2020 California State Senate election

The 2020 California State Senate election was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, with the primary election scheduled for March 3, 2020. Voters in the 20 odd-numbered districts of the California State Senate elected their representatives. The elections coincided with the elections for other offices, including for U.S. president and the state assembly.

2020 California State Senate election

← 2018
November 3, 2020 (2020-11-03)
2022 →

20 seats from odd-numbered districts in the California State Senate
21 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Toni Atkins Shannon Grove
Party Democratic Republican
Leader's seat 39th–San Diego 16th–Bakersfield
Last election 29 11
Seats after 31 9
Seat change 2 2
Popular vote 5,795,870 2,831,711
Percentage 66.09% 32.29%

Results:
     Democratic gain
     Democratic hold      Republican hold
     No election held

President pro tempore before election

Toni Atkins
Democratic

President pro tempore

Toni Atkins
Democratic

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report Safe D October 21, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball Safe D May 7, 2020

Overview

Primary elections

2020 California State Senate election
Primary election – March 3, 2020
Party Votes Percentage Candidates Advancing to general Seats contesting
Democratic 3,274,204 71.23% 38 23 20
Republican 1,218,374 26.51% 22 15 15
No party preference 62,094 1.35% 5 0 0
American Independent 34,253 0.75% 1 1 1
Libertarian 7,036 0.15% 4 1 1
Green 530 0.01% 1 0 0
Totals 4,596,491 100.00% 61 40

General elections

2020 California State Senate election
General election – November 3, 2020
Party Votes % Before Up Won After +/–
Democratic 5,795,870 66.09 29 15 17 31 2
Republican 2,831,711 32.29 11 5 3 9 2
American Independent 89,080 1.02 0 0 0 0
Libertarian 53,256 0.61 0 0 0 0
Totals 8,769,917 100.00 40 20 20 40

Retiring incumbents

  • 5th: Cathleen Galgiani (D–Stockton): Termed out of office
  • 13th: Jerry Hill (D–San Mateo): Termed out of office
  • 15th: Jim Beall (D–San Jose): Termed out of office
  • 17th: Bill Monning (D–Carmel): Termed out of office
  • 19th: Hannah-Beth Jackson (D–Santa Barbara): Termed out of office
  • 23rd: Mike Morrell (R–Rancho Cucamonga): Termed out of office

Results

District 1

The 1st district stretches along the eastern edge of the state from the Oregon border to the Lake Tahoe area, wrapping around the Sacramento Valley along the northern Sierra Nevada to the eastern Sacramento suburbs. The incumbent was Republican Brian Dahle, who was elected in a special election with 53.9% of the vote in 2019.

Candidates

  • Brian Dahle (Republican), incumbent state senator
  • Linda Kelleher (no party preference), retired teacher
  • Pamela Dawn Swartz (Democratic), businesswoman
2020 California's 1st State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brian Dahle (incumbent) 200,537 57.7
Democratic Pamela Dawn Swartz 125,585 36.1
No party preference Linda Kelleher 21,557 6.2
Total votes 347,679 100.0
General election
Republican Brian Dahle (incumbent) 326,836 59.7
Democratic Pamela Dawn Swartz 220,563 40.3
Total votes 547,399 100.0
Republican hold

District 3

The 3rd district encompasses the northern San Francisco Bay Area and the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta regions. It includes parts of the North Bay, Wine Country, and the Sacramento Valley. The incumbent was Democrat Bill Dodd, who was elected with 58.1% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

  • Bill Dodd (Democratic), incumbent state senator
2020 California's 3rd State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Dodd (incumbent) 212,004 98.6
Republican Carlos Santamaria (write-in) 2,126 1.0
Green Karen I. Nyhus (write-in) 530 0.2
No party preference Jaclyn Qirreh (write-in) 421 0.2
Total votes 215,081 100.0
General election
Democratic Bill Dodd (incumbent) 323,317 68.4
Republican Carlos Santamaria 149,461 31.6
Total votes 472,778 100.0
Democratic hold

District 5

The 5th district is centered on the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and forms the gateway between the Central Valley, the San Francisco Bay Area, the Sacramento metropolitan area, and Gold Country. The incumbent was Democrat Cathleen Galgiani, who was term-limited and could not run for reelection.

