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Elections in California |
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Personal U.S. Senator from California 49th Vice President of the United States Vice presidential campaigns ![]() | ||
The 2016 United States Senate election in California was held on November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of California, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Under California's nonpartisan blanket primary law, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. In the primary, voters may vote for any candidate, regardless of their party affiliation. In the California system, the top two finishers, regardless of party, advance to the general election in November, even if a candidate receives a majority of the vote in the primary election. Washington and Louisiana have similar "jungle primary" style processes for senators, though Louisiana will end its jungle system for specific offices including senator in 2026.
Incumbent Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer decided to not run for reelection to a fifth term. [1] This was the first open seat Senate election in California since 1992, when Boxer was first elected. [2] In the primary on June 7, 2016, California Attorney General Kamala Harris and U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez, both Democrats, finished in first and second place, respectively, and contested the general election. For the first time since direct elections to the Senate were mandated after the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, no Republican appeared on the general election ballot for the U.S. Senate in California. The highest Republican finisher in the primary won only 7.8 percent of the vote, and the 10 Republicans only won 27.9 percent of the vote among them. [3]
In the general election, Harris defeated Sanchez in a landslide, carrying 54 of the state's 58 counties, including Sanchez's home county of Orange, although Sanchez held Harris to a margin of less than 1% in the Central Valley counties of Kern and Merced.
Harris did not serve her full term in the Senate, as she resigned on January 18, 2021 after being elected Vice President of the United States in 2020. Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Alex Padilla, the incumbent Secretary of State of California, to serve the rest of her term.
Barbara Boxer was reelected with 52.1% of the vote in 2010 against Republican Carly Fiorina. Toward the end of 2014, Boxer's low fundraising and cash-on-hand numbers led to speculation that she would retire. [4] [5] On January 8, 2015, she announced that she would not run for reelection. [1]
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The following are Federal Election Commission disclosures through the reporting period ending March 31, 2016.
Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kamala Harris (D) | $9,749,024 | $4,759,048 | $4,989,977 | $78,900 |
Loretta Sánchez (D) | $3,251,186 | $921,291 | $2,329,895 | $209,217 |
Tom Del Beccaro (R) | $316,560 | $238,612 | $77,946 | $74,465 |
George 'Duf' Sundheim (R) | $532,638 | $475,415 | $57,222 | $181,640 |
Phillip Wyman (R) | $48,900 | $11,761 | $30,737 | $40,000 |
Clive Grey (NPP) | $38,916 | $21,554 | $17,361 | $25,000 |
Greg Conlon (R) | $21,205 | $13,396 | $7,809 | $9,575 |
Mike Beitiks (NPP) | $6,305 | $4,860 | $1,444 | $0 |
Steve Stokes (D) | $4,864 | $4,351 | $762 | $4,742 |
Emory Rodgers (D) | $7,246 | $6,988 | $290 | $0 |
Tom Palzer (R) | $2,783 | $2,442 | $241 | $0 |
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Tom Del Beccaro (R) | Kamala Harris (D) | Loretta Sánchez (D) | Duf Sundheim (R) | Ron Unz (R) | Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marist College [166] | May 29–31, 2016 | 2,485 | ± 2.3% | 8% | 37% | 19% | 5% | 5% | 3% | 24% |
