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California State Assembly District 15

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California State Assembly District 15
Incumbent
Assumed office: December 2, 2024

California State Assembly District 15 is represented by Anamarie Avila Farias (D).

As of the 2020 Census, California state representatives represented an average of 494,709 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 466,775 residents.

About the office

Members of the California State Assembly serve two-year terms with term limits.[1] California legislators assume office the first Monday in the December following their election.[2]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

According to Article IV of the California Constitution:[3]

A person is ineligible to be a member of the Legislature unless the person is an elector and has been a resident of the legislative district for one year, and a citizen of the United States and a resident of California for 3 years, immediately preceding the election, and service of the full term of office to which the person is seeking to be elected would not exceed the maximum years of service permitted by subdivision (a) of this section.[4]


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[5]
SalaryPer diem
$128,215/year$214/day

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The California legislature is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Since the passage of Prop 28 in 2012, legislators first elected on or after November 6, 2012, are limited to a maximum of 12 years of service. Prop 140, passed in 1990, affects any members elected prior to November 6, 2012, limiting them to a maximum of three two-year terms (six years total).[6]


Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the California State Legislature, the governor must call for a special election. The governor must call the election within 14 calendar days of the vacancy. No special election shall be held if the vacancy occurs after the nominating deadline has passed in the final year of the term of office.[7]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: California Code, 1773 and California Cons. Art. IV, § 2


District map

Redistricting

2020 redistricting cycle

See also: Redistricting in California after the 2020 census

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission voted 14-0 in favor of a new state Assembly and Senate district maps on December 20, 2021, and delivered those maps to the secretary of state on December 27, 2021.[8][9] These maps took effect for California's 2022 state legislative elections.

How does redistricting in California work? In California, a non-politician commission draws both congressional and state legislative district lines. Established in 2008 by ballot initiative, the commission comprises 14 members: five Democrats, five Republicans, and four belonging to neither party. A panel of state auditors selects the pool of nominees from which the commissioners are appointed. This pool comprises 20 Democrats, 20 Republicans, and 20 belonging to neither party. The majority and minority leaders of both chambers of the state legislature may each remove two members from each of the aforementioned groups. The first eight commission members are selected at random from the remaining nominees. These first eight comprise three Democrats, three Republicans, and two belonging to neither party. The first eight commissioners appoint the remaining six, which must include two Democrats, two Republicans, and two belonging to neither party.[10]

Commissioners must meet the following requirements in order to serve:[10]

  1. Members must have voted in at least two of the last three statewide elections.
  2. Members cannot have switched party affiliation for at least five years.
  3. "Neither commissioners nor immediate family may have been, within 10 years of appointment, a candidate for federal or state office or member of a party central committee; an officer, employee, or paid consultant to a federal or state candidate or party; a registered lobbyist or paid legislative staff; or a donor of more than $2,000 to an elected candidate."
  4. Members cannot be "staff, consultants or contractors for state or federal government" while serving as commissioners. The same prohibition applies to the family of commission members.

In order to approve a redistricting plan, nine of the commission's 14 members must vote for it. These nine must include three Democrats, three Republicans, and three belonging to neither party. Maps drawn by the commission may be overturned by public referendum. In the event that a map is overturned by the public, the California Supreme Court must appoint a group to draw a new map.[10]

The California Constitution requires that districts be contiguous. Further, the state constitution mandates that "to the extent possible, [districts] must ... preserve the geographic integrity of cities, counties, neighborhoods and communities of interest." Districts must also "encourage compactness." State Senate and Assembly districts should be nested within each other where possible.[10]

California State Assembly District 15
until December 4, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

California State Assembly District 15
starting December 5, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2024

General election

General election for California State Assembly District 15

Anamarie Avila Farias defeated Sonia Ledo in the general election for California State Assembly District 15 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Anamarie Avila Farias
Anamarie Avila Farias (D)
 
64.1
 
131,850
Image of Sonia Ledo
Sonia Ledo (R) Candidate Connection
 
35.9
 
73,762

Total votes: 205,612
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 15

Sonia Ledo and Anamarie Avila Farias defeated Monica Wilson and Karen Mitchoff in the primary for California State Assembly District 15 on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sonia Ledo
Sonia Ledo (R) Candidate Connection
 
