Christopher L. Cabaldon was born in California on November 12, 1965. In his youth, he attended the first magnet school in Los Angeles, the Center for Enriched Studies. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Economics. 

Cabaldon began his service as Chief Consultant and Staff Director to the California State Assembly Higher Education Committee and then Chief of Staff to the chair of Appropriations Committee. He also served as Legislative Director of the University of California Students Association, before working for legislative higher education committee chair Tom Hayden.

From 1998 to 2020, he served as Mayor of West Sacramento. He was also Vice Chancellor of the California Community Colleges System from 1997 to 2003. In the United States Conference of Mayors, he led the Jobs, Education, and Workforce Standing Committee.

Cabaldon was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown as the state’s representative to the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education. In 2015, President Obama appointed him to the National Advisory Board of America’s College Promise. He was also appointed to the tenured faculty of CSU Sacramento as the Hazel Cramer Endowed Chair and Professor of Public Policy and Administration in 2019. Before his election to the State Senate, he worked as Mayor in Residence with the Institute for the Future.