California senate leader, first gay person to hold post, to step down

Toni Atkins, San Diego Democrat, to be replaced by colleague Mike McGuire at end of historic run as president pro tempore

The leader of the California senate said on Monday she will step down from her leadership post, ending a historic run as the first woman and first openly gay person to lead the upper legislative chamber of the nation's most populous state.

Toni Atkins, a Democrat from San Diego, said she will step down next year. Mike McGuire, a Democrat from the state's North Coast region, will replace Atkins as the Senate's president pro tempore.