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Primaries in California, 2020

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Top-two Party primaries, 2020
Flag of California.png
Primary Date
March 3, 2020
Primary Runoff Date
N/A
Federal elections
Top-two primaries for U.S. House
State party
State political party revenue

This page focuses on the top-two primaries that took place in California on March 3, 2020.

California uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election. In states that do not use a top-two system, all parties are usually able to put forward a candidate for the general election if they choose to.[1][2]

Unlike the top-two format used in some states (Louisiana and Georgia special elections for example), a general election between the top-two candidates in California occurs regardless of whether the top candidate received 50% of the vote in the first round of elections.

As of June 2025, California was one of five states to use a top-two primary system, or a variation of the top-two system. See here for more information.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Presidential primaries use a closed or modified-closed primary system. Political parties may choose to restrict primary participation to voters with a stated political preference or allow no party preference voters to participate.[3] Click here to learn more about the presidential primaries held on March 3, 2020.

Note that the dates and terms of participation for presidential preference primaries and caucuses sometimes differ from those that apply to primaries for state-level and other federal offices, which are the subject of this article. For more information on this state's presidential nomination process, click here.

Battleground primaries

Battleground elections are those that Ballotpedia expected would either be more competitive than other races or attract significant national attention.

California top-two battleground primaries, 2020
Office Incumbent Open seat? MOV in 2018 Presidential candidate endorsement?[4]
California's 16th Democratic Party Jim Costa
Defeatedd
 D+15.0
Defeatedd
California's 10th Democratic Party Josh Harder
Defeatedd
 D+4.5
Defeatedd
California's 21st Democratic Party TJ Cox
Defeatedd
 D+0.8
Defeatedd
California's 22nd Republican Party Devin Nunes
Defeatedd
 R+5.4
Defeatedd
California's 25th TBD[5]
Defeatedd
 D+8.7
Defeatedd
California's 39th Democratic Party Gil Cisneros
Defeatedd
 D+3.1
Defeatedd
California's 45th Democratic Party Katie Porter
Defeatedd
 D+4.1
Defeatedd
California's 48th Democratic Party Harley Rouda
Defeatedd
 D+7.1
Defeatedd
California's 50th Republican Party Duncan Hunter
Defeatedd
 R+3.4
Defeatedd

Federal elections

U.S. House

See also: United States House elections in California (June 5, 2018 top-two primaries)
The 2020 U.S. House of Representatives elections in California took place on November 3, 2020. Voters elected 53 candidates to serve in the U.S. House, one from each of the state's 53 congressional districts. To see a full list of candidates in the primary in each district, click "Show more" below.
Show more

District 1

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 2

Primary candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 3

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 4

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 5

Primary candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 6

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 7

Primary candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 8

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 9

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 10

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 11

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 12

Primary candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 13

Primary candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 14

Primary candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 15

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 16

Primary candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 17

Primary candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 18

Primary candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 19

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 20

Primary candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 21

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 22

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 23

Primary candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 24

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 25

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 26

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 27

Primary candidates

District 28

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 29

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 30

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 31

Primary candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 32

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 33

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 34

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 35

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 36

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 37

Primary candidates

Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 38

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 39

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 40

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 41

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 42

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 43

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 44

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:

District 45

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 46

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 47

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 48

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 49

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 50

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 51

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 52

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

District 53

Primary candidates


Did not make the ballot:
Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

State elections

State Senate

See also: California State Senate elections, 2020
The California State Senate was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections. To see a full list of state Senate candidates in the Republican primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

California State Senate elections, 2020
  • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
  • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Office Democratic Party Democratic Republican Party Republican Other
District 1

Green check mark transparent.pngPamela Swartz  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Dahle (i)

Linda Kelleher (Independent)

District 3

Green check mark transparent.pngBill Dodd (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngCarlos Santamaria (Write-in)

Karen Nyhus (Green Party) (Write-in)
Jaclyn Qirreh (Independent) (Write-in)

