2020 California State Senate election explained

Election Name:2020 California State Senate election
Country:California
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2018 California State Senate election
Previous Year:2018
Next Election:2022 California State Senate election
Next Year:2022
Seats For Election:20 seats from odd-numbered districts in the California State Senate
Majority Seats:21
Leader1:Toni Atkins
Party1:California Democratic Party
Leaders Seat1:39th–San Diego
Last Election1:29
Seats After1:31
Seat Change1: 2
Popular Vote1:3,274,204
Percentage1:71.23%
Leader2:Shannon Grove
Party2:California Republican Party
Leaders Seat2:16th–Bakersfield
Last Election2:11
Seats After2:9
Seat Change2: 2
Popular Vote2:1,218,374
Percentage2:26.51%
Map Size:450px
President pro tempore
Posttitle:President pro tempore
Before Election:Toni Atkins
Before Party:California Democratic Party
After Election:Toni Atkins
After Party:Democratic

The 2020 California State Senate election was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, with the primary election scheduled for March 3, 2020. Voters in the 20 odd-numbered districts of the California State Senate elected their representatives. The elections coincided with the elections for other offices, including for U.S. President and the state assembly.

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
align=left The Cook Political Report[1] October 21, 2020
align=left Sabato's Crystal Ball[2] May 7, 2020

Overview

Primary elections

2020 California State Senate election
Primary election – March 3, 2020
PartyVotesPercentageCandidatesAdvancing to generalSeats contesting
Democratic3,274,20471.23%382320
Republican1,218,37426.51%221515
No party preference62,0941.35%500
American Independent34,2530.75%111
Libertarian7,0360.15%411
Green5300.01%100
Totals4,596,491100.00%6140

General elections

2020 California State Senate election
General election – November 3, 2020[3]
PartyVotes%BeforeUpWonAfter+/–
Democratic5,795,87066.0929151731 2
Republican2,831,71132.2911539 2
American Independent89,0801.020000
Libertarian53,2560.610000
Totals8,769,917100.0040202040

Retiring incumbents

Results

District 1

See also: California's 1st State Senate district. The 1st district stretches along the eastern edge of the state from the Oregon border to the Lake Tahoe area, wrapping around the Sacramento Valley along the northern Sierra Nevada to the eastern Sacramento suburbs. The incumbent is Republican Brian Dahle, who was elected in a special election with 53.9% of the vote in 2019.[4]

Candidates

District 3

See also: California's 3rd State Senate district. The 3rd district encompasses the northern San Francisco Bay Area and the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta regions. It includes parts of the North Bay, Wine Country, and the Sacramento Valley. The incumbent is Democrat Bill Dodd, who was elected with 58.1% of the vote in 2016.[6]

Candidates

District 5

See also: California's 5th State Senate district. The 5th district is centered on the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and forms the gateway between the Central Valley, the San Francisco Bay Area, the Sacramento metropolitan area, and Gold Country. The incumbent is Democrat Cathleen Galgiani, who is term-limited and cannot run for reelection.

Candidates

District 7

See also: California's 7th State Senate district. The 7th district is located in the East Bay east of the Berkeley Hills, taking in suburban and bedroom communities of San Francisco Bay Area. The incumbent is Democrat Steve Glazer, who was re-elected with 66.7% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

District 9

See also: California's 9th State Senate district. The 9th district encompasses the northern East Bay, stretching along the eastern shores of San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay. The incumbent is Democrat Nancy Skinner, who was elected with 62.2% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

District 11

See also: California's 11th State Senate district. The 11th district encompasses the northern San Francisco Peninsula, including the consolidated city-county of San Francisco and northern San Mateo County. The incumbent is Democrat Scott Wiener, who was elected with 51.0% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

District 13

See also: California's 13th State Senate district. The 13th district encompasses the San Francisco Peninsula and the northwestern reaches of Silicon Valley. The incumbent is Democrat Jerry Hill, who is term-limited and cannot run for reelection.

Candidates

District 15

See also: California's 15th State Senate district. The 15th district encompasses most of Silicon Valley, centered around San Jose. The incumbent is Democrat Jim Beall, who is term-limited and cannot run for reelection.

Candidates

District 17

See also: California's 17th State Senate district. The 17th district encompasses the extreme southern parts of the San Francisco Bay Area and northern Central Coast centering on the coastal Monterey Bay Area. The incumbent is Democrat Bill Monning, who is term-limited and cannot run for reelection.

