California State Senate

The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature (the lower house being the California State Assembly). The state senate convenes, along with the state assembly, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

Neither house has expanded from the sizes set in the 1879 constitution, and each of the 40 state senators represents approximately 931,349 people. This is a higher number than that of any other state legislative house and than that of California's representatives in the United States House of Representatives, and each state senator represents more than the population of five U.S. states. In the current legislative session, the Democratic Party holds 30 out of the 40 seats, which constitutes a 75% majority, more than the two-thirds supermajority threshold of 27.

History

The 1849 constitution of California provided that the "number of Senators shall not be less than one third, nor more than one half of that of the members of the Assembly..." The 1849 constitution also provided that senators served two-year terms and were to be elected bienally, with the total number of senators being divided into two classes so that one half of the senators would be elected annually.

Following the ratification of the 1879 constitution of California, the constitution prescribed that the senate is composed of 40 senators and that all senators must have resided within California for three years and their district for one year. Such districts were to be "as nearly equal in population as may be, and composed of contiguous territory". There was to be one senate district for each senator. Such districts were also required to preserve political boundaries: "In the formation of such districts, no county, or city and county, shall be divided, unless it contain a sufficient population within itself to form two or more districts; nor shall a part of any county, or of any city and county, be united with any other county, or city and county, in forming any district."

Between 1933 and 1967, state legislative districts were drawn according to the "Little Federal Model" by which Assembly seats were drawn according to population and senate seats were drawn according to county lines. The guidelines were that no senate district would include more than three counties and none would include less than one complete county. This led to the situation of a populous county such as Los Angeles County (1960 population of 6 million) being accorded the same number of state senators (one) as less populous counties such as Alpine County (1960 pop. 397). The senate districts remained unaltered from 1933 to 1967, regardless of the changes in the population distribution. In Reynolds v. Sims, the United States Supreme Court compelled all states to draw up districts with equal population. As such, boundaries were changed to comply with the ruling. The California State Senate has never been expanded since the enactment of the 1879 constitution. In 1962, voters were asked via initiative California Proposition 23 whether to expand the state senate by 10 seats, thereby increasing the size of the body to 50 seats, and to abandon the little federal model.Voter Information Guide for 1962, General Election This proposition was rejected by the voters 46.65% - 53.35% (2,181,758 - 2,495,440).

Leadership The lieutenant governor is the ex officio president of the senate, and may only cast a vote to break a tie. The president pro tempore is elected by the majority party caucus, followed by confirmation of the full senate. Other leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses according to each party's strength in the chamber.

As of 2025, the president pro tempore is Democrat Monique Limón of Santa Barbara. The majority leader is Democrat Angelique Ashby of Sacramento, and the minority leader is Republican Brian Jones of Santee.

Terms of office

Each state senator represents a population roughly equivalent to the State of Delaware. As a result of Proposition 140 in 1990 and Proposition 28 in 2012, members elected to the legislature prior to 2012 are restricted by term limits to two four-year terms (eight years), while those elected in or after 2012 are allowed to serve 12 years in the legislature in any combination of four-year state senate or two-year state assembly terms.

Members of the state senate serve four-year terms. Every two years, half of the senate's 40 seats are subject to election. This is in contrast to the state assembly, in which all 80 seats in the assembly are subject to election every two years.

Meeting chamber The red tones of the California State Senate chamber are based on the British House of Lords, which is outfitted in a similar color. The dais rests along a wall shaped like an "E", with its central projection housing the rostrum. The lower tier dais runs across the entire chamber, there are several chairs and computers used by the senate officers, the most prominent seat is reserved for the secretary who calls the roll. The higher tier is smaller, with three chairs, the two largest and most ornate chairs are used by the president pro tempore (right chair) and the lieutenant governor (left chair). The third and smallest chair, placed in the center, is used by the presiding officer (acting in place of the pro tem) and is rarely sat in as the president is expected to stand. There are four other chairs flanking the dais used by the highest non-member officials attending the senate, a foreign dignitary or state officer for example. Each of the 40 senators is provided a desk, microphone and two chairs, one for the senator, another for guests or legislative aides. Almost every decorating element is identical to the assembly chamber. Along the cornice appears a portrait of George Washington and the Latin quotation senatoris est civitatis libertatem tueri ("It is the duty of the senator to guard the civil liberties of the Commonwealth").

Composition 2910 Democratic Republican Affiliation Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Vacant Democratic Republican End of previous legislature 31 9 40 0 Begin 30 9 39 1 March 11, 2025 10 40 0 September 1, 2026 29 39 1Latest voting share

Past composition of the Senate

Officers Position Name Party District Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate Eleni Kounalakis Democratic California President pro tempore Monique Limón Democratic 21st-Santa Barbara Majority leader Angelique Ashby Democratic 8th–Sacramento Assistant majority leader Laura Richardson Democratic 35th-San Pedro Aisha Wahab (Until September 1, 2026) Democratic 10th–Hayward Democratic Caucus Chair Caroline Menjivar Democratic 20th-San Fernando Valley Majority Whip Tim Grayson Democratic 9th-Concord Assistant majority whips Dave Cortese Democratic 15th-San Jose Steve Padilla Democratic 18th–Chula Vista Susan RubioDemocratic22nd-Baldwin Park Minority leader Brian Jones Republican 40th–Santee Secretary Erika Contreras Sergeant-at-Arms Katrina Rodriguez Chaplain Sister Michelle Gorman, RSM

The secretary, the sergeant-at-arms, and the chaplain are not members of the legislature.

