California State Senate elections

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State Legislatures State legislative elections, 2025 Poll opening and closing times

This page displays election information for the California State Senate.

Elections

California state senators serve staggered, four-year terms and half of the Senate is up for election every two years. California holds elections for its legislature in even years.

2026

See also: California State Senate elections, 2026

Elections for the California State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.

2024

See also: California State Senate elections, 2024

Elections for the California State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was March 5, 2024. The filing deadline was December 8, 2023.

In the 2024 elections, Democrats lost one seat but maintained their majority in the California State Senate. The Democratic majority went from 31-9 to 30-10.

California State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2024	After November 6, 2024
	Democratic Party	31	30
	Republican Party	9	9
	Vacancy	0	1
Total		40	40

2022

See also: California State Senate elections, 2022

Elections for the California State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 7, 2022. The filing deadline was March 11, 2022.

In the 2022 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the California State Senate from 31-9 to 32-8.

California State Senate
Party		As of November 8, 2022	After November 9, 2022
	Democratic Party	31	32
	Republican Party	9	8
Total		40	40

2020

See also: California State Senate elections, 2020

Elections for the office of California State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for March 3, 2020. The filing deadline was December 6, 2019.

In the 2020 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the California State Senate from 28-11 to 30-9.

California State Senate
Party		As of November 3, 2020	After November 4, 2020
	Democratic Party	28	30
	Republican Party	11	9
	Vacancy	1	1
Total		40	40

2018

See also: California State Senate elections, 2018

Elections for the California State Senate took place in 2018. A top-two primary election took place on June 5, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2018. The filing deadline for write-in candidates was May 22, 2018.

In the 2018 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the California State Senate from 26-14 to 29-11.

California State Senate
Party		As of November 6, 2018	After November 7, 2018
	Democratic Party	26	29
	Republican Party	14	11
Total		40	40

2016

See also: California State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the California State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2016, for candidates filing with signatures. The deadline for candidates using a filing fee to qualify was March 11, 2016. A total of 20 seats out of the 40 seats in the California State Senate were up for election in 2016.

Heading into the election, Democrats held a 26-13 majority. Democrats gained one seat in the election, giving them a 27-13 majority.

California State Senate
Party		As of November 7, 2016	After November 8, 2016
	Democratic Party	26	27
	Republican Party	13	13
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		40	40