The Field Poll [167] | May 26–31, 2016 | 1,002 | ± 3.1% | 4% | 30% | 14% | 3% | 3% | 19% | 27% |
Public Policy Institute of California [168] | May 13–22, 2016 | 996 | ± 4.3% | 8% | 27% | 19% | 3% | 6% | — | 22% |
SurveyUSA [169] | May 19–22, 2016 | 1,416 | ± 2.7% | 9% | 31% | 22% | 9% | 7% | 7% | 15% |
Public Policy Institute of California [170] | May 13–22, 2016 | 996 | ± 4.3% | 8% | 27% | 19% | 3% | 6% | 6% | 31% |
Hoover Institution [171] | May 4–16, 2016 | 1,196 | – | 6% | 26% | 13% | 6% | 6% | – | 43% |
SurveyUSA [172] | April 27–30, 2016 | 2,400 | ± 2.6% | 10% | 29% | 18% | 7% | 8% | 6% | 22% |
SurveyUSA [173] | March 30 – April 3, 2016 | 1,269 | ± 2.8% | 8% | 26% | 22% | 5% | – | 7% | 24% |
The Field Poll [174] | March 24 – April 4, 2016 | 1,400 | ± 3.2% | 4% | 27% | 14% | 2% | 5% | – | 48% |
Los Angeles Times [175] | March 16–23, 2016 | 691 | – | 10% | 33% | 15% | 8% | – | – | 34% |
Public Policy Institute of California [176] | March 6–15, 2016 | 1,710 | ± 3.6% | 9% | 26% | 17% | 6% | – | 11% | 31% |
The Field Poll [177] | December 15, 2015 – January 3, 2016 | 730 | ± 3.6% | 3% | 27% | 15% | 3% | – | 1% | 44% |
The Field Poll [178] | September 17 – October 4, 2015 | 694 | ± 4.3% | 6% | 30% | 17% | 3% | – | 1% | 34% |
Los Angeles Times [179] | August 29 – September 8, 2015 | 1,500 | ± 2.8% | 10% | 26% | 17% | – | – | – | 35% |
The Field Poll [180] | April 23 – May 16, 2015 | 801 | ± 3.5% | 5% | 19% | 8% | 1% | – | – | 58% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Rocky Chavez (R) | David Dreier (R) | John Estrada (R) | Kamala Harris (D) | Adam Schiff (D) | Ashley Swearengin (R) | Meg Whitman (R) | Other | Unde- cided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emerson College [181] | April 2–8, 2015 | 881 | ± 3.2% | 9% | 1% | 1% | 23% | 2% | 4% | 13% | 7% | 41% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Rocky Chavez (R) | Del Beccaro/ Sundheim (R) | Kamala Harris (D) | Adam Schiff (D) | Ashley Swearengin (R) | Antonio Villaraigosa (D) | Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USC [182] | February 18–24, 2015 | 1,505 | ± 2.7% | 6% | 5.5% [183] | 28% | 5% | 9% | 19% | 2% | 27% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Mary Bono (R) | David Dreier (R) | Kamala Harris (D) | Adam Schiff (D) | Antonio Villaraigosa (D) | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling (D) [184] [185] [186] | February 6–8, 2015 | 824 | ± ? | 14% | 19% | 34% | 4% | 16% | 14% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Kamala Harris (D) | Adam Schiff (D) | Ashley Swearengin (R) | Antonio Villaraigosa (D) | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Garin-Hart-Yang Research [187] [188] [189] [190] | January 27–29, 2015 | 600 | ± 4 | 28% | 4% | 31% | 18% | 19% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Xavier Becerra (D) | Rocky Chavez (R) | Kamala Harris (D) | Condoleezza Rice (R) | Loretta Sanchez (D) | Antonio Villaraigosa (D) | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling (D) [191] [192] | January 22, 2015 | 627 | ± ? | 3% | 2% | 34% | 33% | 4% | 9% | 15% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Eric Garcetti (D) | Kamala Harris (D) | Neel Kashkari (R) | Tom McClintock (R) | Linda Sánchez (D) | Jackie Speier (D) | Tom Steyer (D) | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling (D) [193] [194] | December 29–30, 2014 | 401 | ± ? | 7% | 27% | 12% | 28% | 6% | — | 6% | 14% |
468 | — | 22% | 12% | 29% | 8% | 8% | 4% | 17% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Kamala Harris | 3,000,689 | 37.9% | |
Democratic | Loretta Sanchez | 1,416,203 | 17.9% | |
Republican | Duf Sundheim | 584,251 | 7.8% | |
Republican | Phil Wyman | 352,821 | 4.7% | |
Republican | Tom Del Beccaro | 323,614 | 4.3% | |
