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David Fennell
David Fennell (Republican Party) ran for election to the California State Senate to represent District 1. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Fennell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
David Fennell was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He earned a high school diploma from Half Moon Bay High School, a bachelor's degree from Santa Clara University in 1991, a graduate degree from the University of San Francisco Center for the Pacific Rim in 1996, and a degree from the Beijing Language Institute. His career experience includes working as a entrepreneur.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: California State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for California State Senate District 1
Megan Dahle defeated David Fennell in the general election for California State Senate District 1 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Megan Dahle (R) | 75.7 | 274,894 |
 | David Fennell (R)  | 24.3 | 88,317 | |
| Total votes: 363,211 | |||
| = 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 1
Megan Dahle and David Fennell advanced from the primary for California State Senate District 1 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Megan Dahle (R) | 77.2 | 154,305 |
| ✔ | | David Fennell (R) | 22.8 | 45,686 |
| Total votes: 199,991 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Fennell in this election.
2022
See also: California lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of California
Incumbent Eleni Kounalakis defeated Angela Underwood Jacobs in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of California on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Eleni Kounalakis (D) | 59.7 | 6,418,119 |
 | Angela Underwood Jacobs (R) | 40.3 | 4,332,602 | |
| Total votes: 10,750,721 | |||
| = 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 Lieutenant Governor of California
The following candidates ran in the primary for Lieutenant Governor of California on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Eleni Kounalakis (D) | 52.7 | 3,617,121 |
| ✔ | | Angela Underwood Jacobs (R) | 19.9 | 1,365,468 |
| David Fennell (R) | 13.4 | 922,493 | |
| Clint Saunders (R) | 4.5 | 306,216 | ||
 | Jeffrey Highbear Morgan (D) | 3.3 | 229,121 | |
 | Mohammad Arif (Peace and Freedom Party) | 2.7 | 183,150 | |
 | William Saacke (D) | 2.5 | 171,800 | |
 | David Hillberg (Independent) | 1.1 | 74,289 | |
 | James Orlando Ogle III (No party preference) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 25 | |
| Total votes: 6,869,683 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Scott Sebel (R)
- Boris Romanowsky (Independent)
Campaign finance
2018
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of California
Eleni Kounalakis defeated Edward Hernandez in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of California on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Eleni Kounalakis (D) | 56.6 | 5,914,068 |
 | Edward Hernandez (D) | 43.4 | 4,543,863 | |
| Total votes: 10,457,931 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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 Lieutenant Governor of California
The following candidates ran in the primary for Lieutenant Governor of California on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Eleni Kounalakis (D) | 24.2 | 1,587,940 |
| ✔ | | Edward Hernandez (D) | 20.6 | 1,347,442 |
 | Cole Harris (R) | 17.5 | 1,144,003 | |
 | Jeff Bleich (D) | 9.9 | 648,045 | |
| David Fennell (R) | 7.9 | 515,956 | |
| Lydia Ortega (R) | 6.4 | 419,512 | ||
 | David Hernandez (R) | 6.2 | 404,982 | |
 | Gayle McLaughlin (Independent) | 4.0 | 263,364 | |
 | Timothy Ferreira (L) | 1.5 | 99,949 | |
 | Cameron Gharabiklou (D) | 1.2 | 78,267 | |
| Danny Thomas (Independent) | 0.7 | 44,121 | ||
| Total votes: 6,553,581 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Marjan Fariba (Independent)
- Matthew Rizzie (D)
2014
Fennell ran for Lieutenant Governor of California. Fennell sought nomination in the primary on June 3, 2014.[2] The general election took place on November 4, 2014.
| Lieutenant Governor of California, Blanket Primary, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Gavin Newsom Incumbent |
49.9% | 2,082,902 | |
| Republican | Ron Nehring |
23.4% | 976,128 | |
| Republican | David Fennell | 8.6% | 357,242 | |
| Republican | George Yang | 8% | 333,857 | |
| Democratic | Eric Korevaar | 5.6% | 232,596 | |
| Green | Jena Goodman | 2.4% | 98,338 | |
| Americans Elect | Alan Reynolds | 1.3% | 56,027 | |
| Peace and Freedom | Amos Johnson | 0.9% | 39,675 | |
| Total Votes | 4,176,765 | |||
| Election results California Secretary of State | ||||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
David Fennell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Fennell's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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After finishing my undergraduate from Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, I traveled and worked in more than 30 countries.
I founded several technology companies and expanded into a media group in Chico, California where I currently live with my wife, Na.- Support and expand California Agricultural Industry.
- Economic development for rural communities and our growing cities.
