Staff Director
Carrie Cornwell
Carrie Cornwell serves as the Staff Director for the California State Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee, a position she has held since November 2024.
Carrie previously served as Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon’s chief of staff. Prior to her tenure with Rendon, she spent nine years as the Chief Consultant to the Transportation and Housing Committee of the California State Senate.
Carrie was the Deputy Treasurer for Public Finance and Legislation to California State Treasurer Phil Angelides in 2004-05. From 2000 through 2004, she served as Capitol Chief of Staff to California State Senator Tom Torlakson, who represented most of Contra Costa County. She served in the same capacity for Mr. Torlakson during his initial four years in the California State Assembly. Carrie began her career in the Capitol as an Assembly Fellow.
Outside the Capitol, Carrie has been an adjunct professor of economics at Sacramento City College and Sierra College. She also chaired the Sacramento County Project Planning Commission.
Carrie earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Economics from UCLA and Master’s Degree in Public and International Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University. She resides in the Land Park neighborhood of Sacramento with her husband and their son.
Principal Consultant:
Scott B. Matsumoto
Scott Matsumoto has worked for the committee since 2018. Prior to working for the Senate, Scott served in the legislative office of Assemblymember Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., where he worked on issues such as elections and higher education. Scott graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz and has a certificate in election administration from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Assistant:
Rida Shaikh
Rida has worked for the committee since 2024. Prior to that, Rida worked for the California Energy Commission as a student volunteer while she was attending UC Davis.