_start3 = December 1, 2008 | term_end3 = November 30, 2016 | preceded3 = Bob Margett | succeeded3 = Josh Newman | office4 = California State Assembly Republican Caucus Chair | term_start4 = December 8, 2006 | term_end4 = November 30, 2008 | predecessor4 = Greg Aghazarian | successor4 = Cameron Smyth | state_assembly5 = California | district5 = 60th | term_start5 = December 6, 2004 | term_end5 = November 30, 2008 | preceded5 = Bob Pacheco | succeeded5 = Curt Hagman | birth_date = | birth_place = Calexico, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | spouse = Mei Mei | children = 4 | residence = San Dimas, California | occupation = Agriculture businessman | alma_mater = Westmont College | website =

Robert S. Huff (born September 9, 1953) is an American businessman and politician who was the California State Senate minority leader and Senate Republican leader from January 5, 2012, until August 27, 2015. He represented the Senate's 29th District, which includes portions of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties.

Early life

Born on September 9, 1953, in Calexico, California, Huff grew up on his family's farm near El Centro. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Westmont College, and his business background is in grain handling and commodity wholesaling.

Political career

Diamond Bar

Huff served on the Diamond Bar City Council, and was Mayor of the city in 1997 and 2001. He was also involved in local transportation issues, serving on the Four Corners Transportation Policy Group, Foothill Transit, and the Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority.

State Assembly

Huff was elected to the California State Assembly in 2004, defeating Gail Pacheco, the wife of term-limited Bob Pacheco. The election was considered an upset. Reelected in 2006, he was a member of the California State Assembly until 2008.

State Senate

Huff was elected to the California State Senate for the 29th district in 2008, succeeding the term-limited Bob Margett. In 2012, he was elected by the Republican Caucus to succeed the term-limited Bob Dutton as Senate Republican Leader. Term limits prevented him from running for re-election in 2016.

Huff was a member of the Senate Education Committee and authored legislation affecting K-12 education. He is an advocate of charter schools, school choice, and standardized testing. He supported SB 161, which allows trained volunteers to administer emergency medication to students with epilepsy who suffer a seizure at school. Huff introduced Senate Bill 1295, a measure to approve the placement of commercial advertisements on the exterior of school-buses. This bill was rejected by the Senate Education Committee but was given an option to be re-introduced at a later time. He introduced Senate Bill 1116 with Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), which defined and regulated "heritage schools", private after-school programs that teach foreign language and culture and required them to register with the California Department of Education instead of being licensed as child day care centers by the California Department of Social Services (DSS) Huff opposed a plan that would have replaced the current testing system with new tests based on the Common Core learning goals. Because test scores would be unavailable during the new test's two-year trial period, the U.S. Department of Education threatened to impose financial penalties on the state. The alternative supported by Huff was to require the use of both the old and the new test during that period. The state Senate approved the bill.

Huff cast a deciding vote in 2009 on a Senate rule waiver that allowed a measure on environmental exemptions favorable to one of Huff's donors, Majestic Realty. This vote led to criticism, as Majestic was also a client of his wife's consulting business. In 2011, Huff opposed Governor Jerry Brown’s plan to abolish California's redevelopment agencies.

In a state government that as of 2012 is controlled by Democrats with super majorities in both houses, Huff has a reputation as a moderate Republican. The Los Angeles Times opined that "Senate Republican leader Bob Huff of Diamond Bar was more pragmatic, given his party's weakened political position in Sacramento. Brown 'is the most conservative of the three leading Democrats in Sacramento,' Huff said." Huff has worked with Brown on issues such as California's prison crisis.

Committee memberships

Huff served on the Senate Education Committee and was the Vice Chair of the Senate Budget Committee. He also served as a member of the Joint Committee on Senate Rules, the Select Committees of Asian Pacific Islander Affairs, California Job Creation and Retention, California's Horse Racing Industry, Earthquake and Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery and High-Speed Rail committees.

Huff's sub-committee assignments included: Education: Sustainable School Facilities and Education: Policy Research.

2016 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors elections

In 2016 Huff ran for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to represent the fifth district. In the election held June 7, Huff finished in third place in a field of 8 candidates, and did not make the runoff.

2018 congressional election

In 2018 Huff ran for the United States House of Representatives to represent California's 39th congressional district. In the election held June 5, Huff finished in sixth place in a field of 17 candidates, and did not make the runoff.

Positions and affiliations

On education, Huff received an 83% rating from the California State University system in 2011. He received an 11% rating in 2012 from the California School Employees Association. On business and labor issues, in 2012 he was rated 100% by the California Chamber of Commerce and 12% by the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. He received a 100% rating from the California Pro-Life Council in 2012 and a 20% rating from Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California in 2013. He received a 92% rating from the National Rifle Association of America in 2012.