31.9
 
30,962
Image of Anamarie Avila Farias
Anamarie Avila Farias (D)
 
30.4
 
29,525
Monica Wilson (D) Candidate Connection
 
25.5
 
24,792
Karen Mitchoff (D)
 
12.3
 
11,917

Total votes: 97,196
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2022

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2022

General election

General election for California State Assembly District 15

Incumbent Tim Grayson defeated Janell Proctor in the general election for California State Assembly District 15 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tim Grayson
Tim Grayson (D)
 
67.3
 
100,712
Image of Janell Proctor
Janell Proctor (R)
 
32.7
 
48,911

Total votes: 149,623
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 15

Incumbent Tim Grayson and Janell Proctor advanced from the primary for California State Assembly District 15 on June 7, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tim Grayson
Tim Grayson (D)
 
68.4
 
61,742
Image of Janell Proctor
Janell Proctor (R)
 
31.6
 
28,501

Total votes: 90,243
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2020

General election

General election for California State Assembly District 15

Incumbent Buffy Wicks defeated Sara Brink in the general election for California State Assembly District 15 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Buffy Wicks
Buffy Wicks (D)
 
84.7
 
204,108
Image of Sara Brink
Sara Brink (Independent) Candidate Connection
 
15.3
 
36,732

Total votes: 240,840
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.

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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 15

Incumbent Buffy Wicks and Sara Brink defeated Jeanne Solnordal in the primary for California State Assembly District 15 on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Buffy Wicks
Buffy Wicks (D)
 
83.6
 
135,623
Image of Sara Brink
Sara Brink (Independent) Candidate Connection
 
8.5
 
13,841
Image of Jeanne Solnordal
Jeanne Solnordal (R)
 
7.9
 
12,791

Total votes: 162,255
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.

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2018

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2018

General election

General election for California State Assembly District 15

Buffy Wicks defeated Jovanka Beckles in the general election for California State Assembly District 15 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Buffy Wicks
Buffy Wicks (D) Candidate Connection
 
53.6
 
104,583
Image of Jovanka Beckles
Jovanka Beckles (D)
 
46.4
 
90,405

Total votes: 194,988
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 15

The following candidates ran in the primary for California State Assembly District 15 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Buffy Wicks
Buffy Wicks (D) Candidate Connection
 
31.4
 
37,141
Image of Jovanka Beckles
Jovanka Beckles (D)
 
15.8
 
18,733
Image of Dan Kalb
Dan Kalb (D)
 
15.2
 
18,007
Image of Judith Appel
Judith Appel (D)
 
11.5
 
13,591
Rochelle Pardue-Okimoto (D)
 
8.3
 
9,826
Pranav Jandhyala (R)
 
5.9
 
6,946
Andy Katz (D)
 
5.2
 
6,209
Ben Bartlett (D)
 
3.3
 
3,949
Image of Cheryl Sudduth
Cheryl Sudduth (D)
 
1.3
 
1,493
Raquella Thaman (D)
 
0.9
 
1,007
Owen Poindexter (D)
 
0.7
 
819
Sergey Vikramsingh Piterman (D)
 
0.6
 
689

Total votes: 118,410
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.

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2016

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2016

Elections for the California State Assembly 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.[11]

Incumbent Tony Thurmond defeated Claire Chiara in the California State Assembly District 15 general election.[12][13]

California State Assembly, District 15 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Tony Thurmond Incumbent 89.38% 189,530
     Republican Claire Chiara 10.62% 22,528
Total Votes 212,058
Source: California Secretary of State


Incumbent Tony Thurmond and Claire Chiara were unopposed in the California State Assembly District 15 Blanket primary.[14][15]

California State Assembly, District 15 Blanket Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Tony Thurmond Incumbent
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Claire Chiara

