2026 California State Senate election
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
20 seats from even-numbered districts in the California State Senate 21 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Legend: Democratic incumbent retiring Republican incumbent retiring Democratic incumbent Republican incumbent | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
.jpg)
.jpg)
| Elections in California |
|---|
 |
The 2026 California State Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026, with the primary election to be held on June 2. Voters in the 20 even-numbered districts of the California State Senate will elect their representatives to four-year terms. The elections will coincide with elections for other offices, including for governor and the state assembly.
Outgoing incumbents
[edit]Democrats
[edit]- 2nd: Mike McGuire (D–Geyserville): Termed out of office.
- 14th: Anna Caballero (D–Merced): Termed out of office.
- 24th: Ben Allen (D–Santa Monica): Termed out of office.
- 26th: María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles): running for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.[1]
- 34th: Tom Umberg (D–Santa Ana): Termed out of office.
Republicans
[edit]- 12th: Shannon Grove (R–Bakersfield): Termed out of office.
- 40th: Brian Jones (R-Santee): Termed out of office.
Summary by district
[edit]† - Incumbent not seeking re-election
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Mike McGuire† | Dem | ||||
| 4th | Marie Alvarado-Gil | Rep[a] | ||||
| 6th | Roger Niello | Rep | ||||
| 8th | Angelique Ashby | Dem | ||||
| 10th | Aisha Wahab | Dem | ||||
| 12th | Shannon Grove† | Rep | ||||
| 14th | Anna Caballero† | Dem | ||||
| 16th | Melissa Hurtado | Dem | ||||
| 18th | Steve Padilla | Dem | ||||
| 20th | Caroline Menjivar | Dem | ||||
| 22nd | Susan Rubio | Dem | ||||
| 24th | Ben Allen† | Dem | ||||
| 26th | María Elena Durazo† | Dem | ||||
| 28th | Lola Smallwood-Cuevas | Dem | ||||
| 30th | Bob Archuleta | Dem | ||||
| 32nd | Kelly Seyarto | Rep | ||||
| 34th | Tom Umberg† | Dem | ||||
| 36th | Tony Strickland | Rep | ||||
| 38th | Catherine Blakespear | Dem | ||||
| 40th | Brian Jones† | Rep | ||||
District 2
[edit]The 2nd district encompasses most of the North Coast region, stretching from the Oregon border to the northern Bay Area to include Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin Counties. The incumbent is three-term Democrat Mike McGuire of Healdsburg, who is term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Damon Connolly (Democratic), state assemblymember from the 12th district (2022–present)[2]
- James Gore (Democratic), Sonoma County supervisor (2015–present)[3]
- Natalie Rogers (Democratic), Santa Rosa city councilor (2020–present)[4]
Potential
[edit]- Rusty Hicks (Democratic), chair of the California Democratic Party (2019–present) and candidate for California's 2nd State Assembly district in 2024[5]
Declined
[edit]- Ariel Kelley (Democratic), Healdsburg city councilor and candidate for California's 2nd State Assembly district in 2024[2]
District 4
[edit]The 4th district is located in the northeastern Central Valley, the central Sierra Nevada, and Death Valley, including Stanislaus, Calaveras, Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Alpine, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera, Mono, and Inyo counties. The incumbent is one-term Republican[a] Marie Alvarado-Gil of Jackson, who is eligible to run for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Marie Alvarado-Gil (Republican), incumbent state senator[6]
- Jaron Brandon (Democratic), Tuolumne County supervisor[7]
- Jeramy Young (Republican), Livermore Chief of Police and former mayor of Hughson (2016–2020)[8]
District 6
[edit]The 6th district is located in northern and eastern suburbs of the Sacramento metropolitan area, including the Sacramento County cities of Rancho Cordova, Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Gold River, Arden-Arcade, Folsom, Orangevale, Citrus Heights, and Antelope, and the western Placer County exurbs of Granite Bay, Roseville, Rocklin, Loomis, Whitney, and Lincoln. The incumbent is one-term Republican Roger Niello of Fair Oaks, who is eligible to run for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Roger Niello (Republican), incumbent state senator
District 8