District 5

Green check mark transparent.pngSusan Talamantes Eggman
Mani Grewal

Jesus Andrade
Kathleen Garcia
Green check mark transparent.pngJim Ridenour

District 7

Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Glazer (i)
Marisol Rubio  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJulie Mobley

District 9

Green check mark transparent.pngNancy Skinner (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJamie Dluzak (Libertarian Party) (Write-in)

District 11

Green check mark transparent.pngScott Wiener (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngJackie Fielder  Candidate Connection

Erin Smith

District 13

Green check mark transparent.pngJosh Becker  Candidate Connection
Mike Brownrigg  Candidate Connection
Sally Lieber
Shelly Masur  Candidate Connection
Annie Oliva  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngAlex Glew

John Webster (Libertarian Party)  Candidate Connection

District 15

Nora Campos
Green check mark transparent.pngDave Cortese  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngAnn Ravel

Ken Del Valle
Robert P. Howell

Tim Gildersleeve (Independent)
Johnny Khamis (Independent)

District 17

Maria Cadenas  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Laird  Candidate Connection
John M. Nevill  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngVicki Nohrden  Candidate Connection

District 19

Green check mark transparent.pngS. Monique Limón

Green check mark transparent.pngGary Michaels  Candidate Connection

Anastasia Stone (Unaffiliated)  Candidate Connection

District 21

Warren Heaton
Steve Hill
Dana LaMon  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngKipp Mueller  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngScott Wilk (i)

District 23

Kris Goodfellow  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngAbigail Rosales-Medina

Green check mark transparent.pngRosilicie Ochoa Bogh  Candidate Connection
Cristina Puraci  Candidate Connection
Lloyd White

District 25

Green check mark transparent.pngAnthony Portantino, Jr. (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngKathleen Torres Hazelton (Write-in)  Candidate Connection

Evan Wecksell (Libertarian Party) (Write-in)  Candidate Connection

District 27

Green check mark transparent.pngHenry Stern (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngHouman Salem  Candidate Connection

District 29

Joseph Cho  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngJosh Newman

Green check mark transparent.pngLing Ling Chang (i)

District 31

Green check mark transparent.pngRichard Roth (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngRod Taylor (Write-in)

John Farr (Libertarian Party) (Write-in)

District 33

Green check mark transparent.pngLena Gonzalez (i)  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngElizabeth Castillo (Write-in)  Candidate Connection

District 35

Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Bradford (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngAnthony Perry (American Independent Party of California)  Candidate Connection

District 37

Katrina Foley  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngDave Min  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJohn M. W. Moorlach (i)

District 39

Green check mark transparent.pngToni Atkins (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngLinda Blankenship (Write-in)

State Assembly

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2020
The California State Assembly was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections. To see a full list of state House candidates in the Republican primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

California State Assembly elections, 2020
  • Incumbents are marked with an (i) after their name.
  • Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Office Democratic Party Democratic Republican Party Republican Other
District 1

Green check mark transparent.pngElizabeth Betancourt  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngMegan Dahle (i)

PK Dhanuka (Independent)

District 2

Green check mark transparent.pngJim Wood (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngCharlotte Svolos

District 3

Green check mark transparent.pngJames Henson  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJames Gallagher (i)

District 4

Green check mark transparent.pngCecilia Aguiar-Curry (i)
Sophia Racke

Green check mark transparent.pngMatthew Nelson  Candidate Connection

District 5

Green check mark transparent.pngFrank Bigelow (i)

District 6

Green check mark transparent.pngJackie Smith

Green check mark transparent.pngKevin Kiley (i)

District 7

Green check mark transparent.pngKevin McCarty (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJames Just (Libertarian Party) (Write-in)  Candidate Connection

District 8

Green check mark transparent.pngKen Cooley (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngCathy Cook  Candidate Connection

District 9

Green check mark transparent.pngJim Cooper (i)
Tracie Stafford
Mushtaq Tahirkheli

