| Catherine Blakespear | |
| State Senate: | California State |
| District: | 38th |
| Term Start: | December 5, 2022 |
| Predecessor: | Pat Bates |
| Office1: | Mayor of Encinitas |
| Term Start1: | February 8, 2016 |
| Term End1: | December 3, 2022 |
| Successor1: | Tony Kranz |
| Predecessor1: | Kristin Gaspar |
| Birth Name: | Catherine Blake |
| Birth Date: | 29 February 1976 |
| Birth Place: | Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, U.S. |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Spouse: | Jeremy Spearman |
| Children: | 2 |
| Residence: | Cardiff, California |
| Education: | Northwestern University (BS, MS) University of Utah (JD) |
| Occupation: | Estate planning attorney |
| Profession: | Politicianjournalist (formerly) |
Catherine Smith Blakespear (née Blake; born February 29, 1976) is an American politician and former journalist who is currently serving in the California State Senate. She is a Democrat representing the 38th Senate District, which encompasses the Northern San Diego County and Southern Orange County region.
Blakespear was born on February 29, 1976, in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Encinitas, California. She graduated from Torrey Pines High School in 1994 and graduated in 1999 from Northwestern University in Chicago where she earned a BS and MS degree in Journalism. In 2006, she received her JD from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law 2006.[1]
Blakespear was a reporter for the Los Angeles Times in 1994, and after that was Associated Press reporter.
Prior to her time in elected office, Blakespear was an estate planning attorney.[2]
Prior to her election to the State Senate, Blakespear served on the Encinitas city council in 2014, and then 3 terms as mayor of the city from December 2016 to November 2022. While mayor of Encinitas, Blakespear served as chair of SANDAG.[3]
Blakespear's family has lived in the Encinitas area for nearly a century. Catherine met her husband while reporting on the Salt Lake City Olympics. Catherine and husband Jeremy reside in Encinitas. They have 2 children.