- Prevent wildfires by enabling better communication between CalFire and US Forest Services, and building new water storage.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2022
David Fennell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Fennell's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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David Fennell grew up in the fishing & farming town of Half Moon Bay, home of the legendary Mavericks, the biggest surf on the West Coast.
While attending public school on the San Mateo County coast he earned his Eagle Scout award while his parents worked as early semiconductor tech pioneers in Silicon Valley, which allowed David Fennell to spend summers in his father’s lab at XEROX PARC before Steve Jobs used PARC’s GUI tech to create the Macintosh.
David Fennell earned his Bachelor of Science in Commerce at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University. His first job was selling NeXT Computers for Steve Jobs.
He later became an entrepreneur himself, first in tech & later in the Oakland music business where he was elected Chair of the Crime Prevention Council.
While working and traveling to all of California’s 58 counties he has been struck by the fraud, waste and mismanagement of our great state.
When he reported the fraud to government investigators they did nothing, prompting David Fennell to run for California Lieutenant Governor to bring change to Sacramento.- Write Economic Plan to Keep Jobs in California. (Note: Lt. Governor authors Econ plan for California).
- Fight Crime & Fraud.
- Land Resource Management to Prevent Forest Fires & Create Water Storage for Farmers. (Note: Lt. Governor is Chair of the State Lands Commission).
Few realize the Lieutenant Governor chairs the California Commission for Economic Development and writes the economic plan for the state.
However the Economic Commission has not met in years? No plan written?
This is crazy!
Jobs are leaving the state, gas prices are rising and the Economic Commission hasn’t met in years?
The first thing David Fennell would do is meet with all of California’s 58 counties and 482 municipalities to develop an economic plan that addresses the economic needs of each area.
POLICY AREA #2) FIGHT CRIME AND FRAUD ACROSS CALIFORNIA
California is in the middle of a violent, property and white collar crime wave.
If you do not enforce the law, criminal activity grows.
David Fennell will enforce laws.
POLICY AREA #3) LAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TO PREVENT FOREST FIRES AND CREATE WATER STORAGE FOR FARMERS
The Lieutenant Governor sits on the the California State Lands Commission and California Emergency Council which also includes State Fire services.
The Lieutenant Governor serves as a voting member of the Board of Regents of the University of California, the Board of Trustees of the California State University system, and the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges system.
The Lieutenant Governor also serves as chair of the three-member State Lands Commission, which oversees the control and leasing of millions of acres of state-owned land, including offshore oil resources, as well as use and permitting for all navigable waterways in California. The Commission also manages state land-use planning and revenues, and related interstate issues.
The Lieutenant Governor serves as Chairman of the State Lands Commission, he also serves as a member of the California Ocean Protection Council and as a member of the California Coastal Commission.
In addition, under state statutes, the Lieutenant Governor chairs the California Commission for Economic Development, which provides support and guidance to the Governor, Legislature and private sector regarding the development of California’s economy.
The Lieutenant Governor serves on the California Emergency Council along with State Fire Officials hence plays a key role in forest management and water supply issues for farmers.
Perhaps most importantly the Lt. Governor writes the Economic Plan for the State. A required task that has not been done in years.
Honored to have sold NeXT Computers for him as my first job.
I hope I make the late Jimmy Stewart proud.
Most of our Statewide political spend too much time in Sacramento and not enough time in our 58 counties.
They need to meet with California citizens to help solve problems in their communities.
In the past we have had some candidates who run for the job but never took the SAT or went to an accredited college.
David Fennell earned his Undergraduate degree from Santa Clara University and his Masters from the University of San Francisco. His wife graduated from UC Davis.
I hope to be the government servant that represents the people and works with their community to make things better. I love California and feel that we could be so much more than where we are now.
California and the nation has been through a tough period.
But, things are opening up and we need new leadership to take us through this current economic malaise. I would be honored if after my term of service people say that David Fennell was one of our great Lieutenant Governors (not that hard since most Californians don’t know we have a Lt. Governor).
I was dressed as Uncle Sam (age 7).
My twin sister was dressed as Betsy Ross (age 7).
My brother was dressed as Abe Lincoln (age 5).
Apparently we stole the show and won the contest.
Through the position I got to meet Steve Jobs and also see him lose his temper when a fellow employee moved his NeXT Computer display and set it up wrong.
It was a great experience I will never forget.
My mother mailed this post-apocalyptic social science fiction novel to me while I was living in developing regions of Asia in the early 1990s.
They had no American bookstores and I read the entire novel while spending days recovering from Amebic dysentery in a hotel room in Yangoon, Myanmar (Rangoon, Burma).
