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 LONGEST TERMS IN OFFICE
Since the introduction of term limits in 1990, State Executive and State Senate members can only hold an office for two four-year terms. For the State Assembly, the limit is three two-year terms. Seats in the US House of Representatives and US Senate are not bound by term limits, and members may serve as long as the voters in their districts reelect them. The current longest-serving member of the legislature is State Senator Tom McClintock (who is serving his 22nd year in the Assembly and Senate). Mervyn M. Dymally will have served 20 years when he terms out of the Assembly this year. He is currently a candidate for State Senate, which if elected, would allow him to extend his service to 28 years.
Before the introduction of term limits, officials were limited only by their ability to attract voters on Election Day. With his Assembly and State Senate service combined, Ralph C. Dills holds the record for longest tenure in the state legislature. The following is a list of the longest terms in office in California history.

George R. Reilly
NameOfficeDatesYears
George R. ReillyBoard of Equalization1943-198239
Vincent ThomasState Assembly1940-197838
U.S. WebbAttorney General1903-193936
Herbert W. SlaterState Senate1914-195036
Randolph CollierState Senate1939-197536
George E. Brown Jr.US Representative1963-71, 1973-9935
Fortney H. StarkUS Representative1973-Present35
Charles JohnsonTreasurer1923-195633
Henry A. WaxmanUS Representative1975-Present33
George MillerUS Representative1975-Present33
Chet HolifieldUS Representative1942-197432
Don EdwardsUS Representative1963-199332
Willie BrownState Assembly1964-199632
Ralph C. DillsState Senate1966-199832
Clarence F. LeaUS Representative1917-194931.8
Edward R. RoybalUS Representative1963-199330
Alfred E. AlquistState Senate1966-199630
John VasconcellosState Assembly1966-199630
Nicholas C. PetrisState Senate1966-199630
Frank C. JordanSecretary of State1911-194029
Milton MarksState Senate1967-199629
Bill ThomasUS Representative1978-200729
Jerry LewisUS Representative1979-Present29
Hiram JohnsonUS Senate1917-194528
Ralph E. SwingState Senate1922-195028
Gus HawkinsState Assembly1934-196228
Harry R. SheppardUS Representative1937-196528
Cecil R. KingUS Representative1941-196928
Hugh M. BurnsState Senate1942-197028
Charles J. ConradState Assembly1946-197428
Frank LantermanState Assembly1950-197828
John E. MossUS Representative1951-197928
Bob WilsonUS Representative1953-198128
Walter W. StiernState Senate1958-198628
Richard NevinsBoard of Equalization1959-198728
Gus HawkinsUS Representative1963-199128
Frank M. JordanSecretary of State1943-197027
Ron DellumsUS Representative1971-199727
Robert T. MatsuiUS Representative1971-200527
David DreierUS Representative1981-Present27
Duncan L. HunterUS Representative1981-Present27
Tom LantosUS Representative1981-200827
Howard L. BermanUS Representative1983-Present25
B. F. Rush State Senate1904-192824
Ernest C. CrowleyState Assembly1928-195224
Harold J. PowersState Senate1932-195624
Harry L. ParkmanState Senate1932-195624
Thomas A. MaloneyState Assembly1932-195624
Hugh P. DonnellyState Senate1942-196624
Carley V. PorterState Assembly1950-197424
Donald L. GrunskyState Senate1952-197624
Pauline L. DavisState Assembly1952-197624
B. F. SiskUS Representative1955-197924
Tom BaneState Assembly1958-64, 1974-9224
Alan CranstonUS Senate1969-199324
Glenn M. AndersonUS Representative1969-199324
Carlos J. MoorheadUS Representative1973-199724
Ruben S. AyalaState Senate1974-199824
Lloyd W. LowreyState Assembly1940-196222
John L. E. CollierState Assembly1946-196822
Frank P. BelottiState Assembly1950-197222
Charles S. GubserUS Representative1953-197522
Craig HosmerUS Representative1953-197522
Carlos BeeState Assembly1954-197622
John J. McFallUS Representative1957-197922
Albert S. RoddaState Senate1958-198222
Harold T. JohnsonUS Representative1959-198122
John L. BurtonState Assembly1964-198622
H. L. RichardsonState Senate1966-198822
Peter R. ChaconState Assembly1970-199222
Newton R. RussellState Senate1974-199622
Norman Y. MinetaUS Representative1975-199722
Benjamin F. LangfordState Senate1879-190021
George C. PerkinsUS Senate1894-191521
Elton W. GalleglyUS Representative1987-Present21
Wally HergerUS Representative1987-Present21
Nancy PelosiUS Representative1987-Present21
Herbert C. JonesState Senate1914-193420
J. M. InmanState Senate1916-193620
William Richard SharkeyState Senate1916-193620
Thomas McCormackState Senate1928-194820
Bradford S. CrittendenState Senate1930-195020
Charles H. DeuelState Senate1930-195020
Arthur H. Breed Jr.State Senate1938-195820
Charles BrownState Senate1942-196220
Clayton A. DillsState Assembly1946-196620
Lester A. McMillanState Assembly1946-196620
Luther E. GibsonState Senate1948-196820
Charles M. TeagueUS Representative1955-197520
James C. CormanUS Representative1961-198120
Leroy F. GreeneState Assembly1962-198220
Lou PapanState Assembly1972-88, 1996-200220
Alan RobbinsState Senate1974-199420
Anthony C. BeilensonUS Representative1977-199720
Diane Edith WatsonState Senate1978-199820
Dana RohrabacherUS Representative1989-Present19

