View source for California State Senate

{{short description|Upper house of the California State Legislature}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox legislature
| background_color = blue
| name              = California State Senate
| legislature       = [[California State Legislature]]
| coa_pic           = Seal_of_The_Senate_Of_The_State_Of_California.svg
| session_room      = California Senate chamber p1080899.jpg
| house_type        = Upper house
| body              = 
| term_limits       = Elected before 2012:<br/>2 terms (8 years)<br/>Elected 2012 and after:<br/>3 terms (12 years)
| new_session       = December 5, 2022
| leader1_type      = [[Lieutenant Governor of California|President]]
| leader1           = [[Eleni Kounalakis]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| election1         = January 7, 2019
| leader2_type      = [[President pro tempore of the California State Senate|President pro tempore]]
| leader2           = [[Monique Limón]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| election2         = November 17, 2025
| leader3_type      = Majority Leader
| leader3           = [[Lena Gonzalez]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| election3         = February 8, 2024
| leader4_type      = Minority Leader
| leader4           = [[Brian Jones (politician)|Brian Jones]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| election4         = December 5, 2022
| term_length       = 4 years
| authority         = Article 4, [[California Constitution]]
| salary            = $114,877/year + $211 per diem
| seats             = 40
| structure1        = {{switcher |[[File:CA Senate 2025.svg|250px]] |Seat display|[[File:CA Senate August 2025.svg|250px]] |Map display|default=1}}
| structure1_alt    = Composition of the California State Senate
| voting_system1    = [[Nonpartisan blanket primary]]
| last_election1    = [[2024 California State Senate election|November 5, 2024]] (20 seats)
| next_election1    = [[2026 California State Senate election|November 3, 2026]] (20 seats)
| redistricting     = [[California Citizens Redistricting Commission]]
| political_groups1 =
'''Majority'''
{{legend|#33F|[[California Democratic Party|Democratic]] (30)}}
'''Minority'''
{{legend|#F33|[[California Republican Party|Republican]] (10)}}

| motto             = ''Senatoris est civitatis libertatem tueri''<br />("It is a senator's duty to protect the liberty of the people.")
| meeting_place     = State Senate Chamber<br />[[California State Capitol]]<br />[[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]], [[California]]
| website           = {{Official URL}}
|rules=[https://clerk.assembly.ca.gov/sites/clerk.assembly.ca.gov/files/20230SR3_99.pdf Standing Rules of the 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, California|Sacramento]].

Neither house has expanded from the sizes set in the [[California Constitution|1879 constitution]],<ref name="Article IV, Section 5">{{cite web |title=California Constitution of 1879, prior to any amendments |url=https://www.cpp.edu/~jlkorey/calcon1879.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727062036/https://www.cpp.edu/~jlkorey/calcon1879.pdf#page=6 |archive-date=July 27, 2021 |access-date=August 11, 2021 |publisher=California State Polytechnic University, Pomona |page=6}}</ref> and each of the 40 state senators represents approximately 931,349 people.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate Roster|url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators|publisher=State of California|access-date=2014-03-25|archive-date=2018-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225040710/https://www.senate.ca.gov/senators|url-status=live}}</ref> This is a higher number than that of any other state legislative house and than that of [[List of United States representatives from California|California's representatives in the United States House of Representatives]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Apportionment Data |url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-data-text.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122214119/http://www.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-data-text.php |archive-date=2017-01-22 |access-date=2014-03-25 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> and each state senator represents more than the population of each of five U.S. states.<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual and cumulative estimates of residential population change for the United States, regions, states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico |url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2024/national-state-population-estimates.html|website=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref> In the current legislative session, the [[California Democratic Party|Democratic Party]] holds 30 out of the 40 seats, which constitutes a 75% majority, more than the two-thirds [[supermajority]] threshold of 27.

