2022 United States Senate elections in California

2022 United States Senate elections in California

← 2016 November 8, 2022 2028 →
 
Candidate Alex Padilla Mark Meuser
Party Democratic Republican
Regular election 6,621,616
61.06%
4,222,025
38.94%
Special election 6,559,303
60.89%
4,212,446
39.11%

Padilla:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Meuser:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Alex Padilla[a]
Democratic

Elected U.S. senator

Alex Padilla
Democratic

Two 2022 United States Senate elections in California were held concurrently on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of California. There were two ballot items for the same Class 3 seat: a special election to fill the seat for the final weeks of the 117th United States Congress (ending on January 3, 2023), and a general election for a full term (beginning on the same day), starting in the 118th United States Congress.

Incumbent Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was appointed in 2021 by Governor Gavin Newsom to fill the vacancy created by Kamala Harris's election to the vice presidency in 2020, and he sought a full term.[1][2] A jungle primary for each of the terms took place on June 7.[3] The top two candidates in each primary, regardless of party, advanced to the special and regular general elections in November. With his advancement out of the primary, Mark P. Meuser (/ˈmɔɪʒər/ MOY-zhər) became the first Republican since 2012 to advance to the general election, as both the 2016 and 2018 Senate elections solely featured Democrats as the top two candidates. This race was a rematch between the two, as both had previously run for the secretary of state in 2018. Padilla won both elections with more than 60% of the vote.[4] He became the first Latino elected to the U.S. Senate from California, and the first male elected to the Senate from California since Pete Wilson was re-elected in 1988 and the first male elected to the Class 3 Senate seat from California since Alan Cranston was re-elected in 1986.[5] This was the first time since 1988 where both major party nominees for a Senate seat in California were men and was also the first time where both major party nominees for the Class 3 Senate seat in California were men since 1986.

This was the best performance for a Republican candidate in a California Senate election since 2010.


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  1. ^ Wilson, Reid (September 28, 2021). "California rule change means Padilla faces extra election". The Hill. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  2. ^ Willon, Phil; McGreevy, Patrick (December 22, 2020). "Alex Padilla becomes California's first Latino U.S. senator, replacing Kamala Harris". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  3. ^ "Statewide Direct Primary Election - June 7, 2022". California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  4. ^ "Alex Padilla makes history as first Latino elected to U.S. Senate from California". Los Angeles Times. November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  5. ^ "Meet the history-makers of the 2022 midterm elections | CNN Politics". CNN. November 9, 2022.

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