Republican | Greg Conlon | 230,944 | 3.1% | |
Democratic | Steve Stokes | 168,805 | 2.2% | |
Republican | George C. Yang | 112,055 | 1.5% | |
Republican | Karen Roseberry | 110,557 | 1.5% | |
Libertarian | Gail K. Lightfoot | 99,761 | 1.3% | |
Democratic | Massie Munroe | 98,150 | 1.3% | |
Green | Pamela Elizondo | 95,677 | 1.3% | |
Republican | Tom Palzer | 93,263 | 1.2% | |
Republican | Ron Unz | 92,325 | 1.2% | |
Republican | Don Krampe | 69,635 | 0.9% | |
No party preference | Eleanor García | 65,084 | 0.9% | |
Republican | Jarrell Williamson | 64,120 | 0.9% | |
Republican | Von Hougo | 63,609 | 0.8% | |
Democratic | President Cristina Grappo | 63,330 | 0.8% | |
Republican | Jerry J. Laws | 53,023 | 0.7% | |
Libertarian | Mark Matthew Herd | 41,344 | 0.6% | |
Peace and Freedom | John Thompson Parker | 35,998 | 0.5% | |
No party preference | Ling Ling Shi | 35,196 | 0.5% | |
Democratic | Herbert G. Peters | 32,638 | 0.4% | |
Democratic | Emory Peretz Rodgers | 31,485 | 0.4% | |
No party preference | Mike Beitiks | 31,450 | 0.4% | |
No party preference | Clive Grey | 29,418 | 0.4% | |
No party preference | Jason Hanania | 27,715 | 0.4% | |
No party preference | Paul Merritt | 24,031 | 0.3% | |
No party preference | Jason Kraus | 19,318 | 0.3% | |
No party preference | Don J. Grundmann | 15,317 | 0.2% | |
No party preference | Scott A. Vineberg | 11,843 | 0.2% | |
No party preference | Tim Gildersleeve | 9,798 | 0.1% | |
No party preference | Gar Myers | 8,726 | 0.1% | |
Republican | Billy Falling (write-in) | 87 | 0.0% | |
No party preference | Ric M. Llewellyn (write-in) | 32 | 0.0% | |
Republican | Alexis Stuart (write-in) | 10 | 0.0% | |
Total votes | 7,512,322 | 100.0% |
The following are Federal Election Commission disclosures through the reporting period ending March 31, 2016.
Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kamala Harris (D) | $9,749,024 | $4,759,048 | $4,989,977 | $78,900 |
Loretta Sánchez (D) | $3,251,186 | $921,291 | $2,329,895 | $209,217 |
Dates | Location | Harris | Sanchez | Link |
---|---|---|---|---|
October 9, 2016 | Cal State LA, Los Angeles, California | Participant | Participant | [196] |
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report [197] | Safe D (Harris) | September 9, 2016 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball [198] | Safe D (Harris) | September 19, 2016 |
Rothenberg Political Report [199] | Safe D (Harris) | September 2, 2016 |
Daily Kos [200] | Safe D (Harris) | September 16, 2016 |
Real Clear Politics [201] | Safe D (Harris) | September 15, 2016 |
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Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Kamala Harris (D) | Loretta Sánchez (D) | Would not vote | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SurveyMonkey [202] | November 1–7, 2016 | 2,712 | ± 4.6% | 52% | 31% | — | 17% |
Insights West [203] | November 4–6, 2016 | 401 | ± 4.9% | 50% | 28% | — | 22% |
SurveyMonkey [204] | Oct 31 – Nov 6, 2016 | 2,655 | ± 4.6% | 51% | 32% | — | 17% |
SurveyMonkey [205] | Oct 28 – Nov 3, 2016 | 2,528 | ± 4.6% | 51% | 31% | — | 18% |
SurveyMonkey [206] | Oct 27 – Nov 2, 2016 | 2,316 | ± 4.6% | 51% | 31% | — | 18% |
SurveyMonkey [207] | Oct 26 – Nov 1, 2016 | 2,284 | ± 4.6% | 51% | 30% | — | 19% |
SurveyUSA [208] | October 28–31, 2016 | 747 | ± 3.7% | 47% | 27% | — | 26% |
SurveyMonkey [209] | October 25–31, 2016 | 2,505 | ± 4.6% | 50% | 30% | — | 20% |
The Field Poll [210] | October 25–31, 2016 | 1,498 | ± 3.2% | 47% | 23% | 13% | 17% |
USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times [211] | October 22–30, 2016 | 697 | ± 3.7% | 48% | 31% | 9% | 12% |
PPIC Statewide Survey [212] | October 14–23, 2016 | 1,024 | ± 4.3% | 42% | 20% | 18% | 20% |
SurveyUSA [213] | October 13–15, 2016 | 725 | ± 3.7% | 45% | 24% | — | 31% |
