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California State Senate elections, 2022
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2024 →
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| 2022 California Senate Elections | |
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| Primary | June 7, 2022 |
| General | November 8, 2022 |
| Past Election Results |
| 2020・2018・2016・2014 2012・2010・2008 |
| 2022 Elections | |
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| Choose a chamber below: | |
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.
The chamber's Democratic supermajority increased from 31-9 to 32-8.
The California State Senate was one of 88 state legislative chambers with elections in 2022. There are 99 chambers throughout the country.
Party control
| California State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 8, 2022 | After November 9, 2022 | |
| Democratic Party | 31 | 32 | |
| Republican Party | 9 | 8 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
Candidates
General
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= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection
Primary
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Click a link below to read survey responses from candidates in that district:
Campaign finance
Campaign finance by district
The section below contains data from financial reports submitted to state agencies. Districts and elections are grouped in sections of 10. To view data for a district, click on the appropriate bar below to expand it. The data is gathered and made available by Transparency USA.
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in general elections
No incumbents lost in general elections.
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
No incumbents lost in primaries.
Retiring incumbents
Ten incumbents were not on the ballot in 2022.[1] Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Nielsen |  Republican |
Senate District 4 | Term limited |
| Richard Pan |  Democratic |
Senate District 6 | Term limited |
| Andreas Borgeas | Republican |
Senate District 8 | Retired |
| Bob Wieckowski | Democratic |
Senate District 10 | Term limited |
| Robert Hertzberg | Democratic |
Senate District 18 | Term limited/ other office |
| Connie M. Leyva | Democratic |
Senate District 20 | Other office |
| Melissa Melendez | Republican |
Senate District 28 | Term limited |
| Sydney Kamlager-Dove | Democratic |
Senate District 30 | Other office |
| Patricia C. Bates | Republican |
Senate District 36 | Term limited/ other office |
| Ben Hueso | Democratic |
Senate District 40 | Term limited |
Primary election competitiveness
This section contains data on state legislative primary election competitiveness in California. These totals include data from all regularly-scheduled House and Senate elections. For more information about Ballotpedia's competitiveness analysis of state legislative elections, please click here.
Post-filing deadline analysis
The following analysis covers all state legislative districts up for election in California in 2022. Information below was calculated on May 17, 2022, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.
Twenty-six of the 69 California state legislators who filed for re-election in 2022—21 Democrats and five Republicans—faced contested primaries, a decrease from the 37 incumbents in contested primaries in 2018 and 2020, but a larger number than in earlier cycles.
Looking at the chart above, 2010 was the last time California held partisan primaries where candidates from each party compete against one another to win their parties' nominations for the general election.
California began using top-two primaries in 2012, where every candidate, regardless of party affiliation, appears on the same ballot, and the top-two vote-getters advance to the general election.
While the number of incumbents in contested primaries increased after the switch in 2012, most ultimately advanced to the general election. As of 2022, only two state legislative incumbents had lost in a top-two primary in California: Assms. Tyler Diep (R) and William Brough (R) in 2020.
One reason for the decrease of incumbents in contested primaries in 2022 was the increase in open districts. Thirty-four of the state's 100 legislative districts holding elections in 2022 were open, meaning no incumbents filed to run. This was the largest number of open districts since 2012.
Open districts can exist for a number of reasons. An incumbent might choose to retire or seek another office. He or she might also be prohibited from running due to term limits. Open districts are also common after redistricting when incumbents might be drawn into a new district, leaving their old district open.
In 2022, there were 31 retiring incumbents: 20 Democrats, 10 Republicans, and one independent. Of that total, seven incumbents were term-limited, all in the Senate. The remaining three open districts were caused by incumbents running against other incumbents in Assembly Districts 34, 73, and 75.
Overall, 295 candidates filed to run in top-two state legislative primaries in 2022: 168 Democrats, 119 Republicans, and eight independent or third-party candidates.
Open seats
The table below shows the number and percentage of open seats in the California State Senate from 2010 to 2022.[2] It will be updated as information becomes available following the state’s candidate filing deadline.
| Open Seats in California State Senate elections: 2010 - 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2022 | 20 | 10 (50 percent) | 10 (50 percent) |
| 2020 | 20 | 6 (30 percent) | 14 (70 percent) |
| 2018 | 20 | 6 (30 percent) | 14 (70 percent) |
| 2016 | 20 | 9 (45 percent) | 11 (55 percent) |
| 2014 | 20 | 10 (50 percent) | 10 (50 percent) |
