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Ben Hueso

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Ben Hueso
Democratic Party
Prior offices:
California State Senate District 40
Years in office: 2013 - 2022
Successor: Brian Jones (R)
California State Assembly District 80
Years in office: 2012 - 2013
Predecessor: V. Manuel Perez (D)
California State Assembly District 79
Years in office: 2010 - 2012
Predecessor: Mary Salas (Nonpartisan)
Successor: Shirley Weber (D)
San Diego City Council
Years in office: 2006 - 2010
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 3, 2020
Education
Bachelor's
University of California, Los Angeles
Personal
Profession
Small business owner

Ben Hueso (Democratic Party) was a member of the California State Senate, representing District 40. He assumed office on March 21, 2013. He left office on December 5, 2022.

Hueso ran for election to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to represent District 1 in California. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

He previously served as a member of the California State Assembly, representing District 80 from 2012 to 2013. He also represented District 79 from 2010 to 2012 and served on the San Diego City Council from 2006 to 2010.

Biography

Hueso earned his B.A. from the University of California Los Angeles. He went on to complete postgraduate work in Community and Economic Development from San Diego State University. His professional experience includes working as a small business owner/operator.[1]

Noteworthy events

DUI arrest

See also: Politicians convicted of DUI

Hueso was arrested on the morning of August 22, 2014, under suspicion of DUI. The legislator was stopped by California Highway Patrol officers while reportedly driving the wrong way on a one-way street in a state vehicle near the capitol.[2] Hueso pleaded no contest to a "wet reckless" charge, a lesser offense of driving that involves alcohol but is generally not punished by incarceration. The plea required that Hueso serve three years of probation, a $240 fine and a six-week alcohol program.[3]

Hueso released the following statement about the event:

“ I am truly and profoundly sorry for the unacceptably poor personal judgment which I demonstrated last night. As someone who cares deeply about the public safety, I sincerely apologize to my family, my constituents and my colleagues in the Senate for breaching the trust they’ve all placed in me. I accept complete personal responsibility for my actions and any punishments that ultimately come my way as a result of this incident. I will also engage in immediate, corrective actions to ensure this kind of personal conduct is never repeated.[4][5] ”

Committee assignments

2021-2022

Hueso was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Hueso was assigned to the following committees:

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Hueso served on the following committees:

Committee assignments

2021-2022

Hueso was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Hueso was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

California committee assignments, 2017
• Banking and Financial Institutions
• Energy, Utilities and Communications, Chair
• Governmental Organization
• Natural Resources and Water
• Veterans Affairs

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Hueso served on the following committees:

California committee assignments, 2013

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Hueso served on these committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2022

See also: California State Senate elections, 2022

Ben Hueso was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.

2020

See also: Municipal elections in San Diego County, California (2020)

General election

General election for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 1

Nora Vargas defeated Ben Hueso in the general election for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 1 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Nora Vargas (Nonpartisan)
 
56.6
 
131,783
Image of Ben Hueso
Ben Hueso (Nonpartisan)
 
43.4
 
101,133

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 232,916
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 1

The following candidates ran in the primary for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 1 on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Hueso
Ben Hueso (Nonpartisan)
 
29.3
 
32,263
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Nora Vargas (Nonpartisan)
 
18.9
 
20,767
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Rafa Castellanos (Nonpartisan)
 
16.3
 
17,934
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Sophia Rodriguez (Nonpartisan)
 
15.1
 
16,634
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Alex Galicia (Nonpartisan)
 
12.0
 
13,232
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Henry Belisle (Nonpartisan)
 
3.7
 
4,035
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Camilo Marquez (Nonpartisan)
 
2.4
 
2,679
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Tony Villafranca (Nonpartisan)
 
2.4
 
2,591

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 110,135
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: California State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for California State Senate District 40

Incumbent Ben Hueso defeated Luis R. Vargas in the general election for California State Senate District 40 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Hueso
Ben Hueso (D)
 
65.9
 
152,896
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Luis R. Vargas (R)
 
34.1
 
79,207

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 232,103
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California State Senate District 40

Incumbent Ben Hueso and Luis R. Vargas advanced from the primary for California State Senate District 40 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ben Hueso
Ben Hueso (D)
 
60.1
 
70,649
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Luis R. Vargas (R)
 
39.9
 
46,850

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 117,499
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.


