He is a member of the Democratic Party who previously represented the 3rd Senate district, which encompasses the northern San Francisco Bay Area and Delta region.

During his tenure, the industry embraced third-party certification of water treatment products and lobbied in Sacramento on important legislation to protect consumers.

Dodd declared his candidacy for the State Senate, District 3 in July 2015 and was endorsed by Governor Jerry Brown, Lt.

Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Alex Padilla, along with the majority of members in the Senate, Assembly and local elected officials.

In March 2017 Dodd coauthored California Senate Bill 649,[10] which would remove a city's ability to control where cell towers are placed and transfer the power to the state.

Dodd serves on the boards of the Queen of the Valley Hospital Foundation, Justin-Siena High School, Health Care for the Poor Committee, Wolfe Center Youth Drug and Alcohol Center, Children's Health Initiative and is an honorary member of Hospice, Adult Day Services and Clinic Ole.