== History ==
{{Expand section|date=April 2013}}
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..."<ref name=IV6>{{Cite web |url=https://archives.cdn.sos.ca.gov/pdf/1849-california-constitution-for-website-9-16-20.pdf |title=Cal. Const. Art. IV § 6 (1849) |access-date=2023-04-11 |archive-date=2023-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225010505/https://archives.cdn.sos.ca.gov/pdf/1849-california-constitution-for-website-9-16-20.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name=IV6 />

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.<ref name= IV4>{{Cite web |url=https://archives.cdn.sos.ca.gov/collections/1879/archive/1879-constitution.pdf |title=Cal. Const. Art. IV § 4 (1879) |access-date=2023-04-11 |archive-date=2021-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308012237/https://archives.cdn.sos.ca.gov/collections/1879/archive/1879-constitution.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{Cite web|title=California Constitution of 1879, prior to any amendments|url=https://www.cpp.edu/~jlkorey/calcon1879.pdf|access-date=February 22, 2022|website=CalPolyPomona|archive-date=February 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203101236/https://www.cpp.edu/~jlkorey/calcon1879.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Between 1933 and 1967, state legislative [[Districts in California|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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=JoinCalifornia - Redistricting|url=http://www.joincalifornia.com/page/8|access-date=2022-02-22|website=www.joincalifornia.com|archive-date=2018-11-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118075615/http://www.joincalifornia.com/page/8|url-status=live}}</ref> The guidelines were that no senate district would include more than three [[Counties of California|counties]] and none would include less than one complete county. This led to the situation of a populous county such as [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]] (1960 population of 6&nbsp;million) being accorded the same number of state senators (one) as less populous counties such as [[Alpine County, California|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 [[Initiatives and referendums in the United States|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.<ref>[https://repository.uclawsf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1656&context=ca_ballot_props Voter Information Guide for 1962, General Election]</ref> This proposition was rejected by the voters 46.65% - 53.35% (2,181,758 - 2,495,440).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://repository.uclawsf.edu/ca_ballot_props/654/ |title=SENATE REAPPORTIONMENT |access-date=2024-08-09 |archive-date=2024-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731034503/https://repository.uclawsf.edu/ca_ballot_props/654/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Leadership ==
The [[Lieutenant Governor of California|lieutenant governor]] is the ''[[ex officio]]'' president of the senate, and may only cast a vote to break a tie. The [[President pro tempore of the California State Senate|president pro tempore]] is elected by the majority party caucus, followed by confirmation of the full senate. Other leaders, such as the [[majority leader|majority]] and [[minority leader]]s, are elected by their respective [[party caucus]]es according to each party's strength in the chamber.

As of 2025, the president pro tempore is [[California Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Mike McGuire (politician)|Mike McGuire]] of [[Geyserville, California|Geyserville]]. The majority leader is Democrat [[Lena Gonzalez]] of [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]], and the minority leader is [[California Republican Party|Republican]] [[Brian Jones (politician)|Brian Jones]] of [[Santee, California|Santee]].

== Terms of office ==

Each state senator represents a population roughly equivalent to the [[Delaware|State of Delaware]]. As a result of Proposition 140 in 1990 and [[2012 California Proposition 28|Proposition 28 in 2012]], members elected to the legislature prior to 2012 are restricted by [[term limits in the United States|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.<ref name="Article 4">{{cite web
 |title        = California Constitution Article 4; Legislative
 |url          = http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&division=&title=&part=&chapter=&article=IV
 |work         = [[California Office of Legislative Counsel]]
 |access-date   = February 23, 2019
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20190223190401/http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&division=&title=&part=&chapter=&article=IV
 |archive-date = February 23, 2019
 |url-status     = live
}}</ref>