Candidates

  • Jesús Andrade (Republican), Stockton city councilman
  • Susan Eggman (Democratic), state assemblywoman for California's 13th State Assembly district
  • Kathleen A. Garcia (Republican), Stockton Unified School District board member
  • Mani Grewal (Democratic), Modesto city councilman
  • Jim Ridenour (Republican), law enforcement contractor, former Modesto mayor
2020 California's 5th State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Eggman 71,808 34.9
Republican Jim Ridenour 49,398 24.0
Democratic Mani Grewal 40,086 19.5
Republican Jesús Andrade 32,836 16.0
Republican Kathleen A. Garcia 11,499 5.6
Total votes 205,627 100.0
General election
Democratic Susan Eggman 217,651 54.9
Republican Jim Ridenour 178,915 45.1
Total votes 396,566 100.0
Democratic hold

District 7

The 7th district is located in the East Bay east of the Berkeley Hills, taking in suburban and bedroom communities of San Francisco Bay Area. The incumbent was Democrat Steve Glazer, who was re-elected with 66.7% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

  • Steve Glazer (Democratic), incumbent state senator
  • Julie Mobley (Republican), community volunteer
  • Marisol Rubio (Democratic), health care provider
2020 California's 7th State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steve Glazer (incumbent) 135,123 48.3
Republican Julie Mobley 76,180 27.2
Democratic Marisol Rubio 68,362 24.4
Total votes 279,665 100.0
General election
Democratic Steve Glazer (incumbent) 339,925 66.0
Republican Julie Mobley 174,729 34.0
Total votes 514,654 100.0
Democratic hold

District 9

The 9th district encompasses the northern East Bay, stretching along the eastern shores of San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay. The incumbent was Democrat Nancy Skinner, who was elected with 62.2% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

  • Nancy Skinner (Democrat), incumbent state senator

Debate

2020 California's 9th State Senate district debate
No. Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Libertarian
Key:
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
Nancy Skinner Jamie Dluzak
1 Sep. 23, 2020 League of Women Voters of Berkely, Albany, Emeryville
League of Women Voters of Piedmont
Elise Mills YouTube P P
2020 California's 9th State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Skinner (incumbent) 263,751 99.95
Libertarian Jamie Dluzak (write-in) 126 0.05
Total votes 263,877 100.0
General election
Democratic Nancy Skinner (incumbent) 404,455 88.4
Libertarian Jamie Dluzak 53,256 11.6
Total votes 457,711 100.0
Democratic hold

District 11

The 11th district encompasses the northern San Francisco Peninsula, including the consolidated city-county of San Francisco and northern San Mateo County. The incumbent was Democrat Scott Wiener, who was elected with 51.0% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

  • Jackie Fielder (Democratic), member of the Three Affiliated Tribes and political activist
  • Erin Smith (Republican), entrepreneur
  • Scott Wiener (Democratic), incumbent state senator
2020 California's 11th State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Scott Wiener (incumbent) 167,124 55.7
Democratic Jackie Fielder 99,566 33.2
Republican Erin Smith 33,321 11.1
Total votes 300,011 100.0
General election
Democratic Scott Wiener (incumbent) 254,635 57.1
Democratic Jackie Fielder 191,065 42.9
Total votes 445,700 100.0
Democratic hold

District 13

The 13th district encompasses the San Francisco Peninsula and the northwestern reaches of Silicon Valley. The incumbent was Democrat Jerry Hill, who was term-limited and could not run for reelection.

