On June 23, California newspapers reported that Assemblymember Juan Arambula has recently changed his registration from “Democratic” to “Independent.” It is not known exactly when he did this. He cannot run for re-election in 2010 because of term limits. He represents part of Fresno and Tulare Counties. See this story.

California’s last independent state legislator who had been elected as an independent had been San Francisco Senator Quentin Kopp, who had been elected to the Senate as an independent in 1986, 1990 and 1994. Also, Audie Bock (elected to the California legislature as a Green in 1999) had, while in office, re-registered as an independent, although when she ran for re-election as an independent in 2000, she was defeated. Thanks to Bob Richard for this news.