Kevin Mullin

Kevin Mullin
Official portrait, 2023
Kevin Mullin
Born	15 6, 1970
Birthplace	Daly City, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for California's 15th congressional district
Education	University of San Francisco (BA) San Francisco State University (MPA)
Spouse(s)	Jessica Stanfill
Children	2
Website	[https://kevinmullin.house.gov/ Official site]

Kevin Mullin (born June 15, 1970) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for California's 15th congressional district since January 3, 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Mullin represents a district that encompasses much of the San Francisco Peninsula, including portions of San Mateo County and parts of San Francisco. Before his election to Congress, Mullin served a decade in the California State Assembly, representing the 22nd district from 2012 to 2022, and held the position of speaker pro tempore of the Assembly from 2014 to 2022. Born and raised in Daly City, California, Mullin comes from a politically active family—his father, Gene Mullin, served three terms in the California State Assembly. Prior to entering state politics, Kevin Mullin worked as an entrepreneur and served on the city council of South San Francisco, including a term as mayor. In Congress, Mullin has focused on securing federal funding for community projects in his district, transportation infrastructure, and legislative efforts related to energy and technology policy.

Early Life

Kevin Mullin was born on June 15, 1970, in Daly City, California, a city situated on the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Mateo County. He grew up in a household with strong ties to public service. His father, Gene Mullin, was a prominent local political figure who went on to serve three terms as a member of the California State Assembly. The elder Mullin's career in state politics exposed Kevin to the legislative process and community engagement from an early age, providing a formative experience that would shape his own trajectory in public life.

Mullin was raised on the San Francisco Peninsula, a region characterized by its suburban communities, proximity to the technology industry in Silicon Valley, and diverse population. Daly City, where Mullin was born, is one of the most densely populated cities in San Mateo County and has long been known for its cultural diversity, particularly its large Filipino American community. Growing up in this environment provided Mullin with an understanding of the issues facing suburban communities in the San Francisco Bay Area, including housing affordability, transportation, and access to public services.

Before entering politics, Mullin pursued a career as an entrepreneur, gaining experience in the private sector that he would later reference in his legislative work on economic and technology-related issues.

Education

Mullin attended the University of San Francisco, a private Jesuit university located in San Francisco, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently pursued graduate studies at San Francisco State University, where he earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA). The MPA program at San Francisco State University is designed to prepare students for careers in government and nonprofit management, providing coursework in public policy analysis, organizational management, and budgeting—skills that Mullin would apply throughout his career in local and state government. Both of Mullin's degrees were earned at institutions located in the San Francisco Bay Area, reflecting his deep roots in the region he would go on to represent at the state and federal levels.

Career

South San Francisco City Council

Mullin's first foray into elected office came at the local level, when he won a seat on the South San Francisco City Council. During his tenure on the council, he served in various capacities, including one year as mayor of South San Francisco. The role of mayor in South San Francisco is a largely ceremonial position that rotates among city council members, but it provided Mullin with experience in leading public meetings, setting policy agendas, and serving as the public face of the city government. His time on the city council gave him direct exposure to the municipal issues affecting Peninsula residents, including land use planning, local infrastructure, and public safety. This local government experience served as a springboard for his subsequent campaign for the California State Assembly.

California State Assembly (2012–2022)

In 2012, Mullin ran for the California State Assembly to represent the 22nd district, which encompasses much of the San Francisco Peninsula region. He won the general election that year, succeeding Paul Fong, whose district had been redrawn as part of the state's redistricting process. Mullin took office on December 3, 2012, beginning what would become a full decade of service in the state legislature.

Mullin was reelected to the Assembly in subsequent cycles. In the 2014 election cycle, he ran in both the primary and general elections, securing his seat for another term. He continued to win reelection in the 2016 and 2018 cycles as well.

Speaker Pro Tempore

On December 1, 2014, Mullin was elevated to the position of speaker pro tempore of the California State Assembly, succeeding Nora Campos in the role. The speaker pro tempore serves as the presiding officer of the Assembly in the absence of the speaker and is considered one of the key leadership positions within the chamber. Mullin held this position for the entirety of his remaining tenure in the Assembly, from 2014 until December 5, 2022, when he was succeeded by Chris Ward.

