Steve Knight (politician)

Early life, military service and career

Knight was born at Edwards Air Force Base in Antelope Valley, California in 1966. After graduating from Palmdale High School, he served in the U.S. Army from 1985 to 1987 as a track systems mechanic in Friedberg, Germany. When his tour ended, he served in the Army Reserve, and his total military service spanned from 1985 to 1993. In 2006, Knight received an associate of arts degree from Antelope Valley College.

Knight served for 18 years with the Los Angeles Police Department, where he was selected to serve on the Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (CRASH) team. He served on the Palmdale City Council and represented the north Los Angeles County area in both the California State Assembly and California State Senate.

California State Legislature

Knight was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2008, succeeding Sharon Runner. From 2010 to 2012, he was the Assistant Minority Leader of the California State Assembly. In 2012, Knight was elected to the California State Senate, where he represented the 21st District until 2014. His father, the late William J. "Pete" Knight served as Republican state senator in the Antelope Valley.

In the State Assembly, Knight was Vice Chairman of the Natural Resources and Public Safety Committee and served on the Aerospace; Local Government; Utilities and Commerce; and Rules Committees.

While in the California State Legislature, Knight focused his efforts on reducing the tax burden on California families and businesses, and restoring the state's economic vitality during the Great Recession. In September 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill introduced by Knight that aimed to protect California’s disabled veterans by fixing an issue with property tax exemptions.

2015-2017

Knight focused his 2014 campaign on jobs and education. The Los Angeles Daily News endorsed Knight in the 2014 primary election. Due to California's blanket primary system, Knight faced fellow Republican Tony Strickland in the November 4, 2014, general election. Knight defeated Strickland with 53% of the vote.

Knight was sworn into office on January 6, 2015, aged 48. In April 2015, Knight had a verbal altercation with a protester. After the protester touched him, Knight threatened him but later apologized.

2017-

In May 2015, the National Republican Congressional Committee named Knight to its Patriot Program. The program gives added attention by the party to reelection campaigns in districts most likely to switch to Democratic representation in upcoming elections.

In June 2016, analyst David Wasserman moved Knight's district into the "toss-up" category, due to the negative influence of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on down-ticket races and the growth in Democratic voter registration in the 25th Congressional District. In addition to Knight, two Democrats and one other Republican filed to run in the district's top-two primary, which took place on June 7, 2016. Knight and Democrat Bryan Caforio advanced to the general election.

Knight was endorsed by the Los Angeles Daily News. He was also endorsed by Lou Vince, an L.A. police lieutenant and Democrat who finished third (behind Knight and Bryan Caforio) in the 25th district's June 2016 primary.

Knight was re-elected in the general election on November 8, 2016. He defeated Democrat Bryan Caforio with 54% of the vote.

Tenure

Knight has authored a bill that would create a national memorial to mark the site of the St. Francis Dam disaster in the Santa Clarita Valley.

The Aliso Canyon Gas Leak from an underground natural gas storage facility owned by the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), a subsidiary of Sempra Energy occurred in Knight's district and became public in October 2015. Knight was criticized by some constituents for his reaction to the leak. He did not visit the Porter Ranch gas leak site until January 8, 2016, saying that he did not want to politicize the problem. Knight declined to co-sign a request for an investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with Representative Brad Sherman of the neighboring Congressional district. He wrote in an op-ed that EPA involvement would "hinder the ongoing process". Knight said in December 2015 that he was confident that SoCalGas was “working on this as diligently as they can.”

In February 2016, Knight introduced a bill that would block mining at Soledad Canyon. Knight also introduced legislation intended to increase federal regulation of gas storage facilities and prevent natural gas leaks. Knight's legislation was merged into a bipartisan bill named the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016. In April 2016, the bill was passed unanimously by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In June 2016, Knight's bill was signed into law by President Obama.

Also in February 2016, Knight introduced legislation that would allow the Federal Aviation Administration to continue and expand upon its research, engineering and development programs through 2019.

Committee assignments

Caucus Membership

Abortion

Knight opposes abortion.

Aerospace

Knight introduced the Aeronautics Innovation Act of 2017.

Confederate Flag

In 2014, Knight was one of three California legislators who voted against a measure barring the display or sale of Confederate flag images from California state museums and gift shops.

Donald Trump

Knight did not make an endorsement in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, saying that he could not support Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton or Republican nominee Donald Trump. Knight said he was "deeply disturbed" by reports that in 2005 Trump bragged about grabbing and groping women without their consent. In December 2016, Knight revealed that he voted for Trump after all.

In February 2017, he voted against a resolution that would have directed the House to request 10 years of Trump's tax returns, which would then have been reviewed by the House Ways and Means Committee in a closed session.

Environment

Knight opposes federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. In September, 2014, asked on a candidate questionnaire if he believed the scientific consensus on climate change, Knight wrote that California's efforts to curtail global warming were "rash," that California's law the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) was "killing California’s economy", and that the federal government should not regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

The League of Conservation Voters has given Knight a lifetime score of 0%.

Healthcare

Knight is in favor of repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). He wrote "The Affordable Care Act is a prime example of bad policy" on a September, 2014 candidate questionnaire. On May 4, 2017, Knight voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and pass the American Health Care Act.

Knight highlighted how he contributed to an amendment to the bill that would provide $8 billion in funding over five years to help insure those with preexisting conditions in so-called "high-risk pools".

Immigration

In May 2016, Knight participated in a public debate with his Democratic challengers. In it he said that immigration reform should focus on those who want to move to the U.S. legally. In 2014, he voted to uphold California's ban on bilingual education.

Social Security

In a debate with other candidates in May 2016, Knight called Social Security "a bad idea" and warned that the U.S. Social Security system retirement system will run out of money by 2030 if major changes are not implemented.

LGBT rights

He supported Proposition 8, an initiative in California to eliminates rights of same-sex couples to marry. He voted against an amendment, which ultimately failed narrowly, that stated that religious corporations, associations and institutions that receive federal contracts can't be discriminated against on the basis of religion. Democrats warn that such a provision could potentially allow discrimination against the LGBT community in the name of religious freedom.

Payday loans

In April 2015, Knight voted to impose a one-year delay on new Department of Defense rules designed to shield military families from abusive terms on payday loans and other forms of expensive short-term credit.

Vaccine controversy

In 2012, Knight voted against legislation that would require parents to obtain a waiver for unvaccinated children.

Personal life

Knight is Roman Catholic; he lives in Palmdale with his wife Lily and their two sons.