Green check mark transparent.pngEric Rigard  Candidate Connection

District 10

Green check mark transparent.pngMarc Levine (i)
Ted Cabral
Green check mark transparent.pngVeronica Jacobi

Ron Sondergaard  Candidate Connection

District 11

Green check mark transparent.pngJim Frazier (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngDebra Schwab (Write-in)

District 12

Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Akinjo  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngHeath Flora (i)

District 13

Christina Fugazi
Green check mark transparent.pngKatherine Miller
Green check mark transparent.pngCarlos Villapudua  Candidate Connection

K. Jafri (Write-in)

District 14

Green check mark transparent.pngTim Grayson (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJanell Proctor

Cassandra Devereaux (Peace and Freedom Party)  Candidate Connection

District 15

Green check mark transparent.pngBuffy Wicks (i)

Jeanne Solnordal

Green check mark transparent.pngSara Brink (Independent)  Candidate Connection

District 16

Green check mark transparent.pngRebecca Bauer-Kahan (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJoseph Rubay

District 17

Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Chiu (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngStarchild (Libertarian Party) (Write-in)

District 18

Green check mark transparent.pngRob Bonta (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngStephen Slauson

District 19

Green check mark transparent.pngPhil Ting (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJohn McDonnell

District 20

Green check mark transparent.pngBill Quirk (i)
Vipan Singh Bajwa  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngAlexis Villalobos  Candidate Connection

Son Nguyen

District 21

Green check mark transparent.pngAdam Gray (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJoel Campos (Write-in)
Guadalupe Salazar (Write-in)

District 22

Green check mark transparent.pngKevin Mullin (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMark Gilham  Candidate Connection
Bridget Mahoney

District 23

Green check mark transparent.pngJim Patterson (i)

District 24

Green check mark transparent.pngMarc Berman (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngPeter Ohtaki  Candidate Connection

Kennita Watson (Libertarian Party)

District 25

Jim Canova
Natasha Gupta
Anne Kepner
Green check mark transparent.pngAlex Lee  Candidate Connection
Carmen Montano
Anthony Phan  Candidate Connection
Roman Reed  Candidate Connection
Anna Song  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngBob Brunton

District 26

Green check mark transparent.pngDrew Phelps  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngDevon Mathis (i)

District 27

Green check mark transparent.pngAsh Kalra (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngG. Burt Lancaster

District 28

Green check mark transparent.pngEvan Low (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngCarlos Rafael Cruz  Candidate Connection

Sam Ross (Independent)  Candidate Connection

District 29

Green check mark transparent.pngMark Stone (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngShomir Banerjee  Candidate Connection

District 30

Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Rivas (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngGregory Swett

District 31

Green check mark transparent.pngJoaquin Arambula (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngFernando Banuelos

District 32

Green check mark transparent.pngRudy Salas (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngTodd Cotta  Candidate Connection

District 33

Blanca Azucena Gomez  Candidate Connection
Socorro Cisneros
Roger LaPlante  Candidate Connection
Anthony Rhoades  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngRick Herrick  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngThurston Smith
Alex Walton

District 34

Green check mark transparent.pngJulie Solis
Regina Velasquez (Write-in)

Green check mark transparent.pngVince Fong (i)

District 35

Green check mark transparent.pngDawn Addis  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngJordan Cunningham (i)

District 36

Johnathon Ervin
Lourdes Everett  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Fox
Diedra Greenaway  Candidate Connection
Ollie M. McCaulley  Candidate Connection
Eric Andrew Ohlsen  Candidate Connection
Michael Rives

Green check mark transparent.pngTom Lackey (i)

District 37

Jonathan Abboud  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Bennett
Stephen Blum
Jason Dominguez
Elsa Granados  Candidate Connection
Cathy Murillo

Green check mark transparent.pngCharles Cole  Candidate Connection

District 38

Dina Cervantes  Candidate Connection
Annie Cho
Susan Christopher  (unofficially withdrew)
Kelvin Driscoll
Brandii Grace  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngSuzette Martinez Valladares
Green check mark transparent.pngLucie Volotzky  Candidate Connection