Hoover Institution – Golden State Poll [214] | October 4–14, 2016 | 1,228 | ± 3.3% | 41% | 22% | — | 37% |
Sacramento State/CA Counts [215] | October 7–13, 2016 | 622 | ± 7.0% | 49% | 24% | 7% | 20% |
SurveyUSA [216] | September 27–28, 2016 | 751 | ± 3.6% | 40% | 29% | — | 31% |
PPIC Statewide Survey [217] | September 9–18, 2016 | 1,702 | ± 3.5% | 32% | 25% | 24% | 19% |
Insights West [218] | September 12–14, 2016 | 515 | ± 4.3% | 42% | 28% | 3% | 28% |
The Field Poll [219] | September 7–13, 2016 | 1,426 | ± 3.2% | 42% | 20% | 12% | 26% |
SurveyUSA [220] | September 8–11, 2016 | 712 | ± 3.7% | 44% | 27% | — | 29% |
SurveyMonkey USC/Los Angeles Times [221] | September 1–8, 2016 | 4,212 | ± 2.0% | 30% | 16% | 16% | 38% |
Sacramento State/CA Counts [222] | August 15–24, 2016 | 915 | ± 4.0% | 51% | 19% | 6% | 25% |
SmithJohnson Research [223] | August 17–19, 2016 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 41% | 15% | 8% | 36% |
PPIC Statewide Survey [224] | July 10–19, 2016 | 1,056 | ± 3.5% | 38% | 20% | 28% | 14% |
The Field Poll [225] | June 8 – July 2, 2016 | 956 | ± 3.2% | 39% | 24% | 15% | 22% |
SurveyMonkey USC/Los Angeles Times [226] | June 9–10, 2016 | 1,553 | ± 3.5% | 47% | 22% | 26% | 5% |
The Field Poll [227] | May 26–31, 2016 | 1,002 | ± 3.1% | 40% | 26% | 14% | 20% |
PPIC Statewide Survey [228] | May 13–22, 2016 | 996 | ± 4.3% | 34% | 26% | 24% | 15% |
Gravis Marketing [229] | April 7–10, 2016 | 2,088 | ± 2.1% | 29% | 19% | — | 52% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Kamala Harris (D) | David Dreier (R) | Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling [230] [185] [186] | February 6–8, 2015 | 824 | ± ? | 47% | 42% | — | 10% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Eric Garcetti (D) | Kamala Harris (D) | Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling [231] [194] | December 29–30, 2014 | 869 | ± ? | 20% | 35% | — | 46% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Kamala Harris (D) | Antonio Villaraigosa (D) | Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USC [182] | February 18–24, 2015 | 1,505 | ± 2.7% | 45% | 27% | 3% | 24% |
Public Policy Polling [230] [185] [186] | February 6–8, 2015 | 824 | ± ? | 45% | 23% | — | 33% |
Public Policy Polling [232] [192] | January 22, 2015 | 627 | ± ? | 41% | 16% | — | 43% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Adam Schiff (D) | David Dreier (R) | Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling [230] [185] [186] | February 6–8, 2015 | 824 | ± ? | 43% | 42% | — | 15% |
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Antonio Villaraigosa (D) | David Dreier (R) | Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling [230] [185] [186] | February 6–8, 2015 | 824 | ± ? | 46% | 44% | — | 10% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Kamala Harris | 7,542,753 | 61.60% | ||
Democratic | Loretta Sanchez | 4,701,417 | 38.40% | ||
Total votes | 12,244,170 | 100.00% | |||
Democratic hold |
Harris won 47 of the 53 congressional districts, including thirteen held by Republicans. Sanchez won six, including one held by a Republican. [234]
Harris resigned on the senate on January 18, 2021, two days before her inauguration as vice president. This makes Harris the first US senator elected to a full six-year term since Barack Obama in 2008 to not finish what would be her sole term. On December 22, 2020, California governor Gavin Newsom appointed California secretary of state Alex Padilla to serve the remainder of Harris' term. [235] Despite this, Harris became president of the Senate on January 20, 2021, by virtue of her election as vice president.
Harris is the second incumbent US senator from this seat to be elected vice president, the first being Richard Nixon in 1952.
Official campaign websites