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 ==
{| style="width:50%"
|-
| colspan="3" scope="row" style="text-align:center" | {{Down-arrow|alt=Midpoint}}
|-
| scope="row" style="background:#33F; width:75%; text-align:center; color:white" |'''30'''
| style="background:#F33; width:25%; text-align:center; color:white" |'''10'''
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; color:#33F" | '''Democratic'''
| style="text-align:center; color:#F33" | '''Republican'''
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|- valign="bottom"
! scope="col" rowspan="3" | Affiliation
! scope="col" colspan="2" | Party <div style="font-size:80%">(Shading indicates majority caucus)</div>
! scope="col" rowspan="3" | Total
! scope="col" colspan="2" | 
|- style="height:5px"
| style="background-color:{{party color|California Democratic Party}}" |
| style="background-color:{{party color|California Republican Party}}" |
| colspan="2" style="background:black" |
|-
! [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
! [[California Republican Party|Republican]]
! Vacant
|-
! scope="row" style="white-space:nowrap; font-size:80%" | End of previous legislature
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | 31
| 9
! 40
| 0
|-
| colspan=6 |
|-
! scope="row" style="white-space:nowrap; font-size:80%" | Begin{{Efn|name="Nguyen vacancy"|Republican [[Janet Nguyen]] resigned on November 30, 2024, after being elected to the [[Orange County Board of Supervisors]].}}
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} rowspan=2 | 30
| 9
! 39
| 1
|-
! scope="row" style="white-space:nowrap; font-size:80%" | March 11, 2025{{Efn|Republican [[Tony Strickland]] sworn in to succeed Nguyen.<ref name="Tony Strickland">{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Tony_Strickland|title=Tony Strickland|website=[[Ballotpedia]]|accessdate=July 1, 2025}}</ref>}}
| 10
! 40
| 0
|-
!Latest voting share
!{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{percentage|30|40|1}}
!{{percentage|10|40|1}}
!colspan=2|
|}

=== Past composition of the Senate ===
{{main|Political party strength in California}}

=== Officers ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%"
|-
! scope="col" colspan="2" width="220"| Position
! scope="col" width="150" | Name
! scope="col" width="70" | Party
! scope="col" width="150" | District
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[List of Lieutenant Governors of California|Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate]]
| [[Eleni Kounalakis]]
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| California
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[President pro tempore of the California State Senate|President pro tempore]]
| [[Monique Limón]]
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[California's 2nd State Senate district|2nd–Healdsburg]]
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| Majority leader
| [[Lena Gonzalez]]
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[California's 33rd State Senate district|33rd–Long Beach]]
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| rowspan="2" |Assistant majority leader
| [[Angelique Ashby]]
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[California's 8th State Senate district|8th–Sacramento]]
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[Aisha Wahab]]
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[California's 10th State Senate district|10th–Hayward]]
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| Democratic Caucus Chair
| [[Monique Limón]]
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[California's 19th State Senate district|19th–Santa Barbara]]
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
|Majority Whip
| [[Dave Cortese]]
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[California's 15th State Senate district|15th–San Jose]]
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| rowspan="2" | Assistant majority whips
| [[María Elena Durazo]]
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[California's 24th State Senate district|24th–Los Angeles]]
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[Steve Padilla]]
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[California's 18th State Senate district|18th–Chula Vista]]
|-
| {{party color cell|California Republican Party}}
| Minority leader
| [[Brian Jones (politician)|Brian Jones]]
| [[California Republican Party|Republican]]
| [[California's 40th State Senate district|40th–Santee]]
|-
| scope="row" colspan="2" | [[Secretary of the California State Senate|Secretary]]
| colspan="3" | Erika Contreras
|-
| scope="row" colspan="2" | [[Sergeant-at-Arms]]
| colspan="3" | Katrina Rodriguez
|-
| scope="row" colspan="2" | [[Chaplain]]
| colspan="3" | Sister Michelle Gorman, [[Sisters of Mercy|RSM]]
|}