District 39

Green check mark transparent.pngLuz Maria Rivas (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngRicardo Benitez

District 40

Green check mark transparent.pngJames Ramos (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJennifer Tullius  Candidate Connection

District 41

Green check mark transparent.pngChris Holden (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngRobin Hvidston  Candidate Connection

District 42

Deni Mazingo

Green check mark transparent.pngAndrew Kotyuk

Green check mark transparent.pngChad Mayes (i) (Independent)

District 43

Green check mark transparent.pngLaura Friedman (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMike Graves

Robert Sexton (Independent)  Candidate Connection

District 44

Green check mark transparent.pngJacqui Irwin (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngDenise Pedrow  Candidate Connection

District 45

Green check mark transparent.pngJesse Gabriel (i)  Candidate Connection
Denise Feldman (Write-in)

Green check mark transparent.pngJeffi Girgenti (Write-in)  Candidate Connection

District 46

Green check mark transparent.pngAdrin Nazarian (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngLanira Murphy  Candidate Connection

District 47

Green check mark transparent.pngEloise Gomez Reyes (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMatthew Gordon  Candidate Connection

District 48

Green check mark transparent.pngBlanca Rubio (i)

District 49

Green check mark transparent.pngEdwin Chau (i)
Bryan Mesinas Pérez  Candidate Connection
Priscilla Silva

Green check mark transparent.pngBurton Brink

District 50

Green check mark transparent.pngRichard Bloom (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngWill Hess  Candidate Connection
Jim King

District 51

Green check mark transparent.pngWendy Carrillo (i)

District 52

Green check mark transparent.pngFreddie Rodriguez (i)
Jesus Gonzales (Write-in)

Green check mark transparent.pngToni Holle

District 53

Green check mark transparent.pngMiguel Santiago (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngGodfrey Santos Plata  Candidate Connection

District 54

Green check mark transparent.pngSydney Kamlager-Dove (i)
Clinton Brown  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngTracy Bernard Jones  Candidate Connection

Did not make the ballot:
Breon Dupree Hollie  Candidate Connection

Glen Ratcliff

District 55

Green check mark transparent.pngAndrew Rodriguez  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngPhillip Chen (i)

District 56

Green check mark transparent.pngEduardo Garcia (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngAmerica Figueroa  Candidate Connection

District 57

Josue Alvarado
Green check mark transparent.pngLisa Calderon
Primo Castro  Candidate Connection
Gary Mendez
Sylvia Rubio
Dora Sandoval
Vanessa Tyson
Oscar Valladares

Green check mark transparent.pngJessica Martinez

District 58

Green check mark transparent.pngCristina Garcia (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMargaret Villa (Green Party)

District 59

Green check mark transparent.pngReginald Jones-Sawyer (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngEfren Martinez

Marcello Villeda

District 60

Green check mark transparent.pngSabrina Cervantes (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngChris Raahauge  Candidate Connection

District 61

Green check mark transparent.pngJose Medina (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngAli Mazarei

District 62

Green check mark transparent.pngAutumn Burke (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngRobert Steele  Candidate Connection

District 63

Green check mark transparent.pngAnthony Rendon (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngMaria Estrada  Candidate Connection

District 64

Green check mark transparent.pngMike Gipson (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngFatima Iqbal-Zubair  Candidate Connection

District 65

Green check mark transparent.pngSharon Quirk-Silva (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngCynthia Thacker

District 66

Green check mark transparent.pngAl Muratsuchi (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngArthur Schaper

District 67

Green check mark transparent.pngJerry Carlos

Steve Manos
Nick Pardue  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngKelly Seyarto
Jeremy Smith

District 68

Eugene Fields
Green check mark transparent.pngMelissa Fox

Green check mark transparent.pngSteven S. Choi (i)
Benjamin Yu  Candidate Connection

District 69

Green check mark transparent.pngTom Daly (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJon Paul White

