He is currently serving in the California State Senate, representing District 15, which encompasses a majority of Santa Clara County.

Cortese ran for mayor of San Jose and won the primary, losing the general election to District 3 councilmember Sam Liccardo.

His maternal grandfather, Ed Donovan, was a civic leader and executive of General Motors Credit Corp. who served as a Santa Clara City Councilman in 1949 and 1950.

[8] Dave Cortese and his wife, Pattie, who serves on the East Side Union High School District Board, have four children.

His professional journey includes business endeavors involving the sale of agricultural produce, stewardship of a substantial multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio, construction, ownership of a dining establishments, and a private law practice.