Candidates

  • Josh Becker (Democratic), former venture capitalist and former CEO of Lex Machina
  • Michael Brownrigg (Democratic), Burlingame city councilman
  • Alexander Glew (Republican), engineer
  • Sally Lieber (Democratic), former state assemblywoman for California's 22nd State Assembly district (2002–2008) and former mayor of Mountain View
  • Shelly Masur (Democratic), Redwood City councilwoman
  • Annie Oliva (Democratic), Millbrae city councilwoman, real estate agent
  • John H. Webster (Libertarian), software engineer
2020 California's 13th State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Josh Becker 66,428 23.8
Republican Alexander Glew 48,378 17.3
Democratic Sally Lieber 47,773 17.1
Democratic Shelly Masur 45,211 16.2
Democratic Annie Oliva 33,311 11.9
Democratic Mike Brownrigg 32,481 11.6
Libertarian John H. Webster 5,910 2.1
Total votes 279,492 100.0
General election
Democratic Josh Becker 348,005 75.4
Republican Alexander Glew 113,315 24.6
Total votes 461,320 100.0
Democratic hold

District 15

The 15th district encompasses most of Silicon Valley, centered around San Jose. The incumbent was Democrat Jim Beall, who was term-limited and could not run for reelection.

Candidates

  • Nora Campos (Democratic), former state assemblywoman for California's 23rd State Assembly district (2010–2012) and California's 27th State Assembly district (2012–2016) and candidate for California's 15th State Senate district in 2016
  • Dave Cortese (Democratic), Santa Clara County supervisor
  • Ken Del Valle (Republican), U.S. Army staff sergeant
  • Tim Gildersleeve (no party preference), candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016 and 2018
  • Robert Howell (Republican), mechanical equipment manufacturer
  • Johnny Khamis (no party preference), San Jose city councilman
  • Ann M. Ravel (Democratic), former chair of Federal Election Commission
2020 California's 15th State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Cortese 79,507 33.9
Democratic Ann Ravel 51,752 22.1
Democratic Nora Campos 39,683 16.9
Republican Robert Howell 23,840 10.2
No party preference Johnny Khamis 23,747 10.1
Republican Ken Del Valle 14,280 6.1
No party preference Tim Gildersleeve 1,635 0.7
Total votes 234,444 100.0
General election
Democratic Dave Cortese 212,207 54.8
Democratic Ann M. Ravel 175,203 45.2
Total votes 387,410 100.0
Democratic hold

District 17

The 17th district encompasses the extreme southern parts of the San Francisco Bay Area and northern Central Coast centering on the coastal Monterey Bay Area. The incumbent was Democrat Bill Monning, who was term-limited and could not run for reelection.

Candidates

  • Maria Cadenas (Democratic), executive director of Santa Cruz Community Ventures
  • John Laird (Democratic), former secretary of California Natural Resources Agency and former state assemblyman for California's 27th State Assembly district (2002–2008)
  • John M. Nevill (Democratic), rancher and Republican candidate for California's 30th State Assembly district in 2016
  • Vicki Nohrden (Republican), businesswoman and candidate for California's 29th State Assembly district in 2018
2020 California's 17th State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Laird 138,986 44.4
Republican Vicki Nohrden 98,649 31.5
Democratic Maria Cadenas 65,525 20.9
Democratic John M. Nevill 10,040 3.2
Total votes 313,200 100.0
General election
Democratic John Laird 320,090 64.7
Republican Vicki Nohrden 174,587 35.3
Total votes 494,677 100.0
Democratic hold

District 19

The 19th district takes in the southern Central Coast, including all of Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County. The incumbent was Democrat Hannah-Beth Jackson, who was term-limited and could not run for reelection.