[edit]The 8th district is located in the core of the Sacramento metropolitan area, consisting of the state capital of Sacramento and surrounding suburbs, including Rio Linda, McClellan Park, North Highlands, Vineyard, Rosemont, Florin, and Elk Grove. The incumbent is one-term Democrat Angelique Ashby of Sacramento, who is eligible to run for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Angelique Ashby (Democratic), incumbent state senator
District 10
[edit]The 10th district is located in the East Bay in Alameda County and the northwestern corner of Silicon Valley in Santa Clara County, including Fremont, Hayward, Union City, Newark, Milpitas, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara. The incumbent is one-term Democrat Aisha Wahab of Hayward, who is eligible to run for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Aisha Wahab (Democratic), incumbent state senator
District 12
[edit]The 12th district encompasses the southeastern Central Valley and the northwestern corner of the Mojave Desert, including most of Kern County and the eastern portions of Tulare County and Fresno County. The incumbent is two-term Republican Shannon Grove of Bakersfield, who is term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Nathan Magsig (Republican), Fresno County supervisor and candidate for California's 5th congressional district in 2022[9]
- Michael Maher (Republican), aviation business owner and runner-up for California's 21st congressional district in 2022 and 2024[10]
Publicly expressed interest
[edit]- David Couch (Republican), Kern County supervisor (2013–present)[11]
Potential
[edit]- Mike Boudreaux (Republican), Tulare County Sheriff (2013–present) and runner-up for California's 20th congressional district in 2024[11]
- Stan Ellis (Republican), state assemblymember from the 32nd district (2025–present)[11]
- Phillip Peters (Republican), Kern County supervisor (2021–present)[11]
- Cynthia Zimmer (Republican), Kern County District Attorney (2018–present)[11]
District 14
[edit]The 14th district is located in the western Central Valley, including Merced County and western Fresno County. The incumbent is two-term Democrat Anna Caballero of Merced, who is term-limited and ineligible for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Nelson Esparza (Democratic), Fresno city councilor (2019–present)[12]
- Esmeralda Soria (Democratic), state assemblymember from the 27th district (2022–present)[13]
Potential
[edit]- Melissa Hurtado (Democratic), state senator from the 16th district (2018–present)[14]
Endorsements
[edit]- Federal officials
- Jim Costa, U.S. Representative from CA-21 (2005–present)[15]
- Adam Gray, U.S. Representative from CA-13 (2025–present)[13]
- Municipal officials
- Jerry Dyer, mayor of Fresno (2021–present) (Republican)[15]
- State legislators
- Anna Caballero, incumbent state senator[13]
District 16
[edit]The 16th district encompasses the southwestern Central Valley, including Kings County, western Tulare County, and northwestern Kern County. The incumbent is two-term Democrat Melissa Hurtado of Bakersfield, who is eligible to run for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Mike Boudreaux (Republican), Tulare County Sheriff (2013–present) and runner-up for California's 20th congressional district in 2024[14]
- Melissa Hurtado (Democratic), incumbent state senator[14]
District 18
[edit]The 18th district stretches along the Mexico–United States border and includes rural Imperial Valley and areas of California along the Colorado River, including Needles, Blythe and Indio, but most of the population is in southern San Diego County, including Imperial Beach, Otay Mesa, Chula Vista, National City, Lincoln Acres, Bonita, the Tijuana River Valley, and the southeast side of San Diego. The incumbent is one-term Democrat Steve Padilla of Chula Vista, who is eligble for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Steve Padilla (Democratic), incumbent state senator[16]
District 20
[edit]The 20th district contains most of the San Fernando Valley section of northern Los Angeles, including Burbank, Van Nuys, Reseda, Canoga Park, Tujunga, Sun Valley, Shadow Hills, Lake View Terrace, Arleta, Panorama City, Pacoima, Mission Hills, San Fernando, and Sylmar. The incumbent is one-term Democrat Caroline Menjivar of Panorama City, who is eligible for releection.
