Senator
For Los Rios District 6 Board of Trustees 2026
PearlKOVEN
Opening doors through public education.
Public policy and communications specialist. First-generation transfer student. Pearl knows what a community college can do for a life — because it rewrote hers.
- 1st-gentransfer student, Santa Monica College → UC San Diego
- 3 levelsof government — federal, state & local
- 360°view of how policy reaches communities
Meet Pearl
A story that starts at community college
Pearl Koven knows firsthand the life-changing power of California's community colleges — because one rewrote her own story.
A proud third-generation Californian, Pearl was raised by a single mother in a working-class family of educators, small business owners, veterans, and law enforcement professionals. That foundation instilled in her a lasting respect for the everyday people who keep our communities running.
After seven years in the film industry, Pearl pivoted into public service to tackle the kitchen-table issues facing California families. As a first-generation college student, she had to teach herself how to navigate higher education from scratch. She enrolled at Santa Monica College, turning a steep learning curve into fuel for leadership. When COVID-19 shut down film productions, Pearl supported herself as a California Conservation Corps member, maintaining campus facilities, tending the community garden to feed students, and teaching sustainability over Zoom. As Vice President of Leadership for Phi Theta Kappa, she mentored peers through the same hurdles she faced, helping them find resources and apply for vital financial aid.
Thanks to the affordability of community college and the scholarships she earned, Pearl transferred to UC San Diego and graduated debt-free.
Today, she brings lived experience to the California State Senate across communications, policy research, and constituent advocacy, building on prior service in the U.S. House of Representatives and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Alongside her legislative work, Pearl champions local enterprise through her advocacy with the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce. From Capitol halls to Main Street corridors, she combines private-sector agility with policy know-how to defend accessible education, mentor the next generation, and fight for working families.
“Higher education can rewrite a person's life story. I've lived it — and every Los Rios student deserves that same open door.”
The Journey
From first-gen student to public servant
Raised by a single mother
Learned resilience, hard work, and the value of community support early on.
Seven years in film
A first career in the film industry — before finding her true calling in public service.
Santa Monica College
Started as a first-generation community college student — the door that opened everything after it.
Transfer to UC San Diego
Completed the transfer journey and saw firsthand how higher education rewrites life stories.
U.S. House of Representatives
Federal experience — how policy is made in Congress.
San Diego County Board of Supervisors
Local government — where policy meets people's daily lives.
California State Senate
Today: communications, policy research, and constituent services in Sacramento.
2026 — Los Rios Board of Trustees
Running to open the same doors for the next generation of Los Rios students.
Endorsements
Endorsed by
Assemblyman
Josh Hoover
Capitol Lincoln Club
The Platform
Pearl's plan for Los Rios
Four priorities for the district's students, campuses, and taxpayers.
The District
One district, four colleges, 80,000 stories
The Los Rios Community College District is the second-largest in California — four colleges and six education centers serving the greater Sacramento region, from the capital core to the Sierra foothills.
The heart of the capital
Area 6 covers the central city of Sacramento — Downtown, Midtown, East Sacramento, River Park, and Campus Commons — plus parts of Carmichael and Rancho Cordova.
That's the seat Pearl is running to represent in 2026.
The four colleges
- American River College
- Cosumnes River College
- Folsom Lake College
- Sacramento City College
- 80,000+students served across the Sacramento region every year
- 4colleges — plus six education centers
- 2,400square miles, from the capital city to the Sierra
- 2ndlargest community college district in California
In the Community
Service is a habit, not a headline
Pearl bridges government, non-profits, and grassroots initiatives — and shows up in person.
Civic Engagement & Civil Rights
Coordinating bipartisan dialogues on pressing national policy issues, preserving civil rights, and expanding global perspective through youth sister-city engagement.
Community Empowerment & Youth Advocacy
Mentoring foster youth aging out of the system, expanding local environmental sustainability education, and building resilient food systems through community gardens.
Inclusive Service
Assisting disabled children and adults in therapeutic horseback riding lessons to improve mobility and confidence.
On the Trail
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