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

=== Members ===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
! scope="col" width="30" colspan="2" | District
! scope="col" width="170" | Name
! scope="col" width="70" | Party
! scope="col" width="130" | Residence
! scope="col" width="80" | First elected
! scope="col" width="80" | Term limited
! scope="col" width="480" | Notes
|-
| {{party color cell|California Republican Party}}
| [[California's 1st senatorial district|1]]
| {{sortname|Megan|Dahle}}
| [[California Republican Party|Republican]]
| [[Bieber, California|Bieber]]
| 2024
| 2028
| Previously served in the Assembly from 2019 to 2024. 
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 2nd senatorial district|2]]
| {{sortname|Mike|McGuire|Mike McGuire (politician)}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Healdsburg, California|Healdsburg]]
| 2014
| 2026
|  
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 3rd senatorial district|3]]
| {{sortname|Christopher|Cabaldon}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[West Sacramento, California|West Sacramento]]
| 2024
| 2036
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Republican Party}}
| [[California's 4th senatorial district|4]]
| {{sortname|Marie|Alvarado-Gil}}
| [[California Republican Party|Republican]]
| [[Jackson, California|Jackson]]
| 2022
| 2034
| First elected as a Democrat before switching parties on August 8, 2024
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 5th senatorial district|5]]
| {{sortname|Jerry|McNerney}} 
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Pleasanton, California|Pleasanton]]
| 2024
| 2036
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Republican Party}}
| [[California's 6th senatorial district|6]]
| {{sortname|Roger|Niello}}
| [[California Republican Party|Republican]]
| [[Fair Oaks, California|Fair Oaks]]
| 2022
| 2030
| Previously served in the Assembly from 2004 to 2010.
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 7th senatorial district|7]]
| {{sortname|Jesse|Arreguín}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]]
| 2024
| 2036
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 8th senatorial district|8]]
| {{sortname|Angelique|Ashby}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Natomas, Sacramento, California|Natomas]]
| 2022
| 2034
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 9th senatorial district|9]]
| {{sortname|Tim|Grayson}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Concord, California|Concord]]
| 2024
| 2028
| Previously served in the Assembly from 2016 to 2024.
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 10th senatorial district|10]]
| {{sortname|Aisha|Wahab}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Hayward, California|Hayward]]
| 2022
| 2034
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 11th senatorial district|11]]
| {{sortname|Scott|Wiener}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[San Francisco]]
| 2016
| 2028
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Republican Party}}
| [[California's 12th senatorial district|12]]
| {{sortname|Shannon|Grove}}
| [[California Republican Party|Republican]]
| [[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]]
| 2018
| 2026
| Previously served as Minority Leader from 2019 to 2021 and in the Assembly from 2010 to 2016.
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 13th senatorial district|13]]
| {{sortname|Josh|Becker|Josh Becker (politician)}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Menlo Park, California|Menlo Park]]
| 2020
| 2032
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 14th senatorial district|14]]
| {{sortname|Anna|Caballero}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Merced, California|Merced]]
| 2018
| 2026
| Previously served in the Assembly from 2006 to 2010 and 2016 to 2018.
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 15th senatorial district|15]]
| {{sortname|Dave|Cortese}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[San Jose, California|San Jose]]
| 2020
| 2032
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 16th senatorial district|16]]
| {{sortname|Melissa|Hurtado}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]]
| 2018
| 2030
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 17th senatorial district|17]]
| {{sortname|John|Laird|John Laird (American politician)}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Santa Cruz, California|Santa Cruz]]
| 2020
| 2028
| Previously served in the Assembly from 2002 to 2008.
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 18th senatorial district|18]]
| {{sortname|Steve|Padilla}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Chula Vista]]
| 2022
| 2034
|-
| {{party color cell|California Republican Party}}
| [[California's 19th senatorial district|19]]
| {{sortname|Rosilicie|Ochoa Bogh}}
| [[California Republican Party|Republican]]
| [[Yucaipa, California|Yucaipa]]
| 2020
| 2032
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 20th senatorial district|20]]
| {{sortname|Caroline|Menjivar}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[San Fernando, California|San Fernando]]