SHORTEST TERMS IN OFFICE
California's shortest service members of the State and Federal offices is located below. Most either died before assuming office, resigned shortly after assuming office. This list includes only politicians who lived to assumed office, although at least nine died between election day and when they assumed office; one Congressman-elect, Charles F. Van de Water (1920); two State Senator-elects George W. Seaton (1865) and Charles L. Pong (1890); and four Assemblymen-elects, L. Dunlap (1850), James H. Carson (1853), Thomas Robertson (1859), and William L. Morton (1882).
Fun Fact: The father of California Short-term Politicians was State Senator Nathaniel Bennett, who resigned five days after the first Legislature convened in San Jose in 1849.

James W. Mandeville

NameOfficeYearDaysReason
James OtisState Assembly18620Resigned.
Samuel H. BrooksController18600Resigned.
Samuel Brannan State Senate18530Declined to serve.
Jesse S. Pitzer *State Assembly18533Disqualification overrturned.
Nathaniel Bennett State Senate18495Resigned.
Milton S. LathamGovernor18605Resigned.
William C. Van VoorhiesState Assembly18496Resigned.
John G. DowneyLt. Governor186011Resigned.
Dana P. Eicke State Assembly193520Died.
Harry S. Wanzer State Assembly190334Resigned.
Adrian C. Fondse State Assembly198135Seat vacated after a recount.
James S. Gillan Controller186144Term ended.
Thomas M. Storke **US Senate193855Term ended.
James W. MandevilleController187562Died.
Richard W. Heath State Assembly184965Resigned.
Charles H. HempsteadSecretary of State185566Term ended.
Albert HartSecretary of State189467Term ended.
Horace W. Carpentier State Assembly185367Seat declared vacant.
Charles A. Hughes State Assembly188368Died.
J. F. Stephens State Assembly184979Resigned.
C. V. R. Lee State Assembly185381Resigned.
John L. HarmerLt. Governor197494Term ended.
Richard Alarcon State Assembly2007102Resigned
Oliver S. Witherby State Assembly1849117Resigned.
Pierre SalingerUS Senate1964148Resigned.
Harry I. Thornton State Senate1861163Resigned.
Mike GordonState Assembly2005173Died.
Laura RichardsonState Assembly2007261Resigned.
* NOTE: Pitzer was sworn in when Assemblyman W. C. Martin  was disqualified, but the disqualification was overturned three days later.
** NOTE: The term ended before Storke could be sworn into office.
*** NOTE: James W. Mandeville was elected Controller twice, but only served a total of 62 days in office.