Members DistrictNamePartyResidenceStartTerm limitedNotes1RepublicanBieber20242028Previously served in the Assembly from 2019 to 2024. 2DemocraticHealdsburg20142026 Previously served as president pro Tempore from 2024 to 20253DemocraticWest Sacramento202420364RepublicanJackson20222034First elected as a Democrat before switching parties on August 8, 20245DemocraticPleasanton202420366RepublicanFair Oaks20222030Previously served in the Assembly from 2004 to 2010.7DemocraticBerkeley202420368DemocraticNatomas20222034Majority Leader since December 23, 2025.9DemocraticConcord20242028Previously served in the Assembly from 2016 to 2024.10Vacant11DemocraticSan Francisco2016202812RepublicanBakersfield20182026Previously served as Minority Leader from 2019 to 2021 and in the Assembly from 2010 to 2016.13DemocraticMenlo Park2020203214DemocraticMerced20182026Previously served in the Assembly from 2006 to 2010 and 2016 to 2018.15DemocraticSan Jose2020203216DemocraticBakersfield2018203017DemocraticSanta Cruz20202028Previously served in the Assembly from 2002 to 2008.18DemocraticChula Vista2022203419RepublicanYucaipa2020203220DemocraticSan Fernando2022203421DemocraticSanta Barbara20202028Previously served in the Assembly from 2016 to 2020. President pro tempore22DemocraticBaldwin Park2018203023RepublicanSanta Clarita20242032Previously served the Assembly from 2020 to 2022. 24DemocraticSanta Monica2014202625DemocraticAlhambra2024203626DemocraticLos Angeles2018203027DemocraticMalibu2016202828DemocraticLos Angeles2022203429DemocraticColton20242028Previously served in the Assembly from 2016 to 202430DemocraticPico Rivera2018203031DemocraticRiverside20242028Previously served in the Assembly from 2016 to 202432RepublicanMurrieta20222030Previously served in the Assembly from 2020 to 2022.33DemocraticLong Beach2019203234DemocraticSanta Ana20182026Previously served in the Assembly from 1990 to 1994 and 2004 to 2006.35DemocraticSan Pedro20242032Previously served in the U.S. House from 2007 to 2013 and in the Assembly from 2006 to 2007.36RepublicanHuntington Beach20252030Previously served in the Assembly from 1998 to 2004 and in the State Senate from 2008 to 201237RepublicanIrvine20242028Previously served in the Assembly from 2016 to 202238DemocraticEncinitas2022203439DemocraticSan Diego20242032Previously served in the Assembly from 2021 to 2024 40RepublicanSantee20182026Minority Leader. Previously served in the Assembly from 2010 to 2016.

Seating chart

PresidentKounalakis President pro temporeLimón Niello Ochoa Bogh Hurtado Becker Smallwood-Cuevas Stern Cabaldon McNerney Durazo Richardson Caballero Allen Alvarado-Gil Strickland Choi Grove Pérez Menjivar Cervantes Rubio Weber Pierson Blakespear Gonzalez Wiener Valladares Jones Seyarto Dahle Arreguín Umberg Laird Padilla Grayson Wahab Cortese Archuleta McGuire Limón Ashby Reyes

Standing committees Current committees, chairs and vice chairs include:

Committee Chair Vice ChairAgricultureAnna Caballero (D) Marie Alvarado-Gil (R)Appropriations (D) Kelly Seyarto (R) Banking and Financial InstitutionsTim Grayson (D) Roger Niello (R) Budget and Fiscal ReviewJohn Laird (D) Roger Niello (R) Business, Professions and Economic DevelopmentAisha Wahab (D) Steven Choi (R) EducationSasha Renée Pérez (D) Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R)Elections and Constitutional AmendmentsScott Wiener (D)Steven Choi (R) Emergency ManagementHenry Stern (D)Kelly Seyarto (R)Energy, Utilities and CommunicationsBen Allen (D)Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R)Environmental QualityCatherine Blakespear (D)Suzette Martinez Valladares (R) Governmental OrganizationSusan Rubio (D)Suzette Martinez Valladares (R)HealthAkilah Weber (D)Suzette Martinez Valladares (R)HousingJesse Arreguín (D)Kelly Seyarto (R) Human ServicesJosh Becker (D)Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R) Insurance Steve Padilla (D) Roger Niello (R) Judiciary Tom Umberg (D) Roger Niello (R) Labor, Public Employment and RetirementLola Smallwood-Cuevas (D)Tony Strickland (R) Local GovernmentMaria Elena Durazo (D)Steven Choi (R) Military and Veterans AffairsBob Archuleta (D)Shannon Grove (R)Natural Resources and WaterJosh Becker (D) Kelly Seyarto (R)Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer ProtectionChristopher Cabaldon (D)Brian Jones (R) Public SafetyJesse Arreguín (D)Kelly Seyarto (R)Revenue and TaxationJerry McNerney (D)Marie Alvarado-Gil (R)RulesMonique Limón (D) Shannon Grove (R) TransportationDave Cortese (D)Tony Strickland (R)

California State Senate

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