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Caroline Menjivar (Democratic), incumbent state senator[16]
District 22
[edit]The 22nd district consists of the eastern San Gabriel Valley and the Pomona Valley in Los Angeles County, including El Monte, West Covina, Covina, Duarte, Baldwin Park, Irwindale, Vincent, Azusa, San Dimas, La Verne, and Pomona, as well as Montclair, Chino, and Ontario in the southwestern corner of San Bernardino County. The incumbent is two-term Democrat Susan Rubio, who is eligible to run for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Susan Rubio (Democratic), incumbent state senator
District 24
[edit]The 24th district contains the Westside Los Angeles neighborhoods of Venice, West Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Bel Air, Century City, Sunset Strip, Laurel Canyon, Hollywood, and Miracle Mile, and the Santa Monica Mountains cities such as Hidden Hills, Calabasas, Topanga, and Malibu, as well as most of the South Bay cities of Los Angeles County, including Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Marina Del Rey, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood. The incumbent is three-term Democrat Ben Allen of Santa Monica, who is term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Eric Alegria (Democratic), Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District Board member[17]
- John Erickson (Democratic), West Hollywood city councilor (2020–present)[18]
- Brittany McKinley (Democratic), member of the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission[18]
- Mike Newhouse (Democratic), member of the Los Angeles Planning Commission and candidate for Los Angeles City Council in 2022[18]
- Sion Roy (Democratic), Santa Monica College trustee and former president of the Los Angeles County Medical Association[19]
Endorsements
[edit]- State legislators
- Richard Bloom, former state assemblyman[19]
District 26
[edit]The 26th district is located in the central and eastern Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, East Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Cypress Park, Koreatown, Wilshire Center, Westlake, Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, Garvanza, Lincoln Heights, Hermon, Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Boyle Heights, and El Sereno, along with the adjascent communities of City Terrace, East Los Angeles and Vernon. The incumbent is second-term Democrat Maria Elena Durazo of Los Angeles, who is eligible to run for re-election but is instead running for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Wendy Carrillo (Democratic), former state assemblymember from the 52nd district (2017–2024) and candidate for Los Angeles City Council in 2024[20]
- Sara Hernandez (Democratic), Los Angeles Community College District trustee[1]
Declined
[edit]- Maria Elena Durazo (Democratic), incumbent state senator (running for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors)[1]
District 28
[edit]The 28th district contains Downtown Los Angeles and most of South Central Los Angeles, including Park La Brea, Pico Union, Mid City, West Adams, Baldwin Hills, Hyde Park, Nevin, Leimert Park, Jefferson Park, Crenshaw, Vermont Square, Adams-Normandie, Florence, Exposition Park, and University Park, as well as suburbs of Culver City, Ladera Heights, and a small part of the Westside Los Angeles neighborhoods, including Palms, Mar Vista and Playa Vista. The incumbent is first-term Democrat Lola Smallwood-Cuevas of Los Angeles, who is eligible to run for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (Democratic), incumbent state senator
District 30
[edit]The 30th district contains the Gateway Cities region of southeastern Los Angeles County, including Downey, Norwalk, Bellflower, La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs, Los Nietos, Montebello, Pico Rivera, Whittier, Hacienda Heights, La Puente, Valinda, Avocado Heights, Industry, Rowland Heights, Walnut, and Diamond Bar, along with Brea in northeastern Orange County. The incumbent is second-term Democrat Bob Archuleta of Pico Rivera, who is eligible to run for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Bob Archuleta (Democratic), incumbent state senator
District 32
[edit]The 32nd district consists of the southwestern corner of the Inland Empire, including the Riverside County communities of Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Lakeland Village, Alberhill, Menifee, Sage, and Idyllwild, along with Yorba Linda in eastern Orange County, Chino Hills in southwestern San Bernardino County and the rural, northeastern corner of San Diego County. The incumbent is first-term Republican Kelly Seyarto of Murrieta, who is eligible to run for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Kelly Seyarto (Republican), incumbent state senator
District 34
[edit]The 34th district is based in northern Orange County, including most of Santa Ana, Anaheim, Placentia, Fullerton, Buena Park, La Habra, and the west side of Orange, along with the unincorporated community of South Whittier in Los Angeles County. The incumbent is second-term Democrat Tom Umberg of Santa Ana, who is term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Rhonda Shader (Republican), former Placentia city councilor and runner-up for this district in 2022[21]
- Avelino Valencia (Democratic), state assemblymember from the 68th district (2022–present)[22]
Publicly expressed interest
[edit]- Josh Newman (Democratic), former state senator from the 29th district (2016–2018, 2020–2024)[23]
Endorsements
[edit]- Federal officials
- Adam Schiff, U.S. senator from California (2025–present)[24]
District 36
[edit]The 36th district encompasses most of coastal Orange County, including Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Emerald Bay, Laguna Beach, and Dana Point, and the Little Saigon area of northwestern Orange County, including Garden Grove, Westminster, Fountain Valley, Midway City, Stanton, Cypress, Rossmoor, and Los Alimitos, along with Artesia, Cerritos, and Hawaiian Gardens in southwestern Los Angeles County. The incumbent is Republican Tony Strickland, who was elected in a special election in 2025.