2014

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014

Elections for the California State Assembly 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. Elizabeth Echols (D) and Tony Thurmond (D) defeated Clarence Hunt (D), Sam Kang (D), Pamela Price (D), Rich Kinney (R), Eugene E. Ruyle (Peace & Freedom) and Bernt Rainer Wahl (I) in the blanket primary. Thurmond defeated Echols in the general election.[16][17][18]

California State Assembly, District 15, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngTony Thurmond 54.3% 66,661
     Democratic Elizabeth Echols 45.7% 56,071
Total Votes 122,732
California State Assembly, District 15 Blanket Primary, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngElizabeth Echols 31.1% 21,664
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngTony Thurmond 24.4% 16,963
     Democratic Pamela Price 17.1% 11,898
     Republican Rich Kinney 10.8% 7,531
     Democratic Sam Kang 6.7% 4,630
     Democratic Clarence Hunt 4.8% 3,329
     Peace and Freedom Eugene E. Ruyle 3.5% 2,426
     Independent Bernt Rainer Wahl 1.6% 1,132
Total Votes 69,573

2012

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2012

Elections for the office of California State Assembly consisted of a primary election on June 5, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 9, 2012. Incumbent Nancy Skinner (D) and Peace and Freedom Party candidate Eugene Ruyle advanced past the June 5 blanket primary unopposed before Skinner defeated Ruyle in the general election.[19] [20]

California State Assembly, District 15, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngNancy Skinner Incumbent 86.8% 164,929
     Peace and Freedom Party Eugene Ruyle 13.2% 25,167
Total Votes 190,096

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for California State Assembly District 15 raised a total of $24,235,141. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $637,767 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, California State Assembly District 15
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $1,174,592 4 $293,648
2022 $1,155,909 2 $577,954
2020 $829,513 3 $276,504
2016 $1,142,429 2 $571,215
2014 $1,998,252 8 $249,782
2012 $899,726 2 $449,863
2010 $4,548,102 2 $2,274,051
2008 $4,889,730 6 $814,955
2006 $1,932,941 2 $966,471
2004 $1,975,714 2 $987,857
2002 $2,893,935 3 $964,645
2000 $794,299 2 $397,150
Total $24,235,141 38 $637,767


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. California State Constitution, accessed December 16, 2013
  2. California Constitution, "Article 4, Section 2. (a)(3)," accessed November 1, 2021
  3. California Legislature, "Qualifications for State Legislature," accessed May 21, 2025
  4. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  5. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  6. California Legislative Information, "Article IV Legislative (Sec. 1 - Sec. 28)," accessed February 9, 2021
  7. California Legislative Information, "California Code," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute, 1773-California Government Code)
  8. Politico, "California’s new congressional map boosts Democrats," Dec. 21, 2021
  9. Lake County News, "California Citizens Redistricting Commission delivers maps to California Secretary of State," Dec. 28, 2021
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 All About Redistricting, "California," accessed April 21, 2015
  11. California Secretary of State, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed April 18, 2017
  12. California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for the November 8, 2016, General Election," accessed September 7, 2016
  13. California Secretary of State, "2016 General Election results," accessed December 23, 2016
  14. California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for Voter-Nominated Offices," accessed April 4, 2016
  15. California Secretary of State, "Statement of Vote," accessed August 22, 2016
  16. California Secretary of State, "Official 2014 Primary election candidate list," accessed March 27, 2014
  17. California Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed July 15, 2014
  18. California Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed December 14, 2014
  19. " California Secretary of State, "2012 General Election," November 7, 2013 (dead link)
  20. California Secretary of State, "2012 General Primary,” November 7, 2013


Current members of the California State Assembly
Leadership
Majority Leader:Cecilia Aguiar-Curry
Minority Leader:James Gallagher
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
Mia Bonta (D)
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
Alex Lee (D)
District 25
Ash Kalra (D)
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
Mike Fong (D)
District 50
District 51
Rick Zbur (D)
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
District 63
Vacant
District 64
District 65
District 66
District 67
District 68
District 69
District 70
Tri Ta (R)
District 71
District 72
District 73
District 74
District 75
District 76
District 77
District 78
District 79
District 80
Democratic Party (60)
Republican Party (19)
Vacancies (1)