Why?
Who doesn’t want to be James Bond?
1) “Blow the Whistle” by Todd Anthony Shaw (aka Too $hort).
2) “Lights” by Ellie Goulding.
I beat the odds and after long painful physical therapy made a full recovery.
A life changing experience I do not wish on anyone.
California Constitution makes the Lt. Governor the Governor when the Governor is out of the state and also Chairs or sits on many of the most powerful boards and councils in California.
Just kidding.
Our experienced politicians have gotten us into this economic mess with jobs leaving the state so it is time for the novices to take over.
How could we do worse?
We are a state with the geographic size of Japan and the population of Canada.
Yet, all of our major political leaders in California seem to come from one area (San Francisco: Gavin Newsom, Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, Kamala Harris, etc).
San Francisco is swell (Have you tried the Boudin Bakery sourdough bread?)
But, it might be a good idea to elect someone who has actually crossed the Golden Gate or Bay Bridge and visited the other 57 counties.
David Fennell has spent more than 4 decades living, traveling and doing business across California and has made more than 5 visits to all 58 counties.
But, one of my favorite comedians is Gilbert Gottfried whom I saw in 1998 at 19 years old as a Sophomore in college on a first date.
It was a great night in 1988! But terrible loss in 2022.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
David Fennell participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on May 30, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and David Fennell's responses follow below.[3]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1) Fight Fraud in Sacramento 2) Cut government waste 3) Create Jobs I also support the U.S. Constitution, 2nd amendment, Free Enterprise, Religious Liberty, Prop 13, Building New Water Storage and Trump's Border Wall. I oppose crony capitalism, sanctuary cities, gas tax & high speed rail.[4][5] | ” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | I entered this race because many Sacramento politicians are there only to serve billionaire San Francisco & Silicon Valley donors and not the average voter. There is an incredible amount of fraud and waste in Sacramento. When you send me to Sacramento, I will audit the books, cut taxes and expose government waste. I have made at least three trips to all 58 counties and attended all 77 District and County Fairs. Most California have never met a candidate and feel forgotten. That will change when you send me to Sacramento!Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[5]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. David Fennell answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow and why?
| “ | I campaigned for Donald Trump at the Iowa & Nevada Caucuses and I have endorsed John Cox for Governor. I think the President is doing a great job shaking up Washington and I will do the same in Sacramento.[5] | ” |
| “ | Mr. Smith Goes to Washington[5] | ” |
| “ | Honesty and a desire to serve the people.[5] | ” |
| “ | KNOWLEDGE OF CALIFORNIA! Most of our Statewide politicians spend too much time in Sacramento and not enough time in our 58 counties. They need to meet with California citizens to help solve problems in their communities. California needs someone who has seen California. I moved to California when I was one year old and I know the state backward and forward. After more than four decades traveling to all parts of California, I know the state better than any other candidate. I am an outdoorsmen and an Eagle Scout.[5] | ” |
| “ | Lt. Governor is President of the Senate and has the power to oversee debate (something our current Lt. Gov does not do). As the second highest member of the Executive Branch he takes on responsibilities and issues which the Governor does not have time to address. I will use the position to make sure the agencies under the executive branch run efficiently without the financial waste and government red tape which plagues Sacramento today. The first thing I will do when elected is audit the books and look for fraud and waste.[5] | ” |
| “ | A better California! I hope to be the government servant that people feel represents them and works with their community to make things better. I love California and feel that we could be so much more. Right now everyone thinks the past few lieutenant Governors have been a bit of a joke, just sitting around doing nothing waiting to run for governor. I would like people to say that our first truly great Lieutenant Governor was David Fennell; he really made a difference for California.[5] | ” |
| “ | Ronald Reagan being shot on March 30, 1981. I was 12 years old attending Cunha Intermediate School in Half Moon Bay, California.[5] | ” |
| “ | My first job after college was in high tech. For 3 years, I sold NeXT Computers for Steve Jobs. I loved the tech experience watching computers evolve and begin to address the consumer markets they serve today. I learned a great deal. I also got to witness Steve Jobs brilliance and even watch him lose his temper. Later I worked in the Aerospace industry and became an entrepreneur doing projects in tech and also in the Oakland music industry, which has been my latest area of focus.[5] | ” |
| “ | Well, I don't know about awkward date. But, in my younger years as a Republican, I have to admit did I did date a Democrat from UC Berkeley and we broke up over the 2000 United States Presidential election recount in Florida. I supported Bush. She supported Gore. After that experience I stuck with dating Republicans. LOL.[5] | ” |
