California State Senate elections, 2010

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California State Senate elections, 2010

Majority control • Campaign contributions

Qualifications • Competitiveness analysis

State Legislative Election Results

List of candidates District 2 • District 4 • District 6 • District 8 • District 10 • District 12 • District 14 • District 16 • District 18 • District 20 • District 22 • District 24 • District 26 • District 28 • District 30 • District 32 • District 34 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 40

California State Senate State legislative elections, 2010

Elections for the office of California State Senate were held on November 2, 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.

The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 25, 2010, and the primary election day was June 8, 2010.

In California, senators serve four-year terms with a two term limit. The Senators representing the odd-numbered districts are elected in years evenly divisible by four. The senators from the even-numbered districts are elected in the intervening even-numbered years.

The incumbent senator ran for re-election for 10 of the 20 state senate seats that were up for election in 2010. (50% of races) In 8 of the remaining 10 seats the incumbent was ineligible to run because of term limits.

There was no net change in the chamber's party composition as a result of this election.

See also: State senate elections and California State Assembly elections

November 2 General Election Results

The following candidates won election on November 2, 2010:

1. Alex Padilla
2. Anthony Cannella
3. Curren De Mille Price Jr.
4. Doug LaMalfa
5. Edward Hernandez
6. Ellen Corbett
7. Jean Fuller
8. Jenny Oropeza
9. Joel Anderson (California)
10. Kevin de León
11. Leland Yee
12. Lou Correa
13. Mark Wyland
14. Michael J. Rubio
15. Noreen Evans
16. Ronald S. Calderon
17. Tom Berryhill
18. Gloria Negrete McLeod

Majority control

See also: Partisan composition of state senates

Heading into the November 2 election, the Democratic Party held the majority in the California State Senate:

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

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The California State Senate has been a term-limited state senate since California voters approved Proposition 140 in 1990. Under the terms of Proposition 140, California's senators can serve no more than two 4-year terms in the state senate. This is a lifetime limit, as is the case in five other states with state senatorial term limits.

There are 40 California State Senators. In 2010, 8 incumbents were ineligible to run for the Senate again in November. They were:

Democrats (4):

• Gilbert Cedillo
• Gloria J. Romero
• Denise Moreno Ducheny
• Dean Florez

Republicans (4):

• Samuel Aanestad
• Roy Ashburn
• Dennis Hollingsworth

Campaign contributions

See also: State-by-state comparison of donations to state senate campaigns

This chart shows how many candidates ran for state senate in California in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.

Year	Number of candidates	Total contributions
2010	63	$23,000,670
2008	59	$35,169,351
2006	63	$30,011,241
2004	69	$32,887,100
2002	53	$22,148,467

In 2010, the candidates running for senate raised a total of $23,000,670 in campaign funds. Their top 10 contributors were:

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

Incumbency

Unopposed incumbents

No incumbents were unopposed in the November general election.

Primary challenges

No incumbents faced competition in the June 8 primary.

Retiring incumbents

Two incumbent representatives were eligible but did not run for re-election, while ten of the eligible incumbents (83.33%) ran for re-election. The remaining eight incumbents termed out in 2010. Of the two incumbents who did not seek re-election, one was a Democrat and one a Republican.

Incumbents who retired were:

• District 2: Incumbent Democrat Patricia Wiggins
• District 14: Incumbent Republican David Cogdill

Qualifications

A candidate shall:

A. Be at least 30 years of age, a U.S. citizen for nine years, and a resident of California when elected. U.S. Const. Art. I, §3

B. Have a valid voter registration affidavit on file in the county of residence at the time nomination papers are obtained. §201

C. Satisfy the following registration requirements:

1. Be registered with the political party whose nomination he or she is seeking for not less than three months immediately prior to the time the declaration of candidacy is presented to the county elections official or, if eligible to register for less than three months, for as long as he or she has been eligible to register to vote in California. §8001(a)(1)

2. Not have been registered as affiliated with any other qualified political party within twelve months immediately prior to the filing of the declaration of candidacy. §8001(a)(2)

List of candidates

Partisan dominance in state senates heading into the 2010 state legislative elections

2010 State senate elections
AL • AK • AR • AR • CA • CO • CT • DE • FL • GA • HI • ID • IL • IN • IA • KY • ME • MD • MA • MI • MN • MO • MT • NE • NV • NH • NY • NC • ND • OH • OK • OR • PA • RI • SD • TN • TX • UT • VT • WA • WV • WI • WY
Parties with candidates
Impact of term limits
Successful challengers
Defeated incumbents
State house elections
State senate elections
State legislative elections

District 2

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Noreen Evans 45,076 a
• Tom Lynch 14,263
• David Rosas 5,775
• Joanne Sanders 11,486

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Lawrence E. Wiesner 38,026 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Noreen Evans 190,824

Lawrence E. Wiesner 110,209

Note: Incumbent Patricia Wiggins (D) did not run for re-election.