| 2012 | 20 | 9 (45 percent) | 11 (55 percent) |
| 2010 | 20 | 10 (50 percent) | 10 (50 percent) |
Incumbents running in new districts
When an incumbent files to run for re-election in the same chamber but a new district, it leaves his or her original seat open. This may happen for a variety of reasons ranging from redistricting to a change in residences. This may result in instances where multiple incumbents face each other in contested primaries or general elections if the incumbent in the new district also seeks re-election.
In 2022, two incumbents filed to run for re-election in new districts different from those they represented before the election. Those incumbents were:
| Incumbents running in new districts | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Party | Originally represented ... | Filed in 2022 in ... | New district open? | ||
| Bob Archuleta | Democratic |
Senate District 32 | Senate District 30 | Yes | ||
| Brian Jones | Republican |
Senate District 38 | Senate District 40 | Yes | ||
News and conflicts in this primary
This race was featured in The Heart of the Primaries, a newsletter capturing stories related to conflicts within each major party. Click here to read more about conflict in this and other 2022 state legislative primaries. Click here to subscribe to the newsletter.
Process to become a candidate
See statutes: 8020-8028 and Section 8100-8107 of the California Elections Code
Before accepting or spending money related to campaigning for office, a candidate for state office must file a candidate intention statement with the California Secretary of State. Note that this requirement does not apply to candidates for congressional office; federal campaign finance requirements apply to candidates for federal office. Candidates may qualify to run for office either by paying a filing fee or by submitting a petition in lieu of the filing fee.[3][4][3]
In addition to the candidate intention statement, a candidate is required to file nomination forms with his or her home county. These forms become available as early as the 113th day prior to the primary election and must be filed no later than the 88th day prior to the primary election.[5][6]
Nomination forms include a statement of economic interests, a declaration of candidacy, and nomination papers. Nomination papers require a certain number of signatures from registered voters. If a candidate qualifies by submitting an in-lieu-of-filing-fee petition, the signatures on that petition will be counted towards the requirement for the nomination paper. Registered voters may sign both the in-lieu-of-filing-fee petition and the nomination paper, unless the candidate is using the signatures on the in-lieu-of-filing-fee petition to count toward the nomination paper requirement. If that is the case, a registered voter can sign only one of the documents.[6]
The number of signatures required for nomination papers are as follows:[6][7][8]
- 65-100 for candidates seeking the office of United States Senator or a state executive office
- 40-60 for candidates seeking the office of United States Representative, state senator, or state assembly member
If an individual is running as a write-in candidate, the only nomination forms required are the nomination papers and a statement of write-in candidacy. These forms should be filed in the candidate's home county.[3]
Qualifying by payment of fee
The filing fee for a candidate seeking a seat in the United States Senate or a state executive office (e.g., governor or treasurer) is 2 percent of the first year's salary for that office. The filing fee for a candidate seeking the office of United States Representative, state senator, or state assembly member is 1 percent of the first year's salary for that office. The fee is paid to the California Secretary of State through the candidate's home county election office.[6]
Qualifying by petition in lieu of filing fee
Instead of paying a filing fee, a candidate may submit a petition. Signatures may be collected to cover all or any prorated portion of the filing fee.[3]
A candidate seeking the office of state assembly member must file signatures from 1,000 registered voters. Those seeking the office of state senator or United States Representative must file 2,000 signatures, and those seeking statewide office must file 7,000 signatures.[6][9][10]
If the number of registered voters in the district in which the candidate seeks nomination is less than 2,000, a candidate may submit a petition containing four signatures for each dollar of the filing fee, or 20 percent of the total number of registered voters in the district in which he or she seeks nomination, whichever is less.[6]
Completed petitions must be submitted 15 days before the end of the qualifying period to the counties in which the signers reside.[6]
Qualifications
According to Article IV of the California Constitution, the candidate must be a United States Citizen, a resident of California for three years, a resident of the legislative district for one year and a registered voter in that district by the time nomination papers are filed.[11]
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[12] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $128,215/year | $214/day |
When sworn in
California legislators assume office the first Monday in the December following their election.[13]
California political history
Trifectas
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.
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 |
Presidential politics in California
2020 Presidential election results
Presidential election in California, 2020
Candidate/Running mate |
% |
Popular votes |
Electoral votes |
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| ✔ |
 
