2026 California State Senate election Last updated April 11, 2025 2026 California State Senate election Incumbent status in each district Legend: Democratic incumbent retiring Republican incumbent retiring Democratic incumbent Republican incumbent
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 .
Summary by district † - Incumbent not seeking re-election
District 4 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.
District 6 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.
District 14 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.
Endorsements Nelson Esparza (D)
Federal officials Municipal officials District 18 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.
District 20 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.
District 22 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.
District 24 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.
District 26 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 .
District 28 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.
District 30 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.
District 32 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.
District 36 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.
District 38 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.
District 40 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.
Notes 1 2 Originally elected as a Democrat in 2020, switched parties August 8, 2024. References 1 2 3 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 . 1 2 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 . 1 2 3 4 5 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 . 1 2 3 Gligich, Daniel (March 17, 2025). "Soria launches campaign for State Senate" . San Joaquin Valley Sun . Retrieved March 18, 2025 . 1 2 3 Taub, David (February 20, 2025). "Will Soria Run for State Senate Instead of Assembly?" . GV Wire . Retrieved February 26, 2025 . 1 2 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 . 1 2 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 . ↑ Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (April 10, 2025). "California cities teeter on tariff see-saw" . Politico . Retrieved April 10, 2025 . 1 2 3 Block, Larry (March 4, 2025). "John Erickson launches bid for California State Senate" . WEHO Online . Retrieved March 6, 2025 . ↑ Sparks, Jennifer (January 19, 2025). "Politics and The Pulpit –Kristina Irwin, State Senate Candidate- February 19, 2025" . KHTS . Retrieved April 8, 2025 . 1 2 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 . 1 2 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 .
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