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California state legislative districts
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List of state legislative districts |
There are 120 seats in the California State Legislature. One hundred seats, 20 of the California State Senate and all 80 of the California State Assembly, are up for election every two years.
Chambers
Click the following tabs for more information about each chamber:
Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Sacramento. The lieutenant governor is the ex officio president of the Senate. The officers of the Senate are elected at the start of each legislative session.
As of the 2020 Census, California state senators represented an average of 989,419 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 933,550 residents.
Qualifications
According to Article IV of the California Constitution:[1]
| “ | 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.[2] | ” |
Vacancies
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.[3]
See sources: California Code, 1773 and California Cons. Art. IV, § 2
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. Prop 140, passed in 1990, affects any members elected prior to November 6, 2012, and limits them to a maximum of two four-year terms (eight years total).[4]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[5] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $128,215/year | $214/day |
Districts
These are links to every district in the California State Senate.
As of February 2023, two sets of overlapping California State Senate maps are in effect because the state's adopted redistricting plan takes effect in two phases. Even-numbered districts use boundaries from the post-2020 census map, while odd-numbered districts use boundaries adopted after the 2010 census. As a result, an area may be represented by two Senators, or may not be represented by any Senator, during the 2023-24 legislative session. The state Senate map enacted after the 2020 census will fully take effect after the 2024 elections.
House
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members to the Assembly, representing a relatively equal amount of constituencies.
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.
Due to the state's large population and relatively small legislature, the Assembly has the largest population per representative ratio of any lower house legislature in the United States; only the federal U.S. House of Representatives has a larger ratio.
Qualifications
According to Article IV of the California Constitution:[6]
| “ | 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.[2] | ” |
Vacancies
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]
See sources: California Code, 1773 and California Cons. Art. IV, § 2
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).[8]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[9] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $128,215/year | $214/day |
Districts
These are links to every district in the California State Assembly.
Redistricting
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]
- Members must have voted in at least two of the last three statewide elections.
- Members cannot have switched party affiliation for at least five years.
- "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."
- 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]
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.[11][12] These maps took effect for California's 2022 state legislative elections.
Senate elections
California state senators serve staggered, four-year terms and half of the Senate is up for election every two years. California holds elections for its legislature in even years.
2026
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2026
Elections for the California State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.
2024
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2024
Elections for the California State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was March 5, 2024. The filing deadline was December 8, 2023.
In the 2024 elections, Democrats lost one seat but maintained their majority in the California State Senate. The Democratic majority went from 31-9 to 30-10.
| California State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2024 | After November 6, 2024 | |
| Democratic Party | 31 | 30 | |
| Republican Party | 9 | 9 | |
| Vacancy | 0 | 1 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
2022
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2022
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.
In the 2022 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the California State Senate from 31-9 to 32-8.
| California State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 8, 2022 | After November 9, 2022 | |
| Democratic Party | 31 | 32 | |
| Republican Party | 9 | 8 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
2020
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2020
Elections for the office of California State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for March 3, 2020. The filing deadline was December 6, 2019.
In the 2020 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the California State Senate from 28-11 to 30-9.
| California State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 28 | 30 | |
| Republican Party | 11 | 9 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
2018
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2018
Elections for the California State Senate took place in 2018. A top-two primary election took place on June 5, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2018. The filing deadline for write-in candidates was May 22, 2018.[13]
In the 2018 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the California State Senate from 26-14 to 29-11.
| California State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 6, 2018 | After November 7, 2018 | |
| Democratic Party | 26 | 29 | |
| Republican Party | 14 | 11 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
2016
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the California State Senate 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.[14] A total of 20 seats out of the 40 seats in the California State Senate were up for election in 2016.
Heading into the election, Democrats held a 26-13 majority. Democrats gained one seat in the election, giving them a 27-13 majority.
| California State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 7, 2016 | After November 8, 2016 | |
| Democratic Party | 26 | 27 | |
| Republican Party | 13 | 13 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
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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. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 27-12 majority. Democrats lost two seats in the election, giving them a 25-14 majority with one vacancy.
2012
Elections for the office of California State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 5, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2012. State Senate seats in the odd-numbered districts were on the ballot in 2012. A total of 20 seats were up for election. In 2010, senators from even-numbered districts were up for election. In 2012, voters in the 20 odd-numbered districts went to the polls to elect senators. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 25-15 majority. Democrats gained one seat in the election, giving them a 26-12 majority with two vacancies.
The table below details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election in 2012.
2010
Elections for the office of California State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on June 8, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 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. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 24-14 majority. Democrats gained one seat in the election, giving them a 25-14 majority with one vacancy.
In 2010, the candidates running for Senate raised a total of $23,000,670 in campaign funds. Their top 10 contributors were:[15]
2008
Elections for the California State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 3, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $45,351,422. The top 10 contributors were:[16]
2006
Elections for the California State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 6, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $36,599,292. The top 10 contributors were:[17]
2004
Elections for the California State Senate consisted of a primary election on March 2, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $39,487,973. The top 10 contributors were:[18]
2002
Elections for the California State Senate consisted of a primary election on March 5, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $34,311,200. The top 10 contributors were:[19]
2000
Elections for the California State Senate consisted of a primary election on March 7, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $49,599,033. The top 10 contributors were:[20]
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House elections
California state assembly members serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. California holds elections for its legislature in even years.
