Susan Talamantes Eggman (born March 3, 1961) is an American politician who is currently serving in the California State Senate. A Democrat, she represents the 5th Senate District, which encompasses western San Joaquin County; since January 19, 2022, she has served as Assistant Majority Leader.
Prior to being elected to the Senate in 2020, she was a member of the California State Assembly representing the 13th Assembly District as well as being a Stockton City Councilwoman and Associate Professor of social work at California State University, Sacramento.
Eggman is openly lesbian and is a member and past chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus. She is also a member of the California Latino Legislative Caucus.
Biography
Susan C. Eggman was born 3 March 1961, in Alameda County, California, Talamantes is her mother's maiden name. Her brother Michael ran in the primary, for California's 10th congressional district, on June 5, 2018.
Eggman grew up in Stanislaus County and graduated from Turlock High School in 1979. After graduation, she enlisted in the U.S. Army, where she served four years from 1979 to 1983 as a medic at the Fort Meade army hospital, Maryland. After the military, she attended California State University, Stanislaus, where she earned both a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master of social work. She later earned a Ph.D. in social work from Portland State University.
Departure from state Assembly
On May 19, 2019, Eggman announced that she would be a candidate for the California state Senate in California's 5th State Senate district in 2020. Incumbent state Senator Cathleen Galgiani was not eligible for reelection due to term limits.