Click [show] to see election information dating back to 2000

2014 See also: California State Senate elections, 2014 Elections for the California State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 27-12 majority. Democrats lost two seats in the election, giving them a 25-14 majority with one vacancy. California State Senate Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014      Democratic Party 27 25      Republican Party 12 14      Vacancy 1 1 Total 40 40 2012 See also: California State Senate elections, 2012 Elections for the office of California State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 5, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2012. State Senate seats in the odd-numbered districts were on the ballot in 2012. A total of 20 seats were up for election. In 2010, senators from even-numbered districts were up for election. In 2012, voters in the 20 odd-numbered districts went to the polls to elect senators. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 25-15 majority. Democrats gained one seat in the election, giving them a 26-12 majority with two vacancies. California State Senate Party As of November 5, 2012 After the 2012 Election      Democratic Party 25 26      Republican Party 15 12      Vacancy 0 2 Total 40 40 The table below details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election in 2012. 2012 Margin of Victory, California State Senate District Winner Margin of Victory Total Votes Top Opponent District 5 Cathleen Galgiani 1% 281,927 Bill Berryhill District 27 Fran Pavley 7.1% 369,195 Todd Zink District 29 Robert "Bob" Huff 10.2% 292,140 Greg Diamond District 31 Richard Roth 10.6% 242,202 Jeff Miller District 19 Hannah-Beth Jackson 11.4% 324,599 Mike Stoker District 23 Bill Emmerson 12.6% 282,563 Melissa Ruth O'Donnell District James Beall Jr. 13.5% 282,796 Joe Coto District 37 Mimi Walters 14% 373,681 Steve Young District 21 Stephen Knight 15.3% 266,192 Star Moffatt District 39 Marty Block 16.8% 378,317 George Plescia 2010 See also: California State Senate elections, 2010 Elections for the office of California State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on June 8, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2010. State Senate seats in the even-numbered districts were on the ballot in 2010. There was also a special election for District 37 on June 8, 2010. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 24-14 majority. Democrats gained one seat in the election, giving them a 25-14 majority with one vacancy. California State Senate Party As of November 1, 2010 After the 2010 Election      Democratic Party 24 25      Republican Party 14 14      Vacancy 2 1 Total 40 40 In 2010, the candidates running for Senate raised a total of $23,000,670 in campaign funds. Their top 10 contributors were: 2010 Donors, California State Senate Donor Amount California Democratic Party $2,591,242 California Republican Party $1,249,852 AT$T $240,088 Carol Liu for Senate $227,997 California Association of Realtors $195,600 Merced County Democratic Central Cmte $190,000 Republican Party of Stanislaus County $174,000 California Dental Association $171,200 California State Council of Laborers $166,835 California Professional Fire Fighters $158,898 2008 See also: California State Senate elections, 2008 Elections for the California State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 3, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $45,351,422. The top 10 contributors were: 2008 Donors, California State Senate Donor Amount California Democratic Party $2,771,083 California Republican Party $2,728,227 Merced County Democratic Central Cmte $290,000 Santa Barbara County Democratic Party $276,826 Santa Clara County Democratic Central Cmte $260,000 At&T $248,481 California Medical Association $224,400 California Association of Realtors $223,805 SEIU California State Council $201,600 California Professional Fire Fighters $197,842 2006 See also: California State Senate elections, 2006 Elections for the California State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 6, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $36,599,292. The top 10 contributors were: 2006 Donors, California State Assembly Donor Amount California Democratic Party $2,337,829 California Republican Party $1,552,660 Republican Central Cmte of Orange County $627,900 Dutra, John A $523,808 Monterey County Republican Party $479,000 At&T $362,421 California Medical Association $274,150 California Association of Realtors $186,100 SEIU California State Council $164,800 California Building Industry Association $161,055 2004 See also: California State Senate elections, 2004 Elections for the California State Senate consisted of a primary election on March 2, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $39,487,973. The top 10 contributors were: 2004 Donors, California State Assembly Donor Amount California Democratic Party $5,730,671 California Republican Party $3,001,653 Sacramento County Republican Party $407,600 Republican Central Cmte of Orange County $331,900 San Joaquin County Republican Central Cmte $245,000 California Medical Association $221,600 Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians $203,050 California Dental Association $162,511 California Association of Realtors $160,597 At&T $147,260 2002 See also: California State Senate elections, 2002 Elections for the California State Senate consisted of a primary election on March 5, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $34,311,200. The top 10 contributors were: 2002 Donors, California State Senate Donor Amount California Democratic Party $3,547,899 California Republican Party $1,831,050 Brulte, Friends of Jim $1,161,242 Jackie Speier State Senate 2002 $589,191 Friends of Joe Dunn $444,911 Poochigian Senate Cmte $426,883 21St Century Insurance $327,250 California Teachers Association $312,336 California Medical Association $305,650 California State Council of Laborers $274,500 2000 See also: California State Senate elections, 2000 Elections for the California State Senate consisted of a primary election on March 7, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $49,599,033. The top 10 contributors were: 2000 Donors, California State Senate Donor Amount Senate Majority Fund $3,382,189 California Democratic Party $2,883,992 Senate Democratic Leadership Fund $2,648,280 Friends of Jim Brulte $1,387,153 California Republican Party $1,363,417 California Senate Republican Leadership Fund $1,039,850 California Correctional Peace Officers Association $642,500 California Teachers Association $493,750 Native Americans & Peace Officers $475,000 Working Families for Deborah Ortiz $472,000

Historical party control

Democrats won control of the California State Senate in 1974. In 2024, they won a 30-10 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the California Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

California State Senate election results: 1992-2024*

Year	'92	'94	'96	'98	'00	'02	'04	'06	'08	'10	'12	'14	'16	'18	'20	'22	'24
Democrats	23	21	24	25	26	26	25	25	26	25	26	25	27	29	30	32	30
Republicans	14	17	15	15	14	14	15	15	14	14	12	14	13	11	9	8	10

*The total number of seats does not always equal 40 due to vacancies in the chamber.

Before 1992

Republicans controlled the state Senate with majorities from 1896 to 1956. Democrats split the chamber 20-20 in the 1956 elections, and they won a majority in 1958. From 1958 to 2022, Democrats controlled the chamber except for when it was split evenly in 1968 and 1972, both years when native Californian Richard Nixon (R) was elected president.

Trifecta history

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, California was under the following types of trifecta control:

• Democratic trifecta: 1999-2003, 2011-2023
• Republican trifecta: None
• Divided government: 1992-1998, 2004-2010

California Party Control: 1992-2025
Twenty years with Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
Governor	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Senate	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Assembly	D	D	D	S	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

Footnotes

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