California State Senate elections, 2020

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2020 California Senate Elections
General	November 3, 2020
Primary	March 3, 2020

Past Election Results

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2020 Elections
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Democrats gained seats in the 2020 elections for California State Senate, preserving their supermajority. Twenty seats in the chamber were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Democrats held 28 seats, Republicans held 11, and one was vacant. Democrats gained a net two seats from Republicans, winning a 30-9 majority with one seat remaining vacant.

The California State Senate was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. A total of 20 seats out of the California State Senate's 40 seats were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.

There was an increase in total candidates from 2018 to 2020: 68 versus 71. There were eight incumbents with contested primaries and 14 total primaries in 2018 compared to nine incumbents and 15 primaries overall compared in 2020. In 2018, there were six races where voters could only choose from one of the two major parties compared to three in 2020. In total, those three districts were home to over 2.8 million Californians or roughly 7% of the state's total population. No incumbent ran completely unopposed, meaning all races featured at least two candidates. In 2018, one incumbent faced no competition in the primary or general election.

No incumbents were defeated in the March 3 primaries this year.

Ballotpedia's competitiveness numbers include primary write-in candidates. Write-in candidates are allowed to run in primaries under California law, though they must register. In primaries where there is only one candidate listed on the ballot, a write-in candidate can advance to the general election with a single vote. If write-in candidates were excluded, the number of races with no major party opposition would increase from three to seven and the number of unopposed incumbents would increase from zero to six.

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

California modified its absentee/mail-in and in-person voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

• Absentee/mail-in voting: Mail-in ballots were sent to all registered voters in the general election.
• In-person voting: Counties were authorized to consolidate precincts and defer opening voting centers until the third day before the election.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

Party control

See also: Partisan composition of state senates and State government trifectas

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

Candidates

The candidate lists below are based on candidate filing lists provided by the California Secretary of State. (I) denotes an incumbent.

General election

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Primary election

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Incumbents who were not re-elected

See also: Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 10, 2020

Incumbents defeated in the general election

Two incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election. Those incumbents were:

Name	Party	Office
Ling Ling Chang	Republican	Senate District 29
John M. W. Moorlach	Republican	Senate District 37

Incumbents defeated in primary elections

No incumbents lost in the March 3 primaries.

Retiring incumbents

There were six open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020. Those incumbents were:

Name	Party	Office
Cathleen Galgiani	Democratic	Senate District 5
Gerald Hill	Democratic	Senate District 13
James Beall Jr.	Democratic	Senate District 15
Bill Monning	Democratic	Senate District 17
Hannah-Beth Jackson	Democratic	Senate District 19
Mike Morrell	Republican	Senate District 23

The six seats left open in 2020 were the fewest since 2010.

Open Seats in California State Senate elections: 2010 - 2020
Year	Total seats	Open seats	Seats with incumbents running for re-election
2020	20	6 (30 percent)	14 (70 percent)
2018	20	6 (30 percent)	14 (70 percent)
2016	20	9 (45 percent)	11 (55 percent)
2014	20	10 (50 percent)	10 (50 percent)
2012	20	9 (45 percent)	11 (55 percent)
2010	20	10 (50 percent)	10 (50 percent)

Process to become a candidate

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in California

See statutes: Section 8020-8028 and Section 8100-8107 of the California Elections Code

Before accepting or spending money related to campaigning for office, a candidate for state office must file a candidate intention statement with the California Secretary of State. Note that this requirement does not apply to candidates for congressional office; federal campaign finance requirements apply to candidates for federal office. Candidates may qualify to run for office either by paying a filing fee or by submitting a petition in lieu of the filing fee.

In addition to the candidate intention statement, a candidate is required to file nomination forms with his or her home county. These forms become available as early as the 113th day prior to the primary election and must be filed no later than the 88th day prior to the primary election.

Nomination forms include a statement of economic interests, a declaration of candidacy, and nomination papers. Nomination papers require a certain number of signatures from registered voters. If a candidate qualifies by submitting an in-lieu-of-filing-fee petition, the signatures on that petition will be counted towards the requirement for the nomination paper. Registered voters may sign both the in-lieu-of-filing-fee petition and the nomination paper, unless the candidate is using the signatures on the in-lieu-of-filing-fee petition to count toward the nomination paper requirement. If that is the case, a registered voter can sign only one of the documents.