As speaker pro tempore, Mullin occupied a position that placed him in the upper tier of Assembly leadership for eight years—an unusually long tenure in the role. The position afforded him significant influence over the legislative process, including the ability to preside over floor sessions and participate in leadership decisions regarding committee assignments and the legislative calendar. Mullin's extended service in this capacity made him one of the longer-serving speakers pro tempore in recent California legislative history.

During his decade in the Assembly, Mullin represented a district that included communities along the Peninsula corridor, an area characterized by a mix of residential suburbs, technology companies, and transportation challenges related to the commuter corridor between San Francisco and Silicon Valley. His legislative work during this period addressed issues relevant to his constituents, including transportation infrastructure, housing, and technology policy.

Mullin served in the Assembly until December 5, 2022, at which point he was succeeded in the 22nd district by Diane Papan, whose district boundaries had been adjusted through redistricting.

U.S. House of Representatives (2023–present)

2022 Election

In 2022, following the announcement by longtime U.S. Representative Jackie Speier that she would not seek reelection, Mullin entered the race for California's 15th congressional district. The district, which had been redrawn during the 2020 redistricting cycle, covers much of the San Francisco Peninsula including portions of San Mateo County and extends into parts of San Francisco. Mullin's decade of experience in the state legislature and his deep roots in the Peninsula community positioned him as a leading candidate in the race.

Mullin won the November 2022 general election, securing the congressional seat. His victory was reported as part of a broader Peninsula election cycle that also saw Diane Papan win the Assembly seat that Mullin had vacated. Mullin took office on January 3, 2023, succeeding Jackie Speier (whose former district had been redistricted).

Tenure in Congress

Since taking office, Mullin has focused on issues relevant to his district, including transportation infrastructure, community development, and federal funding for local projects. His federal campaign finance records are maintained by the Federal Election Commission.

In early 2026, Mullin announced that he had secured approximately $12.75 million in Community Project Funding for California's 15th congressional district. The funding was designated for a range of local priorities, including child care services, transportation interchange improvements, bus stop upgrades, and railroad grade separations. The total amount secured was reported as $12,751,982 and was described as funding that would "go directly" to community projects within the district. The San Mateo Daily Journal covered the funding announcement, reporting the figure at approximately $12.8 million.

Also in February 2026, Mullin secured additional federal transportation funding to advance key projects in San Mateo County. The funding was included in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill and was directed toward transportation infrastructure improvements within the district.

Legislative Initiatives

In February 2026, Mullin introduced the Rail and Highway Transmission Planning Act, a piece of legislation addressing energy infrastructure in relation to transportation corridors. The bill was introduced in the context of rising energy costs across the nation and sought to integrate energy transmission planning with existing rail and highway infrastructure.

Mullin has also been active on issues related to automotive safety and technology. In early 2026, his office highlighted concerns about vehicle touchscreen interfaces, drawing attention to frustrations and safety concerns associated with the increasing reliance on touchscreen controls in modern vehicles. The issue was covered by the National Desk in a report by journalists Angie Moreschi and Nathan Aaron.

Constituent Engagement

Mullin has utilized digital town halls as a means of engaging with constituents. In January 2026, he hosted an emergency digital town hall to discuss immigration enforcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), held in the wake of events in Minneapolis. The event was held on January 29, 2026, and was framed around the theme of "Holding ICE Accountable."

In February 2026, Mullin published an op-ed in the San Mateo Daily Journal titled "Do not look away," addressing national issues of concern to his constituents.

Mullin's office has maintained an active appropriations request process, soliciting and processing community project funding requests from constituents and local organizations. His office has published appropriations request portals for multiple fiscal years, including FY24, FY25, FY26, and FY27.

Personal Life

Kevin Mullin is married to Jessica Stanfill, and the couple has two children. The family resides in the San Francisco Peninsula area, within the congressional district Mullin represents.

Mullin's father, Gene Mullin, served three terms in the California State Assembly, making Kevin a second-generation state legislator before his move to federal office. The Mullin family's involvement in Peninsula politics spans multiple decades, with both father and son having represented overlapping communities in the region through their respective tenures in the Assembly.

Mullin has maintained a public profile focused primarily on his legislative and policy work. His voting record and political positions are documented through various nonpartisan tracking organizations, including Vote Smart. His congressional activities and public appearances are also archived by C-SPAN.