| 2022
| 2034
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 21st senatorial district|21]]
| {{sortname|Monique|Limón}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]]
| 2020
| 2028
| Previously served in the Assembly from 2016 and 2020. President pro tempore
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 22nd senatorial district|22]]
| {{sortname|Susan|Rubio}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Baldwin Park, California|Baldwin Park]]
| 2018
| 2030
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Republican Party}}
| [[California's 23rd senatorial district|23]]
| {{sortname|Suzette|Martinez Valladares}}
| [[California Republican Party|Republican]]
| [[Santa Clarita, California|Santa Clarita]]
| 2024
| 2032
| Previously served the Assembly from 2020 to 2022. 
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 24th senatorial district|24]]
| {{sortname|Benjamin|Allen|Ben Allen (California politician)}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]]
| 2014
| 2026
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 25th senatorial district|25]]
| [[Sasha Renée Pérez]]
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Alhambra, California|Alhambra]]
| 2024
| 2036
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 26th senatorial district|26]]
| {{sortname|María Elena|Durazo|}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]
| 2018
| 2030
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 27th senatorial district|27]]
| {{sortname|Henry|Stern|Henry Stern (California politician)}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Malibu, California|Malibu]]
| 2016
| 2028
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 28th senatorial district|28]]
| {{sortname|Lola|Smallwood-Cuevas}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]
| 2022
| 2034
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 29th senatorial district|29]]
| [[Eloise Reyes|Eloise Gómez Reyes]]
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Colton, California|Colton]]
| 2024
| 2028
| Previously served in the Assembly from 2016 to 2024
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 30th senatorial district|30]]
| {{sortname|Bob|Archuleta}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Pico Rivera, California|Pico Rivera]]
| 2018
| 2030
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 31st senatorial district|31]]
| {{sortname|Sabrina|Cervantes}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Riverside, California|Riverside]]
| 2024
| 2028
|Previously served in the Assembly from 2016 to 2024
|-
| {{party color cell|California Republican Party}}
| [[California's 32nd senatorial district|32]]
| {{sortname|Kelly|Seyarto}}
| [[California Republican Party|Republican]]
| [[Murrieta, California|Murrieta]]
| 2022
| 2030
| Previously served in the Assembly from 2020 to 2022.
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 33rd senatorial district|33]]
| {{sortname|Lena|Gonzalez}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]]
| 2019{{dagger}}
| 2032
|Majority Leader since February 8, 2024
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 34th senatorial district|34]]
| {{sortname|Tom|Umberg}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Santa Ana, California|Santa Ana]]
| 2018
| 2026
| Previously served in the Assembly from 1990 to 1994 and 2004 to 2006.
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 35th senatorial district|35]]
| {{sortname|Laura|Richardson}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[San Pedro, Los Angeles|San Pedro]]
| 2024
| 2032
| Previously served in the U.S. House from 2007 to 2013 and in the Assembly from 2006 to 2007.
|-
| {{party color cell|California Republican Party}}
| [[California's 36th senatorial district|36]]
| {{sortname|Tony|Strickland}}
| [[California Republican Party|Republican]]
| [[Huntington Beach]]
| 2025{{dagger}}
| 2030
| Previously served in the Assembly from 1998 to 2004 and in the State Senate from 2008 to 2012
|-
| {{party color cell|California Republican Party}}
| [[California's 37th senatorial district|37]]
| {{sortname|Steven|Choi}}
| [[California Republican Party|Republican]]
| [[Irvine, California|Irvine]]
| 2024
| 2028
|Previously served in the Assembly from 2016 to 2022
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 38th senatorial district|38]]
| {{sortname|Catherine|Blakespear|Catherine Blakespear (California politician)}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Encinitas, California|Encinitas]]
| 2022
| 2034
|
|-
| {{party color cell|California Democratic Party}}
| [[California's 39th senatorial district|39]]
| {{sortname|Akilah|Weber}}
| [[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[San Diego]]
| 2024
| 2032
| Previously served in the Assembly from 2021 to 2024 
|-
| {{party color cell|California Republican Party}}
| [[California's 40th senatorial district|40]]
| {{sortname|Brian|Jones|Brian Jones (politician)}}
| [[California Republican Party|Republican]]
| [[Santee, California|Santee]]
| 2018
| 2026
|Minority Leader. Previously served in the Assembly from 2010 to 2016.
|}
*{{dagger}}: elected in a special election