Candidates

District 19

See also: California's 19th State Senate district. The 19th district takes in the southern Central Coast, including all of Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County. The incumbent is Democrat Hannah-Beth Jackson, who is term-limited and cannot run for reelection.

Candidates

District 21

See also: California's 21st State Senate district. The 21st district takes in northern Los Angeles County and parts of the High Desert including, the Antelope Valley, Victor Valley, and most of the Santa Clarita Valley. The incumbent is Republican Scott Wilk, who was elected with 52.8% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

District 23

See also: California's 23rd State Senate district. The 23rd district encompasses a wide arc of the Inland Empire, circling clockwise from Rancho Cucamonga in the northwest to Menifee in the south. It also includes several resort communities in the San Bernardino Mountains and a sliver of the High Desert. The incumbent is Republican Mike Morrell, who is term-limited and cannot run for reelection.

Candidates

District 25

See also: California's 25th State Senate district. The 25th district encompasses the San Gabriel Mountains and its adjacent San Gabriel Valley foothill communities, anchored by Glendale and Pasadena. The incumbent is Democrat Anthony Portantino, who was elected with 57.8% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

District 27

See also: California's 27th State Senate district. The 27th district takes in the Conejo Valley, parts of the San Fernando Valley, and a slice of the Santa Clarita Valley, including most of Los Angeles's western suburbs, as well as Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks. The incumbent is Democrat Henry Stern, who was elected with 55.9% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

District 29

See also: California's 29th State Senate district. The 29th district straddles the intersection of Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Bernardino County. It encompasses the northern Santa Ana Valley, including western and central Anaheim, Fullerton, and Yorba Linda. The incumbent is Republican Ling Ling Chang, who was elected in a special election with 33.8% of the vote in 2018.[33]

Candidates

District 31

See also: California's 31st State Senate district. The 31st district takes in northwestern Riverside County, including Corona, Moreno Valley, and Riverside. The incumbent is Democrat Richard Roth, who was re-elected with 60.5% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

District 33

See also: California's 33rd State Senate district. The 33rd district encompasses a strip of the Gateway Cities, stretching from parts of eastern Los Angeles to the coast, including the Port of Long Beach and a significant portion of Long Beach itself. The incumbent is Democrat Lena Gonzalez, who was elected in a special election with 69.8% of the vote in 2019.[36]

Candidates

District 35

See also: California's 35th State Senate district. The 35th district takes in the inland portions of the South Bay stretching from Inglewood in the north down to the Port of Los Angeles and the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles. The incumbent is Democrat Steven Bradford, who was elected with 53.5% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

District 37

See also: California's 37th State Senate district. The 37th district encompasses central Orange County, centered on eastern Anaheim and Irvine. The incumbent is Republican John Moorlach, who was re-elected with 57.0% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

