First elected in 1986, Kopp represents Senate District 8, which covers all of San Francisco except for the northeast corner, and most of San Mateo county. Kopp is a practicing trial lawyer and in 1986 was the first non-incumbent Independent to get elected to the State Legislature since 1878. Kopp is also a weekly commentator on KTVU-TV in Oakland. He serves on the following committees: Agriculture & Water Resources; Budget & Fiscal Review; Criminal Procedure; Housing & Land Use; Joint Rules; Local Government; Revenue & Taxation; Transportation.