The number of signatures required for nomination papers are as follows:

• 65-100 for candidates seeking the office of United States Senator or a state executive office
• 40-60 for candidates seeking the office of United States Representative, state senator, or state assembly member

If an individual is running as a write-in candidate, the only nomination forms required are the nomination papers and a statement of write-in candidacy. These forms should be filed in the candidate's home county.

Qualifying by payment of fee

The filing fee for a candidate seeking a seat in the United States Senate or a state executive office (e.g., governor or treasurer) is 2 percent of the first year's salary for that office. The filing fee for a candidate seeking the office of United States Representative, state senator, or state assembly member is 1 percent of the first year's salary for that office. The fee is paid to the California Secretary of State through the candidate's home county election office.

Qualifying by petition in lieu of filing fee

Instead of paying a filing fee, a candidate may submit a petition. Signatures may be collected to cover all or any prorated portion of the filing fee.

A candidate seeking the office of state assembly member must file signatures from 1,000 registered voters. Those seeking the office of state senator or United States Representative must file 2,000 signatures, and those seeking statewide office must file 7,000 signatures.

If the number of registered voters in the district in which the candidate seeks nomination is less than 2,000, a candidate may submit a petition containing four signatures for each dollar of the filing fee, or 20 percent of the total number of registered voters in the district in which he or she seeks nomination, whichever is less.

Completed petitions must be submitted 15 days before the end of the qualifying period to the counties in which the signers reside.

2020 ballot access requirements

The table below details filing requirements for California State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
California State Senate	All candidates	40	$1,104.59	12/6/2019	Source

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

According to Article IV of the California Constitution, the candidate must be a United States Citizen, a resident of California for three years, a resident of the legislative district for one year and a registered voter in that district by the time nomination papers are filed.

Salaries and per diem

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

State legislative salaries, 2024
Salary	Per diem
$128,215/year	$214/day

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

California legislators assume office the first Monday in the December following their election.

California political history

Trifectas

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.

California Party Control: 1992-2024
Nineteen years of 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
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
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
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

Presidential politics in California

2016 Presidential election results

U.S. presidential election, California, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes	Electoral votes
	Democratic	Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine	61.7%	8,753,788	55
	Republican	Donald Trump/Mike Pence	31.6%	4,483,810	0
	Libertarian	Gary Johnson/Bill Weld	3.4%	478,500	0
	Green	Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka	2%	278,657	0
	Peace and Freedom	Gloria Estela La Riva/Dennis J. Banks	0.5%	66,101	0
	-	Write-in votes	0.9%	120,739	0
Total Votes				14,181,595	55
Election results via: Federal Election Commission

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.

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 August 2024, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. As of November 2024, five states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. 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. 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.

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.

”

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.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted 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.

See also

• California State Senate
• California State Legislature
• State legislative elections, 2020

External links

Suggest a link

• California State Legislature

Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the California State Senate

Leadership

Minority Leader:Brian Jones

Senators

District 1

Megan Dahle (R)

District 2

Mike McGuire (D)

District 3

Christopher Cabaldon (D)

District 4

Marie Alvarado-Gil (R)

District 5

Jerry McNerney (D)

District 6

Roger Niello (R)

District 7

Jesse Arreguín (D)

District 8

Angelique Ashby (D)

District 9

Tim Grayson (D)

District 10

Aisha Wahab (D)

District 11

Scott Wiener (D)

District 12

Shannon Grove (R)

District 13

Josh Becker (D)

District 14

Anna Caballero (D)

District 15

Dave Cortese (D)

District 16

Melissa Hurtado (D)

District 17

John Laird (D)

District 18

Steve Padilla (D)

District 19

Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R)

District 20

Caroline Menjivar (D)

District 21

S. Limón (D)

District 22

Susan Rubio (D)

District 23

Suzette Valladares (R)

District 24

Ben Allen (D)

District 25

Sasha Renée Pérez (D)

District 26

Maria Durazo (D)

District 27

Henry Stern (D)

District 28

Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D)

District 29

Eloise Reyes (D)

District 30

Bob Archuleta (D)

District 31

Sabrina Cervantes (D)

District 32

Kelly Seyarto (R)

District 33

Lena Gonzalez (D)

District 34

Tom Umberg (D)

District 35

Laura Richardson (D)

District 36

Vacant

District 37

Steven Choi (R)

District 38

Catherine Blakespear (D)

District 39

Akilah Weber (D)

District 40

Brian Jones (R)

Democratic Party (30)

Republican Party (9)

Vacancies (1)