=== Seating chart ===
{| style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:center"
<!-- Lieutenant Governor of California/President of the Senate -->
|- border=1
|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
| colspan="3" {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Lieutenant Governor of California|President]]<br/>[[Eleni Kounalakis|Kounalakis]]
|- border=1
|
<!-- First row -->
|- border=1
| width="80" {{party shading/Republican}} | [[Roger Niello|Niello]]
| width="80" {{party shading/Republican}} | [[Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh|Ochoa Bogh]]
|  
| width="80" {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Melissa Hurtado|Hurtado]]
| width="80" {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Bob Archuleta|Archuleta]]
|  
| width="80" {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Lola Smallwood-Cuevas|Smallwood-Cuevas]]
| width="80" {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Henry Stern (California politician)|Stern]]
|  
| width="80" {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Christopher Cabaldon|Cabaldon]]
| width="80" {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Sasha Renée Pérez|Pérez]]
|  
| width="80" {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[María Elena Durazo|Durazo]]
| width="80" {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Josh Becker (politician)|Becker]]
|  
| width="80" {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Anna Caballero|Caballero]]
| width="80" {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Ben Allen (California politician)|Allen]]

<!-- Second row -->
|- border=1
| {{party shading/Republican}} | [[Steven Choi|Choi]]
| {{party shading/Republican}} | [[Shannon Grove|Grove]]
|  
| {{party shading/Republican}} | [[Marie Alvarado-Gil|Alvarado-Gil]]
| {{party shading/Republican}} | [[Tony Strickland|Strickland]]
|  
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Jesse Arreguín|Arreguín]]
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Caroline Menjivar|Menjivar]]
|  
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Angelique Ashby|Ashby]]
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Susan Rubio|Rubio]] 
|  
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Monique Limón|Limón]]
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Catherine Blakespear|Blakespear]]
|  
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Sabrina Cervantes|Cervantes]]
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Akilah Weber|Weber]]

<!-- Third row -->
|- border=1
| {{party shading/Republican}} | [[Suzette Martinez Valladares|Valladares]]
| {{party shading/Republican}} | '''[[Brian Jones (politician)|Jones]]'''
|  
| {{party shading/Republican}} | [[Kelly Seyarto|Seyarto]]
| {{party shading/Republican}} | [[Megan Dahle|Dahle]]
|  
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Tim Grayson|Grayson]]
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Tom Umberg|Umberg]] 
|  
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[John Laird (American politician)|Laird]]
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Steve Padilla|Padilla]]
|  
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Laura Richardson|Richardson]]
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Aisha Wahab|Wahab]]
|  
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Dave Cortese|Cortese]]
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Jerry McNerney|McNerney]]

<!-- Fourth row -->
|- border=1
|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Eloise Reyes|Reyes]]
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | '''[[Mike McGuire (politician)|McGuire]]'''
|  
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Lena Gonzalez|Gonzalez]]
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [[Scott Wiener|Wiener]]
|}