District 39

See also: California's 39th State Senate district. The 39th district is centered on Downtown San Diego and mainly stretches along the city's coastline, including part of San Diego Bay.The incumbent is Democrat State Senate President pro tempore Toni Atkins, who was elected with 62.5% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: October Overview: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races. The Cook Political Report. November 1, 2020.
  2. News: Nuttycombe . Chaz . The State of the States: The Legislatures . University of Virginia Center for Politics . May 7, 2020.
  3. Web site: 2020 California General Election Results. Election Results. en. 27 December 2020. .
  4. Web site: SD1 General Election Official Canvass. June 27, 2019.
  5. Web site: Riquelmy . Alan . Nevada County, Nevada City political races take shape . The Union of Grass Valley . December 25, 2019 . December 6, 2019.
  6. Web site: Statement of Vote – November 8, 2016, General Election. June 27, 2019.
  7. Web site: Notice to Candidates – Senate Districts. California Secretary of State . December 20, 2019.
  8. Web site: Phillips . Roger . Bills spark spat between Senate candidates . Recordnet . September 29, 2019 . August 14, 2019.
  9. News: Phillips. Roger. Eggman says she will seek Galgiani’s state Senate seat. Recordnet. March 20, 2019. June 27, 2019.
  10. News: Carlson. Ken. Early sparring marks race for Senate seat as Councilman Mani Grewal announces run. Modesto Bee. May 31, 2019. June 27, 2019.
  11. Web site: Walsh . Jeremy . Election 2020: Candidate list for March primary solidified . Danville San Ramon . December 25, 2019 . December 10, 2019.
  12. Web site: Taft . Molly . Jackie Fielder: Meet the Young Indigenous Activist Running for California’s State Senate . Teen Vogue . December 25, 2019 . December 24, 2019.
  13. Web site: Fitzgerald Rodriguez . Joe . This rifle-toting Republican is gunning for Scott Wiener’s state senate seat . San Francisco Examiner . December 25, 2019 . December 18, 2019.
  14. News: Newsom endorses state Senate candidate Josh Becker. Daily Post. June 23, 2019. June 27, 2019.
  15. News: Mibach. Emily. Menlo Park man raises most in state Senate race. Daily Post. February 3, 2019. June 27, 2019.
  16. News: Lopez. Nadia. South Bay Senate candidates differ on controversial housing bill. San Jose Spotlight. May 21, 2019. June 28, 2019.
  17. Web site: Nomination Deadline Approaches for March 2020 Primary . San Jose Inside . December 25, 2019 . December 3, 2019.
  18. News: Johnny Khamis Announces Run for State Senate District 15. Business Wire. March 1, 2019. June 28, 2019.
  19. News: Tolan. Casey. Former Federal Election Commission chair Ann Ravel runs for State Senate in San Jose. Mercury News. February 12, 2019. June 28, 2019.
  20. Web site: Bajko . Matthew S. . Political Notebook: Nonprofit leader enters Central Coast Senate race . The Bay Area Reporter . September 29, 2019 . September 11, 2019.
  21. News: Fountain. Matt. Former Santa Cruz mayor running to replace Bill Monning in state Senate. San Jose Spotlight. January 18, 2019. June 28, 2019.
  22. Web site: Garcia . Karen . Five candidates are running for Sen. Bill Monning's District District 17 seat, two are part of the LGBTQ community . New Times . September 29, 2019 . September 26, 2019.
  23. Web site: Molina . Joshua . Assemblywoman Monique Limón Says She’s Running for State Senate . Noozhawk . September 29, 2019 . September 21, 2019.
  24. Web site: Welsh . Nick . A Crowded Field in County Supes, Assembly Races . Santa Barbara Independent . December 25, 2019 . December 11, 2019.
  25. Web site: Cazares . Sebastian . College of the Canyons professor Warren Heaton to challenge Sen. Scott Wilk . The Proclaimer – Santa Clarita Valley . August 19, 2019 . July 7, 2019.
  26. Web site: Murga . Tammy . Candidates officially in for state Senate, Assembly races . Santa Clarita Valley Signal . December 25, 2019 . December 13, 2019.
  27. Web site: Smith . Wyatt . Attorney Kipp Mueller Announces Candidacy For State Senate . KHTS Hometown Station . August 19, 2019 . July 9, 2019.
  28. News: Emerson. Sandra. Redlands business owner launches bid for State Senate in 2020. Redlands Daily Facts. May 22, 2019. June 28, 2019.
  29. News: Emerson. Sandra. San Bernardino school board member Abigail Medina joins race for 23rd Senate District. The San Bernardino Sun. May 24, 2019. June 28, 2019.
  30. News: Gustason. Rachael. Yucaipa school district trustee launches bid for state Senate. Redland Community News. June 28, 2019. June 28, 2019.
  31. News: Emerson. Sandra. Redlands school board member Cristina Puraci joins race for 23rd Senate District. Redlands Daily Facts. June 5, 2019. June 28, 2019.
  32. News: Emerson. Sandra. Beaumont City Councilman Lloyd White will run for state Senate in 2020. The Press Enterprise. April 3, 2019. June 28, 2019.
  33. Web site: Official Canvass State Senator 29th District, Special Recall Election, June 5, 2018. June 29, 2019.
  34. Web site: Gerda . Nick . Who’s Running For Public Office in Orange County’s March Election? . Voice of OC . December 25, 2019 . December 5, 2019.
  35. News: Graham. Jordan. Recalled former state Sen. Josh Newman running to retake seat in 2020. Orange County Register. March 4, 2019. June 29, 2019.
  36. Web site: SD 33 General Election Official Canvass. June 29, 2019.
  37. News: Mooney. Charles. Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley is the best candidate for state Senate. Los Angeles Times. June 10, 2019. June 29, 2019.
  38. News: Graham. Jordan. Democrat who lost D.C. bid in June says he’ll try for Sacramento next . Orange County Register. January 9, 2019. June 29, 2019.
  39. Web site: Stone . Ken . Georgette Gómez, Sara Jacobs Mulling Runs to Replace Rep. Susan Davis in CA53 . Times of San Diego . September 6, 2019 . September 5, 2019.