Candidates

  • Monique Limón (Democratic), state assemblywoman
  • Gary G. Michaels (Republican), telecommunications consultant
  • Anastasia Stone (no party preference), maternal health professional
2020 California's 19th State Senate district
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Monique Limón 152,745 61.1
Republican Gary J. Michaels 82,466 33.0
No party preference Anastasia Stone 14,734 5.9
Total votes 249,945 100.0
General election
Democratic Monique Limón 272,442 64.5
Republican Gary J. Michaels 150,089 35.5
Total votes 422,531 100.0
Democratic hold

District 21

The 21st district takes in northern Los Angeles County and parts of the High Desert including, the Antelope Valley, Victor Valley, and most of the Santa Clarita Valley. The incumbent was Republican Scott Wilk, who was elected with 52.8% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

  • Warren Heaton (Democratic), immigration attorney and professor at College of the Canyons
  • Steve Hill (Democratic), businessman
  • Dana LaMon (Democratic), retired administrative judge
  • Kipp Mueller (Democratic), workers rights attorney
  • Scott Wilk (Republican), incumbent state senator
2020 California's 21st State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Wilk (incumbent) 96,701 53.1
Democratic Kipp Mueller 34,232 18.8
Democratic Dana LaMon 21,911 12.0
Democratic Warren Heaton 18,554 10.2
Democratic Steve Hill 10,863 6.0
Total votes 182,261 100.0
General election
Republican Scott Wilk (incumbent) 199,342 50.8
Democratic Kipp Mueller 193,202 49.2
Total votes 392,544 100.0
Republican hold

District 23

The 23rd district encompasses a wide arc of the Inland Empire, circling clockwise from Rancho Cucamonga in the northwest to Menifee in the south. It also includes several resort communities in the San Bernardino Mountains and a sliver of the High Desert. The incumbent was Republican Mike Morrell, who was term-limited and could not run for reelection.

Candidates

  • Kris Goodfellow (Democratic), businesswoman and former journalist
  • Abigail Medina (Democratic), president of San Bernardino City Unified School District board
  • Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (Republican), real estate agent and Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District trustee
  • Cristina Puraci (Republican), president of Redlands Unified School District board
  • Lloyd White (Republican), Beaumont city councilman
2020 California's 23rd State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Abigail Medina 59,881 28.1
Republican Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh 52,820 24.8
Republican Lloyd White 46,267 21.7
Democratic Kris Goodfellow 37,153 17.4
Republican Cristina Puraci 17,028 8.0
Total votes 213,149 100.0
General election
Republican Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh 224,945 52.5
Democratic Abigail Medina 203,403 47.5
Total votes 428,348 100.0
Republican hold

District 25

The 25th district encompasses the San Gabriel Mountains and its adjacent San Gabriel Valley foothill communities, anchored by Glendale and Pasadena. The incumbent was Democrat Anthony Portantino, who was elected with 57.8% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

  • Anthony Portantino (Democratic), incumbent state senator
2020 California's 25th State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Anthony Portantino (incumbent) 185,405 99.1
Republican Kathleen Hazelton (write-in) 952 0.5
Libertarian Evan Wecksell (write-in) 811 0.4
Total votes 187,168 100.0
General election
Democratic Anthony Portantino (incumbent) 295,432 64.0
Republican Kathleen Hazelton 166,529 36.0
Total votes 461,961 100.0
Democratic hold

District 27

The 27th district takes in the Conejo Valley, parts of the San Fernando Valley, and a slice of the Santa Clarita Valley, including most of Los Angeles's western suburbs, as well as Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks. The incumbent was Democrat Henry Stern, who was elected with 55.9% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

  • Houman Salem (Republican), businessman
  • Henry Stern (Democratic), incumbent state senator
2020 California's 27th State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Henry Stern (incumbent) 158,184 63.8
Republican Houman Salem 89,646 36.2
Total votes 247,830 100.0
General election
Democratic Henry Stern (incumbent) 284,797 60.2
Republican Houman Salem 188,421 39.8
Total votes 473,218 100.0
Democratic hold

District 29

The 29th district straddles the intersection of Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Bernardino County. It encompasses the northern Santa Ana Valley, including western and central Anaheim, Fullerton, and Yorba Linda. The incumbent was Republican Ling Ling Chang, who was elected in a special election with 33.8% of the vote in 2018.