| “ | Its hard to pick a favorite holiday but I am updating this Ballotpedia from Chico, California, where I just spent a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend. From the Veterans service to the BBQ to the Silver Dollar Fair where I met rocker Eddie Money (Who told me he was a Republican and I have his vote) it was a really special Memorial Day. But, I love all holidays. Who doesn’t love holidays?[5] | ” |
| “ | I really enjoyed “A Canticle for Leibowitz” by Walter M. Miller, Jr. In high school I remember loving “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by Hunter S. Thompson and “Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test” by Tom Wolfe mostly due to their New Journalism style. Today, I read ever night, primarily Wikipedia and non-fiction books. I recently read “Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War That Changed American History” by Brian Kilmeade which I thought was great. I learned about a history I never knew and what was meant in the Marines' Hymn—“the shore of Tripoli.” I love history books. By learning from the lessons of the past you can best shape the future.[5] | ” |
| “ | James Bond or Indiana Jones[5] | ” |
| “ | My Stereo[5] | ” |
| “ | I keep hearing Lights by Ellie Goulding, Blow the Whistle by Too Short, and Curl of the Burl by Mastodon. I put these on when I hit the gym.[5] | ” |
| “ | In 2003, my spine was crushed in an accident that left me in horrible pain and I lost partial use of my left leg. Doctors gave me only a 30 percent chance of recovery but I researched and found a new technology and volunteered to be an FDA test subject. After five years of slow physical therapy, which severely set back my career and finances, I was pain free and the FDA tech was approved. Complete recovery! What doesn't kill you makes you stronger![5] | ” |
| “ | The Lt. Governor should be a balance to the Governor. In California the Governor & Lt. Governor can be from different political parties. I am a Republican and endorsed Republican John Cox and I am hoping we will both be elected. But, if a Democrat like Gavin Newsom is elected I plan to use the role of Lt. Governor to hold his feet to the fire and expose and block his tax and spend policies. Our current Lt. Governor is taking a check from tax payers but not doing his job.[5] | ” |
| “ | President of the Senate! As the President of the Senate, the Lt. Governor presides over debate in that chamber and oversees the movement of legislation through the chamber. While he cannot vote or sponsor legislation, he works with advocates in the Senate to introduce the legislation for him. Our current Lt. Governor doesn't do this job or even show up for work. That will change when you elect David Fennell Lieutenant Governor. In addition, if the Governor is out of the state or incapacitated temporarily, the Lieutenant Governor exercises the powers of the Governor. If the Governor dies or otherwise can no longer fulfill his duties, the Lieutenant Governor serves the Governor's unexpired term.[5] | ” |
| “ | The Lieutenant Governor serves on the State Lands Commission, which oversees the control and leasing of millions of acres of state-owned land, including offshore oil resources, as well as use and permitting for all navigable waterways in California. The Commission also manages state land-use planning and revenues, and related interstate issues. He also serves as a member of the California Ocean Protection Council and as a member of the California Coastal Commission. These are important because they govern our lands and oceans and our forests in particular have not been well managed for decades, which is one of the major reasons we have had so many forest fires in the past 10 years. The Lieutenant Governor also serves as a voting member of the Board of Regents of the University of California and a voting member of the Board of Trustees of the California State University system. I would use this post to improve our university systems. In addition, under state statutes, the Lieutenant Governor chairs the California Commission for Economic Development, which provides support and guidance to the Governor, Legislature and private sector regarding the development of California's economy.[5] | ” |
| “ | No. I think right now we need new blood and fresh ideas. Time fore a change![5] | ” |
| “ | Knowledge of all of California! Most of out state legislators hardly leave Sacramento or their hometown offices. California is a state the size of Japan with a population larger than Canada and is home to the 5th largest economy of the world. Yet, our Sacramento politicians know and serve only 1% of California. I love California and know the entire state and I will work for all 18,055,783 registered voters and their families and, indeed, for all Californians.[5] | ” |
2014
Fennell's campaign is focused primarily on reducing the incidence of fraud and corruption in California business and politics. In addition to fighting political and business corruption, he listed the following four issue priorities on his 2014 official campaign website:
- "Ending Crony Capitalism"
- "Helping Citizens Advocate State Bureaucracies"
- "Stopping the Unfunded Pension Time Bomb"
- "Promoting and Protecting Businesses to Create Jobs"
Campaign media
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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.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate California State Senate District 1 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 7, 2024
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance: Candidates & Elected Officials," accessed March 25, 2014 (dead link)
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "David Fennell's responses," May 30, 2018
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