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. Incumbent Ben Hueso (D) and Rafael Estrada (D) defeated write-in candidate Michael Diaz (R) in the blanket primary. Hueso defeated Estrada in the general election.[6][7][8][9]

California State Senate, District 40, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBen Hueso Incumbent 54.9% 58,880
     Democratic Rafael Estrada 45.1% 48,397
Total Votes 107,277
California State Senate, District 40 Blanket Primary, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBen Hueso Incumbent 71.8% 45,249
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngRafael Estrada 27.9% 17,547
     Republican Michael Diaz (Write-in) 0.3% 188
Total Votes 62,984

2013

See also: State legislative special elections, 2013

Hueso won a special election for California State Senate District 40. The seat was vacant following Juan Vargas's (D) election to the 51st Congressional District of California on November 6, 2012. Hueso (D) defeated Anna Nevenic (D), Hector Gastelum (R) and Xanthi Gionis (R) in the special election on March 12, 2013.[10][11][12][13][14]

California State Senate, District 40, Special Election, 2013
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBen Hueso 53.1% 29,367
     Democratic Anna Nevenic 10.4% 5,740
     Republican Hector Gastelum 21.6% 11,951
     Republican Xanthi Gionis 14.9% 8,243
Total Votes 55,301

2012

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2012

Hueso won re-election in the 2012 election for California State Assembly District 80. Due to redistricting following the 2010 census, he was displaced from District 79. He and Derrick Roach (R) advanced past the blanket primary on June 5, 2012, unopposed. He was subsequently elected in the general election on November 6, 2012.[15][16][17]

California State Assembly, District 80, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBen Hueso Incumbent 69.6% 76,225
     Republican Derrick W. Roach 30.4% 33,260
Total Votes 109,485

2010

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2010

Hueso defeated Jack Doyle and Pearl Quinones in the June 8 primary. He then defeated Republican Derrick Roach in the November 2 general election.[18][19]

California State Assembly, District 79 General Election (2010)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Ben Hueso (D) 46,349
Derrick Roach (R) 27,545
California House of Representatives, District 79 Democratic Primary (2010)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Ben Hueso (D) 10,826
Pearl Quinones (D) 7,612
Jack Doyle (D) 4,201

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Ben Hueso did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Ben Hueso campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2018California State Senate District 40Won general$1,131,785 N/A**
2014California State Senate, District 40Won $546,242 N/A**
2013California State Senate, District 40Won $428,906 N/A**
2012California State Assembly, District 80Won $571,783 N/A**
2010California State Assembly, District 79Won $729,735 N/A**
Grand total$3,408,451 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Endorsements

2014

In 2014, Hueso's endorsements included the following:

  • California Teachers Association[20]

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in California

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2022.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2021.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2020.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2019.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2018.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2017.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2016.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2015.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2014.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2013.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the California State Legislature in 2012.

In 2011, the California State Legislature was either not in session or no scorecards were found. Please contact us if you would like to suggest a scorecard.

See also

2020 Elections

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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ senate.ca.gov, "Biography," accessed September 26, 2014
  2. ↑ Los Angeles Times, "California Sen. Ben Hueso arrested on suspicion of drunk driving," August 22, 2014
  3. ↑ NBC San Diego, "State Sen. Ben Hueso to Serve 3 Years' Probation in DUI Case," December 18, 2014
  4. ↑ Business Insider, "California State Senator Arrested For Drunk Driving Hours After Voting To Toughen Regulations On Uber," August 25, 2014
  5. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  6. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Write-in Candidates for the June 3, 2014, Statewide Direct Primary Election," accessed May 24, 2014
  7. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2014 Primary election candidate list," accessed March 27, 2014
  8. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed July 15, 2014
  9. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed December 14, 2014
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named casched
  11. ↑ Imperial Valley Press, "Special election will fill seat vacated by Vargas," November 14, 2012
  12. ↑ U-T San Diego, "2 REPUBLICANS JOIN STATE SENATE RACE," January 19, 2013
  13. ↑ SCPR.org, "32nd Senate District race heads to a May runoff to represent Pomona, Fontana and Ontario," March 13, 2013
  14. ↑ sos.ca.gov, "Official special election results," accessed November 18, 2013
  15. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed March 13, 2014
  16. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary election results," accessed March 13, 2014
  17. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2012 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
  18. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed March 13, 2014
  19. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
  20. ↑ eiaonline.com, "Personal Incident?" October 6, 2014

Political offices
Preceded by
- 		California State Senate District 40
2013-2022		 Succeeded by
Brian Jones (R)
Preceded by
V. Manuel Perez (D) 		California State Assembly District 80
2012-2013		 Succeeded by
Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D)
Preceded by
Mary Salas 		California State Assembly District 79
2010-2012		 Succeeded by
Shirley Weber (D)
Preceded by
- 		San Diego City Council
2006-2010		 Succeeded by
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