The 13th Senate District (2001 Redistricting) was centered in Santa Clara County and included the cities of San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Gilroy.

Alquist served in the State Senate from December 2004 to November 2012.

Her professional career began as an algebra and trigonometry teacher and a counselor in the public schools.

[2] Alquist was elected to the California State Assembly's 22nd District in November 1996, and was re-elected in 1998 and 2000.

[3] Alquist was elected to the California State Senate's 13th District in November 2004, and was re-elected in 2008.