In the recent midterm elections held in November 2026, the California State Senate saw notable shifts in party representation across its 20 contested seats. The Republican Party managed to lead in only four districts, resulting in a loss of one seat. This leaves the GOP with a total of just nine seats out of 40 in the California State Senate, while the Democratic Party has secured a commanding majority with 31 seats, accounting for approximately 77% of the total representation. The final results of the election are expected to be certified on December 11.
Every two years, California’s State Senate conducts elections for 20 seats, and this year focused on the even-numbered districts. In the previous election cycle of 2022, the Republican candidates had won in districts 6, 12, 32, 36, and 40, totaling five wins. However, this time around, the party is currently leading in districts 4, 6, 12, and 32, but has lost hold of the 36th and 40th districts.
In the 36th district, Anthony Strickland, the Republican incumbent who initially led the primary with 53.4% of the votes, has now fallen behind Chris Duncan, a Democrat, by 1,060 votes, which is a narrow margin of just 0.4%. Strickland had been one of the prominent advocates for Proposition 39, a voter identification initiative, and he has also been vocal against the construction of high-speed rail, criticizing it alongside other government projects he views as squandering taxpayer money.
Chris Duncan brings a wealth of experience, having served as a federal prosecutor for both the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Justice. He has also held the position of mayor in San Clemente, a city in Orange County.
In the 40th district, Democratic candidate Mara Elliott is currently leading with 52.5% of the votes against Republican Kristie Bruce-Lane. Elliott served as the City Attorney for San Diego from 2016 to 2024.
The race in the 4th district is competitive as Alexandra Duarte, a Republican candidate, holds a 52.2% approval rating against her opponent, Jaron Brandon, a Democrat. Duarte, a farmer by profession, advocates for values such as honesty, hard work, and personal responsibility, and she is focused on addressing the needs of working families and reducing living costs in California. Her husband, John Duarte, previously served as a member of Congress for the 13th district but narrowly lost re-election in 2024 by just 187 votes.
In the 6th district, Roger Niello, also a Republican, is leading with a support rate of 51.8% against Sean Frame, a Democrat, and appears well-positioned for re-election.
Nathan Magsig holds a commanding lead in the 12th district with a considerable 63.6% of the votes against William Brown Jr., a candidate from the Libertarian Party. Magsig is a Fresno County supervisor who aims to improve infrastructure, forest management, and policies related to water and energy.
In the 32nd district, Kelly Seyarto, a Republican, has received 53.1% of the votes, securing her position for another term.
The newly elected Democrats will replace eight outgoing state senators in districts 2, 10, 14, 24, 26, 34, 36, and 40, while other candidates are incumbents running for re-election.
Damon Connolly, representing the 2nd district, has been a state assembly member for the 12th district since 2022. He is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus and has previously served on the Marin County Board of Supervisors and as Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice.
In the 10th district, Scott Sakakihara, a Democrat, currently serves as a council member in Union City, Alameda County. He is also a Naval Reserve intelligence officer and has worked as Chief of Staff at Palantir Technologies.
Esmeralda Soria, the candidate for the 14th district, has been serving in the state assembly for the 27th district since 2022 and was formerly a council member in Fresno City.
In the 24th district, Brian Goldsmith, a Democratic candidate, is an entrepreneur, political consultant, attorney, and journalist. He has received endorsements from prominent figures such as Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton, alongside support from CAL FIRE and the Los Angeles Police Protective League.
Sara Hernandez, another Democratic candidate representing the 26th district, has served on the Los Angeles Community College Board since 2022 and is noted for her legal background and community leadership.
Avelino Valencia, representing the 34th district, has been a member of the state assembly for the 68th district since 2022 and was previously a council member in Anaheim, located in Orange County.
These election results highlight the shifting dynamics within California’s political landscape, as the Democratic Party continues to strengthen its foothold in state governance amidst these midterm elections.