== Standing committees ==
Current committees, chairs and vice chairs include:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-04 |title=Senate Leader McGuire Announces Leadership Team, Committee Membership for 2025-26 Legislative Session, First Extraordinary Session |url=https://sd02.senate.ca.gov/news/senate-leader-mcguire-announces-leadership-team-committee-membership-2025-26-legislative |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Senator Mike McGuire |language=en}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" 
! Committee !!  Chair !! Vice Chair
|-
! scope=row style="text-align: center;"|Agriculture
||[[Melissa Hurtado]] (D)|| [[Marie Alvarado-Gil]] (R)
|-
! scope=row style="text-align: center;"|Appropriations
|[[Anna Caballero]] (D) || [[Kelly Seyarto]] (R)
|-
! scope=row style="text-align: center;"| Banking and Financial Institutions
|[[Tim Grayson]] (D) || [[Roger Niello]] (R)
|-
! scope=row style="text-align: center;"| Budget and Fiscal Review
|[[Scott Wiener]] (D)|| [[Roger Niello]] (R)
|-
! scope=row style="text-align: center;"| Business, Professions and Economic Development
|[[Angelique Ashby]] (D) || [[Steven Choi]] (R)
|-
! scope=row style="text-align: center;"| Education
|[[Sasha Renée Pérez]] (D)|| [[Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh]] (R)
|-
! scope=row style="text-align: center;"|Elections and Constitutional Amendments
|[[Sabrina Cervantes]] (D)||[[Steven Choi]] (R)
|-
! scope=row style="text-align: center;"|Energy, Utilities and Communications
|[[Josh Becker (politician)|Josh Becker]] (D)||[[Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh]] (R)
|-
! scope=row style="text-align: center;"|Environmental Quality
|[[Catherine Blakespear]] (D)||[[Suzette Martinez Valladares]] (R)
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: center;" | Governmental Organization
|[[Steve Padilla]] (D)||[[Suzette Martinez Valladares]] (R)
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: center;" |Health
|[[Caroline Menjivar]] (D)||[[Suzette Martinez Valladares]] (R)
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: center;" |Housing
|[[Aisha Wahab]] (D)||[[Kelly Seyarto]] (R)
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: center;" | Human Services
|[[Jesse Arreguín]] (D)||[[Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh]] (R)
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: center;" | Insurance 
|[[Susan Rubio]] (D)|| [[Roger Niello]] (R)
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: center;" | Judiciary 
|[[Tom Umberg]] (D)|| [[Roger Niello]] (R)
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: center;" | Labor, Public Employment and Retirement
|[[Lola Smallwood-Cuevas]] (D)||[[Tony Strickland]] (R)
|-
!Legislative Ethics
|[[Scott Wiener]] (D)
|[[Shannon Grove]] (R)
|-
!Local Government
|[[María Elena Durazo|Maria Elena Durazo]] (D)
|[[Steven Choi]] (R)
|-
! scope=row style="text-align: center;"| Military and Veterans Affairs
|[[Bob Archuleta]] (D)||[[Shannon Grove]] (R)
|-
! scope=row style="text-align: center;"|Natural Resources and Water
|[[Monique Limón]] (D)|| [[Kelly Seyarto]] (R)
|-
! scope=row style="text-align: center;"| Public Safety
|[[Jesse Arreguín]] (D)||[[Kelly Seyarto]] (R)
|-
!Revenue and Taxation
|[[Jerry McNerney]] (D)
|[[Suzette Martinez Valladares]] (R)
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: center;" |Rules
|[[Mike McGuire (politician)|Mike McGuire]] (D)|| [[Shannon Grove]] (R)
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: center;" | Transportation
|[[Dave Cortese]] (D)||[[Tony Strickland]]
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|California}}
* [[List of special elections to the California State Senate]]
* [[2020 California State Senate election]]
* [[Impeachment in California]]
* [[California State Legislature]]
* [[California State Legislature, 2021–2022 session]]
* [[List of California state legislatures]]
* [[California State Assembly]]
* [[California State Capitol]]
* [[California State Capitol Museum]]
* [[Districts in California]]
* [[Members of the California State Legislature]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.senate.ca.gov/}} of the California State Senate
** [http://democrats.senate.ca.gov/ Democratic Caucus]
** [http://cssrc.us/ Republican Caucus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118113026/http://cssrc.us/ |date=2012-11-18 }}
** [http://sergeant.senate.ca.gov/ Sergeant-at-Arms]
* [https://gis.data.ca.gov/datasets/CDEGIS::senate-districts/explore Interactive map of the state senate districts]
* [http://www.joincalifornia.com/page/8 California legislative district maps] from 1849 to the present

{{United States legislatures}}
{{California State Senate}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|38|34|36|N|121|29|37|W|region:US-CA_type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:1849 establishments in California]]
[[Category:California State Legislature|Senate]]
[[Category:State upper houses in the United States]]