In addition, he has received the following ratings: ::data[format=table]

Interest group	Rating	Year
American Cancer Society, California Division	53%	2012
American Conservative Union	91%	2012
California Communities United Institute	42%	2011
California Farm Bureau Federation	100%	2007
California League of Conservation Voters	5%	2012
California Park and Recreation Society	75%	2011–12
California National Organization for Women	8%	2009
California's Political Action Committee for Animals	0%	2011
California Taxpayers Association	100%	2012
Children's Advocacy Institute	58%	2011
Congress of California Seniors	37%	2012
Consumer Federation of California	13%	2012
Drug Policy Forum of California (DPFCA)	0%	2012
Republican Liberty Caucus of California	67%	2011
::

In 2012, Huff raised $1,169,601 in campaign contributions. His largest donors came from the insurance, health professionals, and real estate sectors. The California Association of Realtors, the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Medical Association, the California Building Industry Association, and the California Dental Association were his largest contributors.

Recognition

Huff was recognized as 2011 Legislator of the Year by the League of California Cities for "efforts to protect local redevelopment agencies". He was also recognized by the American Council of Engineering Companies, California, and as the 2011 Job Champion by the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce. The California Epilepsy Foundation named three fellowships in honor of Huff at UCLA, USC and Children's Hospital Los Angeles for his work on behalf of students with epilepsy. He was awarded the 2005 Local Distinguished Service Award in Transportation from the American Public Transit Association and the Outstanding Community Leader of 2005 by the Old Baldy Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Personal life

Huff and his wife, Mei Mei, reside in Diamond Bar, California. As of 2013, they have four children and six grandchildren.

References

References

1. "Capitol Alert: AM Alert: Paul Ryan hits the California ATM".
2. Lau, Jessie. (August 14, 2013). "Senate GOP leader Bob Huff reaches out". [[Capitol Weekly]].
3. "75 years, 75 distinguished alumni". [[Westmont College]].
4. "Biography". California State Senate Republican Caucus.
5. McGreevy, Patrick. (January 4, 2012). "State Sen. Bob Huff elected new GOP leader". [[Los Angeles Times]].
6. (July 14, 2010). "Decision Makers of The San Gabriel Valley – House of Huff". San Gabriel Valley Business Journal.
7. McGreevy, Patrick. (December 3, 2013). "Bob Huff reelected as California Senate Republican leader". Los Angeles Times.
8. "Bill Text – AB-740 Charter schools: funding". Leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
9. (December 13, 2012). "SB 172 Senate Bill – AMENDED".
10. (October 7, 2011). "SB 161 Signed into Law Despite Union Opposition | Bob Huff". District29.cssrc.us.
11. (March 29, 2012). "Bill Number: SB 1295 Amended Bill Text". Leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
12. (April 25, 2012). "Senate panel rejects bill on school-bus advertising". Los Angeles Times.
13. (February 18, 2010). "Senator Huff Fights to Sustain Heritage Schools". District29.cssrc.us.
14. California Department of Education. [http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr11/yr11rel11.asp "State Schools Chief Torlakson Announces Deadline Extension for Heritage School Registration"] {{webarchive. link. (March 4, 2016 . Retrieved November 29, 2013.)
15. Blume, Howard. (September 10, 2013). "State Senate approves student testing plan over federal objections". Los Angeles Times.
16. Goldmacher, Shane. (May 10, 2011). "Redevelopment agencies: Wife of state senator fighting to save redevelopment agencies works for redevelopment backer". Los Angeles Times.
17. Wagner, James. (August 28, 2009). "Lawmaker, wife both lend support to Majestic's NFL stadium project". San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
18. (December 2, 2012). "Keys to a California GOP comeback: Camaraderie and good ideas - latimes".
19. Willon, Phil. (June 14, 2013). "'Less liberal' is the new conservative in state Capitol". Los Angeles Times.
20. Megerian, Chris. (August 27, 2013). "Jerry Brown, lawmakers to announce prison plans". Los Angeles Times.
21. "Committees | Bob Huff". District29.cssrc.us.
22. "Los Angeles County Election Tuesday, June 7, 2000". Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters.
23. (June 28, 2016). "Darrell Park's lead over Bob Huff grows again in 5th District race". [[Inland Valley Daily Bulletin]].
24. Mai-Duc, Christine. "DCCC drops first TV ads of 2018, attacking Republicans running for Ed Royce seat".
25. "Statewide Direct Primary Election - Statement of the Vote, June 5, 2018". [[Secretary of State of California]].
26. "California State University Rating – Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org.
27. "California School Employees Association Rating – Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org.
28. "California Chamber of Commerce Rating – Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org.
29. "California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO Rating – Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org.
30. "California Pro-Life Council- Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org.
31. "Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Rating – Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org.
32. "National Rifle Association Rating – Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org.
33. Project VoteSmart. [https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/16575/robert-huff Robert 'Bob' S. Huff's Ratings and Endorsements] {{webarchive. link. (March 4, 2016 . Retrieved November 27, 2013.)
34. "2012 Legislative Voting Record". California Taxpayers Association.
35. "Huff, Robert (Bob)". Follow The Money.
36. Spiegel, Eva. (September 21, 2011). "League of California Cities Honors Senators Bob Huff and Rod Wright as its 2011 Legislators of the Year". League of California Cities.
37. Neilly, Andrew. (November 8, 2011). "Senator Bob Huff Named ACEC California's Legislator of the Year". American Council of Engineering Companies, California.
38. "Archived copy".
39. Enquiry, Capitol. (November 30, 2012). "Epilepsy Foundation of California to Honor State Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff at Capitol Steps". Govbuddy.com.

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