Former state Sen. Josh Newman has a new gig as a senior fellow with the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology, where he will be co-teaching a class on California’s future. 

Newman served in the state Senate from 2016 to 2018 and again from 2020 to 2024, representing districts centered in Orange County. He accepted the unpaid fellowship with UCI after losing his re-election bid in the race for the 37th Senate District in November to Republican Steven Choi by about 6,000 votes.

Newman is also already planning a run for the open 34th Senate District seat in 2026.

“I think I have a lot left to offer in public service, and I’m not interested in running for something else,” Newman said in an interview last month. 

For now, though, he’ll be in the classroom where he will co-teach the class on California’s future with School of Social Ecology Dean Jon Gould.

“I’m delighted to have been offered this opportunity to serve as a senior fellow at UCI’s School of Social Ecology,” Newman said. “I’m very much looking forward to working closely with Dean Gould and other members of the school’s talented staff to bring real-world insights on politics and policy as part of the school’s mission of developing future leaders in education, research, public policy and community action.”

Newman will have to move to be eligible to run in this district, which includes a large swatch of communities he previously represented in the legislature before redistricting. The 34th Senate District centers on Anaheim but includes communities in Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra and Santa Ana. It dips into Los Angeles County as well, picking up South Whittier.

Newman isn’t the only ousted Democrat headed to UCI to teach. 

Former Rep. Katie Porter returned to teaching at the UCI School of Law this year following her six-year stint in Congress and her loss in the U.S. Senate primary. The Harvard Law alumna had been teaching at UCI Law prior to her 2018 election. This semester, she is teaching courses on legislation and statutory interpretation as well as secured transactions, according to UCI. 

Editor Kaitlyn Schallhorn contributed to this report.

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