| Joe Biden/Kamala D. Harris (D) |
63.5
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11,110,250 | 55 |
 
| Donald Trump/Mike Pence (R) |
34.3
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6,006,429 | 0 | |
 
| Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen (L) |
1.1
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187,895 | 0 | |
 
| Howie Hawkins/Angela Nicole Walker (G) |
0.5
|
81,029 | 0 | |
 
| Roque De La Fuente/Ye (American Independent Party of California) |
0.3
|
60,160 | 0 | |
 
| Gloria La Riva/Sunil Freeman (Peace and Freedom Party) |
0.3
|
51,037 | 0 | |
 
| Brian T. Carroll/Amar Patel (Unaffiliated) (Write-in) |
0.0
|
2,605 | 0 | |
 
| Jesse Ventura/Cynthia McKinney (Unaffiliated) |
0.0
|
611 | 0 | |
 
| Mark Charles/Adrian Wallace (Unaffiliated) |
0.0
|
559 | 0 | |
 
| Brock Pierce/Karla Ballard (Unaffiliated) (Write-in) |
0.0
|
185 | 0 | |
 
| Joseph Kishore/Norissa Santa Cruz (Unaffiliated) |
0.0
|
121 | 0 | |
 |
Total votes: 17,500,881 |
Voting information
- See also: Voting in California
Redistricting following 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.[14][15] These maps took effect for California's 2022 state legislative elections.
Below is the state Senate map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.
California State Senate Districts
until December 1, 2024
Click a district to compare boundaries.
California State Senate Districts
starting December 2, 2024
Click a district to compare boundaries.
See also
| California | State Legislative Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines a seat as open if the incumbent did not file to run for re-election or filed but withdrew and did not appear on any ballot for his or her seat. If the incumbent withdrew from or did not participate in the primary but later chose to seek re-election to his or her seat as a third party or independent candidate, the seat would not be counted as open. If the incumbent retired or ran for a different seat in the same chamber, his or her original seat would be counted as open unless another incumbent from the same chamber filed to run for that seat, in which case it would not be counted as open due to the presence of an incumbent.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 California Secretary of State, "Candidate Checklist," accessed February 25, 2025
- ↑ California Government Code, "Section 85100-85802," accessed February 25, 2025
- ↑ Ballotpedia, "Phone call with Office of the California Secretary of State," October 9, 2013
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 California Elections Code, "Section 8000-8700," accessed February 25, 2025
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Summary of Qualifications and Requirements for the Office of United States Senator," February 25, 2025
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Summary of Qualifications and Requirements for the Office of State Senate," accessed February 25, 2025
- ↑ California Legislative Information, "AB 469," accessed February 25, 2025
- ↑ Ballot Access News, "California Reduces Number of Signatures Needed on Petitions in Lieu of Filing Fee," October 16, 2017
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Qualifications for State Legislature," accessed December 16, 2013
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ California Constitution, "Article 4, Section 2. (a)(3)," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ Politico, "California’s new congressional map boosts Democrats," Dec. 21, 2021
- ↑ Lake County News, "California Citizens Redistricting Commission delivers maps to California Secretary of State," Dec. 28, 2021
