Debra Bowen was sworn in as California’s 39th Secretary of State Tuesday.
It is Bowen's second term.
Kamala Harris, the state’s new Attorney General and the seventh woman to be elected to state wide office administered the oath to Bowen, the sixth woman to hold statewide office.
Bowen was reelected in November. As Secretary of State, she oversees all elections, the State Archives and filings for campaign office and lobbying activities, but has no enforcement powers.
“I have to rely on the office of the Attorney Generals and the District Attorneys around the state to take enforcement action in any situation so I’m really grateful to have you here,” Bowen said. “It’s so wonderful to have two-sevenths of the women ever elected to statewide office here at the same time.”
Starting this year, Bowen’s office will also oversee the work of the Citizen’s Redistricting Commission.
