Dave Cogdill

With his wife of 47 years, Stephanie, Cogdill had two children, David Jr. and Meghan. Cogdill died of pancreatic cancer on July 23, 2017.

In October 2013, Cogdill resigned as Stanislaus County Assessor to become president and CEO of the California Building Industry Association, a post he held until his death. Cogdill previously received campaign contributions from the CBIA during his time in the Legislature.

Despite serving in the Senate only eleven months in 2010, Cogdill was the second largest taxpayer-funded gas card spender in the Senate for 2010 costing $5,941.26

Rather than seek re-election to the Senate in 2010, Cogdill ran for Assessor of Stanislaus County. He would serve as Assessor from January 2011 until his October 2013 resignation.

Shortly after midnight on the morning of February 18, 2009, after several days of late-night, contentious debates over closing a $42 billion gap in the state budget, Senate Republicans met in caucus where they voted to replace Cogdill with State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth. This removal was precipitated by Cogdill's agreement to join with Democrats as a member of the "Sacramento Six" to raise vehicle license fees and taxes during the administration of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

With his election as Senate Republican Leader in 2008, Cogdill stepped down as Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee (although he did remain a member of the committee); switched from the Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services to the Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy; and left the Human Services Committee. He was succeeded as Caucus Whip by Senator Tom Harman. His other committee assignments and vice chairmanships were unchanged.

In 2006, Cogdill was elected to the State Senate to represent the 14th District, which comprised all or a portion of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties.

In 1979, he moved to Modesto, where he would build his real estate appraisal business. He would live there for the remaining 38 years of his life.

Cogdill was first elected to public office in 1975 as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bridgeport Fire Protection District in Mono County.

David Ellis Cogdill Sr. (December 31, 1950 – July 23, 2017) was a Republican politician who was the California State Senate Republican Leader, a post he held for 10 months from 2008 until he was replaced by State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth early in the morning on February 18, 2009 amidst a contentious mid-year budget debate. He served as a State Senator from California's 14th State Senate district for one term from December 2006 to December 2010.

Prior to being elected to the Senate, Cogdill represented the 25th District for six years in the California State Assembly. During that time, he served as Vice Chair of the Rules Committee. Cogdill also sat on the Budget, Agriculture, and the Joint Legislative Audit Committees. Additionally, Cogdill acted as the Assembly Minority Floor leader and was responsible for coordinating Republican efforts on the Assembly Floor.