District 4

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Lathe Gill 49,578 a

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Rick Keene 43,873
• Doug La Malfa 60,460 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Lathe Gill 105,460

Doug La Malfa 226,239

Note: Incumbent Samuel Aanestad (R) reached his term limit and did not run for re-election.

District 6

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Darrell Steinberg 61,689 a Incumbent Steinberg was first elected in 2006.

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Marcel Weiland 33,538 a

June 8 Libertarian primary result:

• Steve Torno 397 a

June 8 Peace and Freedom Party primary result:

• Lanric Hyland 188 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Darrell Steinberg 137,012

Marcel Weiland 70,724

Steve Torno 11,236

Lanric Hyland 5,916

District 8

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Leland Yee 79,631 a Incumbent Yee was first elected in 2006.

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Doo Sup Park 20,996 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Leland Yee 197,070

Doo Sup Park 52,587

District 10

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Ellen M. Corbett 56,751 a Incumbent Corbett was first elected in 2006.

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Rob Maffit 23,186 a

June 8 American Independent primary result:

• Ivan Chou 755 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Ellen M. Corbett 139,799

Rob Maffit 58,262

Ivan Chou 11,871

District 12

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Anna Caballero 34,013 a

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Anthony Cannella 31,252 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Anna Caballero 86,963

Anthony Cannella 92,270

Note: Incumbent Jeff Denham (R) did not run for re-election and instead ran for Lieutenant Governor of California.

District 14

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Larry Johnson 42,236 a

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Tom Berryhill 64,877 a
• Tim J. Campi 4,128
• Bret De St. Jeor 11,152
• Heidi Fuller 5,111
• Tom Marsella 10,452

November 2 General election candidates:

Larry Johnson 96,835

Tom Berryhill 191,097

Note: Incumbent David Cogdill (R) did not run for re-election.

District 16

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Michael J. Rubio 25,623 a

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Tim Thiesen 12,000 a
• Phillip D. Wyman 11,359

November 2 General election candidates:

Michael J. Rubio 71,334

Tim Thiesen 46,717

Note: Incumbent Dean Florez (D) did not run for re-election and instead ran for Lieutenant Governor of California.

District 18

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Carter N. Pope 28,165 a

June 8 GOP Primary result:

• Jean Fuller 70,994 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Carter N. Pope 75,229

Jean Fuller 166,051

Note: Incumbent Roy Ashburn (R) reached his term limit and did not run for re-election.

District 20

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Alex Padilla 26,015 a Incumbent Padilla was first elected in 2006.

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Kathleen Evans 13,856 a

June 8 Libertarian primary result:

• Adrian Galysh 169 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Alex Padilla 94,356

Kathleen Evans 37,420

Adrian Galysh 6,245

District 22

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Kevin De Leon 18,743 a
• Alejandro Menchaca 3,727
• Edward Paul Reyes 3,757

June 8 GOP primary result:

No Republicans filed to run for this seat.

November 2 General election candidates:

Kevin De Leon 90,557

Note: Incumbent Gilbert Cedillo (D) reached his term limit and did not run for re-election.

District 24

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Ed Hernandez 27,531 a

June 8 GOP primary result:

No Republicans filed to run for this seat.

November 2 General election candidates:

Ed Hernandez 112,792

Note: Incumbent Gloria J. Romero (D) reached her term limit and did not run for re-election.

District 26

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Curren De Mille Price 46,843 a Incumbent Price was first elected in a special election on May 19, 2009.

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Nachum Shifren 7,805 a

June 8 Libertarian primary result:

• Bob Weber 167 a

June 8 Peace and Freedom Party primary result:

• Cindy Varela Henderson 90 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Curren De Mille Price 151,733

Nachum Shifren 25,728

Bob Weber 4,882

Cindy Varela Henderson 4,293

District 28

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Jenny Oropeza 49,815 a Incumbent Oropeza died on October 20, 2010. She had represented the 28th District since 2006. Her name remained on the November 2 ballot and a special election was held to replace her.