District 70

Green check mark transparent.pngPatrick O'Donnell (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Thomas

District 71

Green check mark transparent.pngLiz Lavertu  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngRandy Voepel (i)

District 72

Bijan Mohseni
Green check mark transparent.pngDiedre Nguyen

Tyler Diep (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngJanet Nguyen

District 73

Chris Duncan  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngScott Rhinehart

William Brough (i)
Green check mark transparent.pngLaurie Davies
Ed Sachs

District 74

Green check mark transparent.pngCottie Petrie-Norris (i)  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngDiane Dixon
Kelly Ernby

District 75

Roger Garcia
Green check mark transparent.pngKaren Schwartz  Candidate Connection

Green check mark transparent.pngMarie Waldron (i)

District 76

Green check mark transparent.pngTasha Boerner Horvath (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngMelanie Burkholder  Candidate Connection

District 77

Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Maienschein (i)

Green check mark transparent.pngJune Yang Cutter  Candidate Connection

District 78

Green check mark transparent.pngSarah Davis  Candidate Connection
Micah Perlin  Candidate Connection
Green check mark transparent.pngChristopher Ward  Candidate Connection

District 79

Green check mark transparent.pngShirley Weber (i)

Carmelita Larrabaster
Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Moore

District 80

Green check mark transparent.pngLorena Gonzalez Fletcher (i)

Lincoln Pickard
Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Vogel

Context of the 2020 elections

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

State party overview

Democratic Party of California

See also: Democratic Party of California

Republican Party of California

See also: Republican Party of California

State political party revenue

See also: State political party revenue and State political party revenue per capita

State political parties typically deposit revenue in separate state and federal accounts in order to comply with state and federal campaign finance laws.

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following map displays total state political party revenue per capita for the Republican state party affiliates.


Voter information

How the primary works

California uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election. In states that do not use a top-two system, all parties are usually able to put forward a candidate for the general election if they choose to.[6][7]

Unlike the top-two format used in some states (Louisiana and Georgia special elections for example), a general election between the top-two candidates in California occurs regardless of whether the top candidate received 50% of the vote in the first round of elections.

As of June 2025, California was one of five states to use a top-two primary system, or a variation of the top-two system. See here for more information.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

All polls in California are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[8]

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in California, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and California resident. A voter must be at least 18 years of age on Election Day. Pre-registration is available at 16 years of age. Pre-registered voters are automatically registered to vote when they turn 18.[9]

Automatic registration

California automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they complete a driver's license, identification (ID) card, or change of address transaction through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Learn more by visiting this website.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

California has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

California allows same-day voter registration.

Californians must be registered to vote at least 15 days before Election Day. If the registration deadline has passed for an upcoming election, voters may visit a location designated by their county elections official during the 14 days prior to, and including Election Day to conditionally register to vote and vote a provisional ballot, which are counted once county election officials have completed the voter registration verification process. The state refers to this process as Same Day Voter Registration.[10][11]

Residency requirements

To register to vote in California, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

California's constitution requires that voters be U.S. citizens. When registering to vote, proof of citizenship is not required. Individuals who become U.S. citizens less than 15 days before an election must bring proof of citizenship to their county elections office to register to vote in that election. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.[10]

As of November 2024, two jurisdictions in California had authorized noncitizen residents to vote for local board of education positions through local ballot measures. Only one of those jurisdictions, San Francisco, had implemented that law. Noncitizens voting for board of education positions must register to vote using a separate application from the state voter registration application.[12]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[13] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The secretary of state's My Voter Status website allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

California does not require voters to present identification before casting a ballot in most cases. However, some voters may be asked to show a form of identification when voting if they are voting for the first time after registering to vote by mail and did not provide a driver license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of their social security number.[14][15] On September 29, 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 1174 into law prohibiting any jurisdiction in the state from adopting a local law that requires voters to present ID before voting.[16]

The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2024. Click here for the California Secretary of State page to ensure you have the most current information.

