Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Teri Holoman

8. Teri Holoman

Her title is clear – Teri Holoman is the Associate Executive Director of the California Teachers Association. In theory, that means she heads up government affairs for a union that represents 310,000 engaged members who always seem ready to mobilize for a fight. We say “in theory” because that alone does not remotely do justice to the influence Holoman has in California politics. Aside from using the CTA’s enviable ground game masterfully to give the organization immense influence beyond narrowly construed education issues, she is a well-known confidante to many of the state’s most powerful players. Unions chiefs, local officials, state officials, business leaders, governors and aspiring gubernatorial candidates – i.e. the powerful and the wannabe powerful – all take her calls, which is the clearest signal that someone has juice. And yet, somehow Holoman manages to stay affable and approachable, hardly common traits among those who travel in her rarified air. Note: we are required by Top 100 law to note that Holoman is a board member of Open California, the nonprofit publisher of Capitol Weekly. She is married to lobbyist Andrew Antwih, who is No. 51 on this list.

Updated Aug. 26, 2025