2026
Elections for the California State Assembly will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.
2024
Elections for the California State Assembly took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was March 5, 2024. The filing deadline was December 8, 2023.
In the 2024 elections, Democrats lost two seats but maintained their majority in the California State Assembly. The Democratic majority went from 62-17 with one vacancy to 60-19 with one vacancy.
| California State Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2024 | After November 6, 2024 | |
| Democratic Party | 62 | 60 | |
| Republican Party | 17 | 19 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 80 | 80 | |
2022
Elections for the California State Assembly 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.
In the 2022 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the California State Assembly.
| California State Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 8, 2022 | After November 9, 2022 | |
| Democratic Party | 60 | 62 | |
| Republican Party | 19 | 18 | |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 80 | 80 | |
2020
Elections for the office of California State Assembly took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for March 3, 2020. The filing deadline was December 6, 2019.
In the 2020 elections, Democrats held their majority in the California State Assembly from 61-17 to 60-19.
| California State Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 61 | 60 | |
| Republican Party | 17 | 19 | |
| Independent | 1 | 1 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 80 | 80 | |
2018
Elections for the California State Assembly took place in 2018. A top-two primary election took place on June 5, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2018. The filing deadline for write-in candidates was May 22, 2018.[21]
In the 2018 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the California State Assembly from 55-25 to 60-20.
| California State Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 6, 2018 | After November 7, 2018 | |
| Democratic Party | 55 | 60 | |
| Republican Party | 25 | 20 | |
| Total | 80 | 80 | |
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.[22] All 80 Assembly seats were up for election in 2016.
Heading into the election, Democrats held a 52-28 majority. Democrats gained three seats in the election, giving them a 55-25 majority.
| California State Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 7, 2016 | After November 8, 2016 | |
| Democratic Party | 52 | 55 | |
| Republican Party | 28 | 25 | |
| Total | 80 | 80 | |
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2014Elections 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. All 80 Assembly seats were up for election in 2014. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 55-24 majority. Democrats lost three seats in the election, giving them a 52-28 majority.
2012Elections for the office of California State Assembly took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 5, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2012. All 80 Assembly seats were up for election in 2012. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 52-28 majority. Democrats gained four seats in the election, giving them a 56-24 majority.
The table below details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election in 2012.
2010Elections for the office of California State Assembly took place in 2010. The primary election was held on June 8, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2010. All 80 Assembly seats were up for election in 2010. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 50-27 majority. Democrats gained two seats in the election, giving them a 52-28 majority.
In the 2010 elections, the candidates running for the Assembly raised a total of $77,405,341 in campaign funds. Their top 10 contributors were:[23]
2008Elections for the California State Assembly consisted of a primary election on June 3, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. All 80 Assembly seats were up for election in 2008. During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to Assembly candidates was $84,390,298. The top 10 contributors were:[24]
2006Elections for the California State Assembly consisted of a primary election on June 6, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. All 80 Assembly seats were up for election in 2006. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to Assembly candidates was $91,726,959. The top 10 contributors were:[25]
2004Elections for the California State Assembly consisted of a primary election on March 2, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. All 80 Assembly seats were up for election in 2004. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to Assembly candidates was $94,287,806. The top 10 contributors were:[26]
2002Elections for the California State Assembly consisted of a primary election on March 5, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. All 80 Assembly seats were up for election in 2002. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to Assembly candidates was $73,822,064. The top 10 contributors were:[27]
2000Elections for the California State Assembly consisted of a primary election on March 7, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. All 80 Assembly seats were up for election in 2000. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to Assembly candidates was $85,228,873. The top 10 contributors were:[28]
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District maps
State Senate
State House
See also
- State legislature
- California State Legislature
- California State Senate
- California State Assembly
- List of California state legislative elections
Footnotes
- ↑ California Legislature, "Qualifications for State Legislature," accessed May 21, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ California Legislative Information, "California Code," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute, 1773-California Government Code)
- ↑ California Legislative Information, "Article IV Legislative (Sec. 1 - Sec. 28)," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ California Legislature, "Qualifications for State Legislature," accessed May 21, 2025
- ↑ California Legislative Information, "California Code," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute, 1773-California Government Code)
- ↑ California Legislative Information, "Article IV Legislative (Sec. 1 - Sec. 28)," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 All About Redistricting, "California," accessed April 21, 2015
- ↑ 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
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed June 19, 2017
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed April 18, 2017
- ↑ Follow the Money, "California Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Follow the Money, "California 2008 Candidates," accessed June 18, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "California 2006 Candidates," accessed June 18, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "California 2004 Candidates," accessed June 18, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "California 2002 Candidates," accessed June 18, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "California 2000 Candidates," accessed June 18, 2013
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed June 19, 2017
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed April 18, 2017
- ↑ Follow the Money, "California Assembly 2010 Campaign Contributions," accessed April 21, 2015
- ↑ Follow the Money, "California 2008 Candidates," accessed June 18, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "California 2006 Candidates," accessed June 18, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "California 2004 Candidates," accessed June 18, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "California 2002 Candidates," accessed June 18, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money, "California 2000 Candidates," accessed June 18, 2013
