SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – San Diego Sen. Toni Atkins will take over as the California Senate’s leader on March 21. Democrats picked the transition day Tuesday after announcing Atkins would be the next Senate president pro tem last month. Atkins will become the first woman and the first lesbian to lead the Senate when she takes over from fellow Democrat Kevin de Leon of Los Angeles. De Leon is barred by term limits from seeking re-election and is running for U.S. Senate. Atkins is a former Assembly speaker and health care executive who was first elected to the Legislature in 2010. She takes over as legislative leaders face scrutiny over their handling of sexual misconduct allegations.