Candidates
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Tony Strickland (Republican), incumbent state senator
District 38
[edit]The 38th district encompasses the coastal North County San Diego County communities of La Jolla, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Cardiff, Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Vista, Oceanside, San Luis Rey, and Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, along with the southern edge of Orange County, including San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, and Rancho Santa Margarita. The incumbent is one-term Democrat Catherine Blakespear of Encinitas, who is eligible to run for re-election.
Candidates
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Catherine Blakespear (Democratic), incumbent state senator
District 40
[edit]The 40th district encompasses much of inland San Diego County, including Santee, Poway, Alpine, Pine Valley, Ramona, San Marcos, Escondido, Hidden Meadows, Valley Center, Pauma Valley, and Fallbrook, as well as the northeastern parts of the city of San Diego. The incumbent is second-term Republican Brian Jones of Santee, who is term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election.
Declared
[edit]- Kristie Bruce-Lane (Republican), former member of the Olivenhain Municipal Water District Board of Directors and runner-up for California's 76th State Assembly district in 2022 and 2024[25]
- Ed Musgrove (Republican), San Marcos city councilor[25]
- Marni von Wilpert (Democratic), San Diego city councilor from District 5 (2020–present)[26]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Tat, Linh (March 10, 2025). "State Sen. María Elena Durazo will run for LA County Board of Supervisors in 2026". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
- ^ a b Murphy, Austin (April 3, 2025). "Assemblymember Damon Connolly joins race for Mike McGuire's North Coast Senate seat". The Press Democrat. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- ^ Gower, Bode (November 8, 2024). "James Gore announces run for North Coast Senate seat". Ukiah Daily Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ Pineda, Paulina (February 12, 2025). "Santa Rosa council member Natalie Rogers joins race to replace state Sen. Mike McGuire". The Press Democrat. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ Murphy, Erin (January 30, 2025). "Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore announces bid for state Senate seat that represents North Coast". Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Cortez, Jeff (August 9, 2024). "Young to challenge Alvarado-Gil for District 4 senate seat". Turlock Journal. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ Hansen, B.J. (March 28, 2025). "Supervisor Brandon Running For California Senate". KVML. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- ^ Bailey, Cierra (August 13, 2024). "Livermore PD Chief Young announces bid for 2026 State Senate race". Livermore Vine. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ Taub, David (January 23, 2025). "As the Fresno GOP Turns: Cease and Desist Letter Sent to Rebel Leader". GV Wire. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Taub, David (February 19, 2025). "Maher's Campaign for State Senate Is a Moving Experience". GV Wire. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Gligich, Daniel (March 25, 2025). "Shannon Grove is terming out of Calif. Senate. Who's running to replace her?". San Joaquin Valley Sun. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
- ^ Gligich, Daniel (August 7, 2024). "Nelson Esparza launches campaign for State Senate". The San Joaquin Valley Sun. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c Gligich, Daniel (March 17, 2025). "Soria launches campaign for State Senate". San Joaquin Valley Sun. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c Taub, David (February 20, 2025). "Will Soria Run for State Senate Instead of Assembly?". GV Wire. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ a b Sheehan, Tim (August 15, 2024). "City Councilmember in Fresno gathers support for 2026 state Senate run. Who's backing him?". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Bajko, Matthew (February 5, 2025). "Political Notebook: CA LGBTQ 2026 legislative races begin". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ Alegria, Eric (March 27, 2025). "Eric Alegria: Why I'm running for state Senate in 2026". Daily Breeze. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- ^ a b c Block, Larry (March 4, 2025). "John Erickson launches bid for California State Senate". WEHO Online. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ^ a b Hall, Matthew (March 20, 2025). "SMC Boardmember Sion Roy declares early entry into race to replace Ben Allen". Santa Monica Daily Press. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- ^ Tat, Linh (March 13, 2025). "Former Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo announces run for state Senate". Los Angeles Daily News.
- ^ Kang, Hanna (February 8, 2025). "Former Placentia Mayor Rhonda Shader running for California's 34th Senate District". The Orange County Register. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ^ Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (December 12, 2024). "Assemblyman Avelino Valencia launches 2026 bid for state Senate seat". Orange County Register. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (December 18, 2024). "Josh Newman, recently ousted from state Senate, is already eyeing political comeback". Orange County Register. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (February 6, 2025). "Newsom buddies up to Trump". Politico. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- ^ a b Place, Leo (January 21, 2025). "Three candidates vying for 40th state Senate seat in 2026". The Coast News. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ "Marni von Wilpert announces candidacy For state Senate in District 40". KPBS. March 17, 2025. Retrieved April 5, 2025.