De León acknowledges that the lessons from that failure helped him learn what was necessary to earn the support of his Senate colleagues to choose him as their leader. He listened to the issues they cared about it, and was helpful in advancing them.
In nominating him for the post, Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, noted that de León has become a champion for the environmental issues about which she cares deeply. Republican Sen. Ted Gaines, of Rocklin, noted that de León made certain that rural schools in GOP districts received an equitable share of the energy-efficiency projects funded by Proposition 39.
“I would say he has grace,” Gaines said, “which is something that’s unusual for an elected official.”