2022 California elections

Elections were held in California on November 8, 2022. The statewide direct primary election was held on June 7, 2022.

California voters elected all of California's seats to the United States House of Representatives, one seat to the United States Senate, all of the seats of the California State Assembly, all even-numbered seats of the California State Senate, and the Governor of California, as well as various statewide offices.

Pursuant to Proposition 14 passed in 2010, California uses a nonpartisan blanket primary for its races. All the candidates for the same elected office, regardless of respective political party, run against each other at once during the primary. The candidates receiving the most and second-most votes in the primary election then become the contestants in the general election.

United States Congress Senate

Incumbent Democratic senator Alex Padilla was appointed to the seat in 2021 after his predecessor Kamala Harris resigned to become Vice President of the United States. He intended to run for election to a full term. Harris was first elected in 2016 with 61.6% of the vote.

There were two elections on the ballot for the same Class 3 seat: a special election for the remainder of Harris's term expiring on January 3, 2023 and a general election for the full term ending on January 3, 2029. Padilla handily won both elections against Mark Meuser.

Special election

Regular election

House of Representatives

All of California's seats to the United States House of Representatives were up for election to two-year terms. Due to the results of the 2020 United States census, California had 52 seats up for election, a loss of one seat. This was the first time the state lost a congressional delegation in its history. Six members of Congress chose not to run for re-election, including Democrat Karen Bass, who instead ran for mayor of Los Angeles.

Although Democrats would hold the majority of the state's delegation, Republicans would win both open districts created through redistricting, as well as retain vulnerable districts that voted for Joe Biden in 2020.

Statewide constitutional offices Governor

Incumbent Democratic governor Gavin Newsom ran for re-election. Newsom was first elected in 2018 with 61.9% of the vote. He faced a recall election in 2021 in which he prevailed. He was comfortably reelected in 2022 over state Senator Brian Dahle.

Lieutenant governor

Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Eleni Kounalakis ran for re-election. She was first elected in 2018 with 56.6% of the vote. She was reelected with 59.7% of the vote over Lancaster City Councilwoman Angela E. Underwood Jacobs.

Attorney general

Incumbent Democratic attorney general Rob Bonta was appointed in 2021 after his predecessor Xavier Becerra resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. He intended to run for election to a full term. Becerra won election to a full term in 2018 with 63.6% of the vote. He won a second term over former Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Hochman.

Secretary of state

Incumbent Democratic secretary of state Shirley Weber was appointed in 2021 after her predecessor Alex Padilla resigned to become a U.S. senator. She intended to run for election to a full term. Padilla was re-elected in 2018 with 64.5% of the vote.

Treasurer

Incumbent Democratic treasurer Fiona Ma ran for re-election. She was first elected in 2018 with 64.1% of the vote. She won a second term in 2022 over Cudahy City Councilman Jack M. Guerrero, who had upset Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do in the primary.

Controller

Incumbent Democratic controller Betty Yee was term-limited and could not run for re-election. She had been re-elected in 2018 with 65.5% of the vote.

Insurance Commissioner

Incumbent Democratic Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara ran for re-election. He was first elected in 2018 with 52.9% of the vote.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Incumbent Democratic Superintendent Tony Thurmond ran for re-election. He was first elected in 2018 with 50.9% of the vote.

Board of Equalization

All four seats on the California State Board of Equalization were up for election, with all four incumbents eligible for re-election.

District 1 Incumbent Republican Ted Gaines ran for re-election. He was first elected in 2018 with 51.4% of the vote.

District 2 Incumbent Democrat Malia Cohen retired to run for state controller. She was first elected in 2018 with 72.8% of the vote.

District 3 Incumbent Democrat Tony Vazquez ran for re-election. He was first elected in 2018 with 69.9% of the vote.

District 4 Incumbent Democrat Mike Schaefer ran for re-election. He was first elected in 2018 with 52.2% of the vote in an upset.

State legislature State Senate

Californians elected all even-numbered seats to the California State Senate to four-year terms. Seven senators were term-limited in 2022, while two chose to retire early to run for higher office. Democrats would make a net gain of one seat, retaining their supermajority. California State Senate Party Leader Before After Change Democratic Toni Atkins 31 32 1 Republican Scott Wilk 9 8 1 Total 40 40

State Assembly

Californians elected all of the seats to the California State Assembly to two-year terms. 17 incumbent assemblymembers chose not to run for re-election. Democrats increased their supermajority by two seats. California State Assembly Party Leader Before After Change Democratic Anthony Rendon 60 62 2 Republican James Gallagher 19 18 1 Independent 1 0 1 Total 80 80

Propositions In 2022, state propositions only appeared on the general election ballot. Pursuant to a November 2011 law, only propositions placed on the ballot by the state legislature may appear on the primary ballot, and the legislative body did not do so in 2022.

The following propositions qualified to appear on the general election ballot:

+2022 California propositionsNameDescriptionVotesTypeYes%No%Proposition 1Provides a state constitutional right to reproductive freedom, defined to include abortion and contraceptives. 7,176,888 66.883,553,56433.12 Legislatively referred constitutional amendmentProposition 26Legalizes sports betting at American Indian gaming casinos and licensed racetracks in California.3,514,59733.02 7,129,127 66.98 Combined initiated constitutional amendment and state statuteProposition 27Legalizes online and mobile sports betting in the state.1,906,34217.72 8,849,206 82.28Proposition 28Requires annual funding for arts and music education in all K-12 public schools. 6,924,618 64.403,827,97135.60 Citizen-initiated state statuteProposition 29Enacts staffing requirements, reporting requirements, ownership disclosure, and closing requirements for chronic dialysis clinics.3,364,40731.60 7,281,201 68.40Proposition 30Creates a 1.75% tax on personal income above $2 million and allocates revenue for zero-emissions vehicle and wildfire programs.4,560,48842.37 6,203,810 57.63Proposition 31Upholds Senate Bill 793 (2020), which banned the sale of flavored tobacco products in the state. Retailers would then be fined $250 for each sale that breaks this law. 6,803,431 63.423,923,38536.58 Veto referendumSource: California Secretary of State

Judiciary Supreme Court Chief Justice

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye announced she would not run for retention, opting to retire at the end of her term. Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Associate Justice Patricia Guerrero as chief justice. Guerrero faced retention for a full 12-year term.

Associate Justice Associate Justices Martin Jenkins and Goodwin Liu faced retention for full 12-year terms. Associate Justice Joshua Groban, after being appointed in 2018 by Governor Jerry Brown due to Associate Justice Kathryn Werdegar's retirement, faced retention for the remainder of Justice Werdegar's term, which expires in 2027. Justice Groban retention

Justice Jenkins retention

Justice Liu retention

2022 California elections

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