Candidates

  • Ling Ling Chang (Republican), incumbent state senator
  • Joseph Cho (Democratic), candidate for California's 29th State Senate district in 2018 and former Cerritos city councilman
  • Josh Newman (Democratic), former state senator for California's 29th State Senate district (2016–2018)
2020 California's 29th State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ling Ling Chang (incumbent) 98,687 47.4
Democratic Josh Newman 69,732 33.5
Democratic Joseph Cho 39,643 19.1
Total votes 208,062 100.0
General election
Democratic Josh Newman 214,456 51.3
Republican Ling Ling Chang (incumbent) 203,762 48.7
Total votes 418,218 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 31

The 31st district takes in northwestern Riverside County, including Corona, Moreno Valley, and Riverside. The incumbent was Democrat Richard Roth, who was re-elected with 60.5% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

  • Richard Roth (Democratic), incumbent state senator
2020 California's 31st State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Roth (incumbent) 106,435 98.9
Republican Rod D. Taylor (write-in) 959 0.9
Libertarian John K. Farr (write-in) 189 0.2
Total votes 107,583 100.0
General election
Democratic Richard Roth (incumbent) 216,910 59.0
Republican Rod D. Taylor 150,734 41.0
Total votes 367,644 100.0
Democratic hold

District 33

The 33rd district encompasses a strip of the Gateway Cities, stretching from parts of eastern Los Angeles to the coast, including the Port of Long Beach and a significant portion of Long Beach itself. The incumbent was Democrat Lena Gonzalez, who was elected in a special election with 69.8% of the vote in 2019.

Candidates

  • Lena Gonzalez (Democratic), incumbent state senator
2020 California's 33rd State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lena Gonzalez (incumbent) 109,428 99.8
Democratic Elizabeth C. Castillo (write-in) 205 0.2
Total votes 109,633 100.0
General election
Democratic Lena Gonzalez (incumbent) 164,752 61.8
Democratic Elizabeth C. Castillo 101,831 38.2
Total votes 266,583 100.0
Democratic hold

District 35

The 35th district takes in the inland portions of the South Bay stretching from Inglewood in the north down to the Port of Los Angeles and the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles. The incumbent was Democrat Steven Bradford, who was elected with 53.5% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

  • Steven Craig Bradford (Democratic), incumbent state senator
  • Anthony Perry (American Independent), substitute teacher
2020 California's 35th State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steven Craig Bradford (incumbent) 106,742 75.7
American Independent Anthony Perry 34,253 24.3
Total votes 140,995 100.0
General election
Democratic Steven Craig Bradford (incumbent) 234,881 72.5
American Independent Anthony Perry 89,080 27.5
Total votes 323,961 100.0
Democratic hold

District 37

The 37th district encompasses central Orange County, centered on eastern Anaheim and Irvine. The incumbent was Republican John Moorlach, who was re-elected with 57.0% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

  • Katrina Foley (Democratic), mayor of Costa Mesa
  • Dave Min (Democratic), law professor at UC Irvine and candidate for California's 45th congressional district in 2018
  • John Moorlach (Republican), incumbent state senator
2020 California's 37th State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Moorlach (incumbent) 132,275 47.3
Democratic Dave Min 78,293 28.0
Democratic Katrina Foley 68,952 24.7
Total votes 279,520 100.0
General election
Democratic Dave Min 270,522 51.1
Republican John Moorlach (incumbent) 258,421 48.9
Total votes 528,943 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 39

The 39th district is centered on downtown San Diego and mainly stretches along the city's coastline, including part of San Diego Bay. The incumbent was Democrat State Senate President pro tempore Toni Atkins, who was elected with 62.5% of the vote in 2016.

Candidates

  • Toni Atkins (Democratic), incumbent state senator
2020 California's 39th State Senate district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Toni Atkins (incumbent) 212,626 91.9
Republican Linda Blankenship (write-in) 18,643 8.1
Total votes 231,269 100.0
General election
Democratic Toni Atkins (incumbent) 336,467 66.2
Republican Linda Blankenship 171,952 33.8
Total votes 508,419 100.0
Democratic hold

See also

  • 2020 United States elections
  • 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in California
  • 2020 California State Assembly election
  • 2020 California elections

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