June 8 GOP primary result:

• John S. Stammreich 33,450 a

June 8 Libertarian primary result:

• David Ruskin 393 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Jenny Oropeza 142,578

John S. Stammreich 87,896

David Ruskin 14,879

District 30

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Ronald S. Calderon 23,483 a Incumbent Calderon was first elected in 2006.

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Noel A. Jaimes 5,108
• Warren P. Willis 12,597 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Ronald S. Calderon 105,946

Warren P. Willis 48,534

District 32

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Gloria Negrete McLeod 24,955 a Incumbent McLeod was first elected in 2006.

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Earl De Vries 16,305 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Gloria Negrete McLeod 92,691

Earl De Vries 43,924

District 34

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Lou Correa 25,297 a Incumbent Correa was first elected in 2006.

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Lucille Kring 25,383 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Lou Correa 88,892

Lucille Kring 46,377

District 36

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Paul Clay 37,060 a

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Joel Anderson 39,558 a
• Kenneth C. Dickson 17,971
• Greg Stephens 8,794
• Jeff Stone 27,258

June 8 Libertarian primary result:

• Michael S. Metti 627 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Paul Clay 101,112

Joel Anderson 193,573

Michael S. Metti 11,737

Note: Incumbent Dennis Hollingsworth (R) reached his term limit and did not run for re-election.

District 37

June 8 Special Election results:

• Justin Blake (D) 21,790
• William Emmerson (R) 41,206 a
• Matt Monica (AI) 7,584

District 38

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Gila Jones 39,003 a

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Mark Wyland 79,863 a Incumbent Wyland was first elected in 2006.

June 8 Libertarian primary result:

• Kristi Stone 658 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Gila Jones 96,884

Mark Wyland 169,769

Kristi Stone 15,185

District 40

June 8 Democratic primary result:

• Mary Salas 24,260
• Juan Vargas 24,282 a

June 8 GOP primary result:

• Brian Hendry 32,368 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Juan Vargas 101,767

Brian Hendry 69,417

Note: Incumbent Denise Moreno Ducheny (D) reached her term limit and did not run for re-election.

See also

• California State Senate
• California State Legislature
• State legislative elections, 2010
• Primary election dates in 2010

External links

• List of November 2, 2010 nominated candidates
• 2010 Primary election candidates (dead link)
• California Senate primary results (dead link)
• District 37 Special election results (dead link)
• General election candidates (dead link)
• Project Vote Smart list of candidates for California State Senate in the November 2, 2010 election
• Sacramento Bee, California State Senate election results (dead link)
• Official election results

Footnotes

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Current members of the California State Senate

Leadership

Minority Leader:Brian Jones

Senators

District 1

Megan Dahle (R)

District 2

Mike McGuire (D)

District 3

Christopher Cabaldon (D)

District 4

Marie Alvarado-Gil (R)

District 5

Jerry McNerney (D)

District 6

Roger Niello (R)

District 7

Jesse Arreguín (D)

District 8

Angelique Ashby (D)

District 9

Tim Grayson (D)

District 10

Aisha Wahab (D)

District 11

Scott Wiener (D)

District 12

Shannon Grove (R)

District 13

Josh Becker (D)

District 14

Anna Caballero (D)

District 15

Dave Cortese (D)

District 16

Melissa Hurtado (D)

District 17

John Laird (D)

District 18

Steve Padilla (D)

District 19

Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R)

District 20

Caroline Menjivar (D)

District 21

S. Limón (D)

District 22

Susan Rubio (D)

District 23

Suzette Valladares (R)

District 24

Ben Allen (D)

District 25

Sasha Renée Pérez (D)

District 26

Maria Durazo (D)

District 27

Henry Stern (D)

District 28

Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D)

District 29

Eloise Reyes (D)

District 30

Bob Archuleta (D)

District 31

Sabrina Cervantes (D)

District 32

Kelly Seyarto (R)

District 33

Lena Gonzalez (D)

District 34

Tom Umberg (D)

District 35

Laura Richardson (D)

District 36

Tony Strickland (R)

District 37

Steven Choi (R)

District 38

Catherine Blakespear (D)

District 39

Akilah Weber (D)

District 40

Brian Jones (R)

Democratic Party (30)

Republican Party (10)