“
  • Current and valid photo identification provided by a third party in the ordinary course of business that includes the name and photograph of the individual presenting it. Examples of photo identification include, but are not limited to, the following documents:
    • driver's license or identification card of any state;
    • passport;
    • employee identification card;
    • identification card provided by a commercial establishment;
    • credit or debit card;
    • military identification card;
    • student identification card;
    • health club identification card;
    • insurance plan identification card; or
    • public housing identification card.
  • Any of the following documents, provided that the document includes the name and address of the individual presenting it, and is dated since the date of the last general election…:
    • utility bill;
    • bank statement;
    • government check;
    • government paycheck;
    • document issued by a governmental agency;
    • sample ballot or other official elections document issued by a governmental, agency dated for the election in which the individual is providing it as proof, of residency or identity;
    • voter notification card issued by a governmental agency;
    • public housing identification card issued by a governmental agency;
    • lease or rental statement or agreement issued by a governmental agency;
    • student identification card issued by a governmental agency;
    • tuition statement or bill issued by a governmental agency;
    • insurance plan card or drug discount card issued by a governmental agency;
    • discharge certificates, pardons, or other official documents issued to the individual by a governmental agency in connection with the resolution of a criminal case, indictment, sentence, or other matter;
    • public transportation authority senior citizen and disabled discount cards issued by a governmental agency;
    • identification documents issued by governmental disability agencies;
    • identification documents issued by government homeless shelters and other government temporary or transitional facilities;
    • drug prescription issued by a government doctor or other governmental health care provider; (R) property tax statement issued by a governmental agency;
    • vehicle registration issued by a governmental agency; or
    • vehicle certificate of ownership issued by a governmental agency.[17]
 ”

Early voting

California permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting


California provides for universal, automatic mail-in voting in all elections. Local election officials automatically deliver mail-in ballots to all registered voters. Voters may also choose to cast their ballots in person.[18][19]


Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

There are no Pivot Counties in California. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won California with 61.7 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 31.6 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, California voted Republican 53.33 percent of the time and Democratic 43.33 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, California voted Democratic all five times. In 2016, California had 55 electoral votes, which was the most of any state. The 55 electoral votes were 10.2 percent of all 538 available electoral votes and were 20.4 percent of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the election.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state Assembly districts in California. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[20][21]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 58 out of 80 state Assembly districts in California with an average margin of victory of 38.4 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 66 out of 80 state Assembly districts in California with an average margin of victory of 40.3 points. Clinton won 11 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 22 out of 80 state Assembly districts in California with an average margin of victory of 12.2 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 14 out of 80 state Assembly districts in California with an average margin of victory of 13 points.


See also

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Footnotes

  1. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed August 13, 2024
  2. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Primary Elections in California," accessed August 13, 2024
  3. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Primary Elections in California," accessed February 1, 2021
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named noteworthypres
  5. ↑ Katie Hill (D) resigned on November 1, 2019
  6. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed August 13, 2024
  7. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Primary Elections in California," accessed August 13, 2024
  8. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Section 3: Polling Place Hours," accessed August 12, 2024
  9. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Voter Registration," accessed August 13, 2024
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 California Secretary of State, "Registering to Vote," accessed August 13, 2024
  11. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Same Day Voter Registration (Conditional Voter Registration)," accessed August 13, 2024
  12. ↑ SF.gov, "Non-citizen voting rights in local Board of Education elections," accessed November 14, 2024
  13. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  14. ↑ California Secretary of State, "What to Bring to Your Polling Place," accessed August 12, 2024
  15. ↑ BARCLAYS OFFICIAL CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, "Section 20107," accessed August 12, 2024
  16. ↑ Democracy Docket, "California Governor Signs Law to Ban Local Voter ID Requirements," September 30, 2024
  17. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  18. ↑ California Legislative Information, "Cal. Election Code § 3000.5," accessed August 13, 2024
  19. ↑ California Legislative Information, "AB-37 Elections: vote by mail ballots," accessed August 13, 2024
  20. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  21. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
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