Eight things you didn't know about Karen Bass

One is that Speaker Bass is related to State Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, reports Shane Goldmacher of the Sacramento Bee. She also went to Hamilton High, same as Rep. Howard Berman, former Rep. Lynn Schenk and ex-assemblyman Paul Koretz.

Bass and Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, are often referred to as “cousins.” That’s not quite right, says Ridley-Thomas.

“Technically she is my half-brother’s cousin,” he reports....

Bass also has earned brown belts in tae kwon do and hapkido martial arts. She doesn’t actively practice martial arts anymore, but does bicycle....

Bass’ only child, daughter Emilia Wright, and her son-in-law, Michael Wright, were killed in a 2006 car accident in Southern California. Both were 23....The state Assembly is Bass’ first post as an elected official. She won her seat in 2004 in a competitive five-way primary (with four other men), which included a better-known candidate, longtime Los Angeles City Council member Nate Holden.

Sadly, we did know about the deaths of her daughter and son-in-law.