# California's 15th senatorial district

California's 15th senatorial district is one of 40 California State Senate districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Dave Cortese of San Jose.

## District profile

The district encompasses central and eastern Santa Clara County. Most of the district's population lives in San Jose, but it also includes some outlying areas like Mount Hamilton, Coyote, Sveadal, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy.

## Election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2021 | Recall | No 72.0 – 28.0% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 71.7 – 26.2% |
| 2018 | Governor | Newsom 70.8 – 29.2% |
| 2018 | Senator | Feinstein 59.7 – 40.3% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 73.0 – 21.3% |
| 2016 | Senator | Harris 65.3 – 34.7% |
| 2014 | Governor | Brown 72.5 – 27.5% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 69.8 – 27.8% |
| 2012 | Senator | Feinstein 72.5 – 27.5% |
Election results from statewide races :
| Year | Office | Results |
| 2000 | President | Gore 58.4 - 34.5% |
| 2000 | Senator | Feinstein 56.9 - 34.5% |
| 1998 | Governor | Davis 61.7 - 33.5% |
| 1998 | Senator | Boxer 56.5 - 39.0% |
| 1996 | President | Clinton 54.1 - 33.2% |
| 1994 | Governor | Wilson 48.6 - 46.6% |
| 1994 | Senator | Feinstein 50.4 - 39.5% |
| 1992 | President | Clinton 50.4 - 27.8% |
| 1992 | Senator | Boxer 55.0 - 36.8% |
| 1992 | Senator | Feinstein 62.1 - 31.3% |

## List of senators

Due to redistricting, the 15th district has been moved around different parts of the state. The current iteration resulted from the 2011 redistricting by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.
| Senators | Party | Years served | Counties represented | Notes |
| Warren B. English | Democratic | January 8, 1883 - January 5, 1885 | Contra Costa, Marin | |
| Frank Coye De Long | Republican | January 5, 1885 - January 3, 1887 | Contra Costa, Marin | |
| Joshua Plummer Abbott | Republican | January 3, 1887 - January 7, 1889 | Contra Costa, Marin | |
| Frank Coye De Long | Republican | January 7, 1889 - January 2, 1893 | Contra Costa, Marin | |
| Benjamin Franklin Langford | Democratic | January 2, 1893 - January 1, 1901 | San Joaquin | |
| August Edward Muenter | Republican | January 1, 1901 - January 2, 1905 | San Joaquin | |
| George Russell Lukens | Republican | January 2, 1905 - January 4, 1909 | Alameda | |
| John Walter Stetson | Republican | January 4, 1909 - January 6, 1913 | Alameda | |
| Arthur H. Breed Sr. | Republican | January 6, 1913 - January 5, 1931 | Alameda | At the time when the Lieutenant Governor's seat became vacant, he temporary becoming acting Lieutenant Governor. |
| Thomas McCormack | Republican | January 2, 1933 - January 3, 1949 | Solano | |
| Luther E. Gibson | Democratic | January 3, 1949 - January 6, 1967 | Solano | |
| Howard Way | Republican | January 6, 1967 - November 30, 1976 | Fresno, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Tulare | |
| Rose Ann Vuich | Democratic | December 6, 1976 - November 30, 1992 | Fresno, Kern, Kings, Tulare | |
| Rose Ann Vuich | Democratic | December 6, 1976 - November 30, 1992 | Fresno, Tulare | |
| Henry J. Mello | Democratic | December 7, 1992 - November 30, 1996 | Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz | |
| Bruce McPherson | Republican | December 2, 1996 – November 30, 2004 | Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz | |
| Abel Maldonado | Republican | December 6, 2004 – April 27, 2010 | Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz | Resigned to become Lieutenant Governor of California. |
| Sam Blakeslee | Republican | August 23, 2010 - November 30, 2012 | Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz | Sworn in after winning special election. |
| Jim Beall | Democratic | December 3, 2012 – November 30, 2020 | Santa Clara | |
| Dave Cortese | Democratic | December 7, 2020 – present | Santa Clara | |

## Contents

* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020

### 2020

California State Senate election, 2020 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | David Cortese | 79,507 | 33.9 |
| | Democratic | Ann Ravel | 51,752 | 22.1 |
| | Democratic | Nora Campos | 39,683 | 16.9 |
| | Republican | Robert Howell | 23,840 | 10.2 |
| | No party preference | Johnny Khamis | 23,747 | 10.1 |
| | Republican | Ken Del Valle | 14,280 | 6.1 |
| | No party preference | Tim Gildersleeve | 1,635 | 0.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 234,444 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | David Cortese | 212,207 | 54.8 |
| | Democratic | Ann Ravel | 175,203 | 45.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 387,410 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

California State Senate election, 2016 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Beall (incumbent) | 97,948 | 49.4 |
| | Democratic | Nora Campos | 53,250 | 26.9 |
| | Republican | Chuck Page | 40,783 | 20.6 |
| | Republican | Anthony Macias | 6,147 | 3.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 198,128 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Jim Beall (incumbent) | 196,089 | 62.5 |
| | Democratic | Nora Campos | 117,442 | 37.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 313,531 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2012

California State Senate election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jim Beall | 69,179 | 55.5 |
| | Democratic | Joe Coto | 55,387 | 44.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 124,566 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Jim Beall | 160,451 | 56.7 |
| | Democratic | Joe Coto | 122,345 | 43.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 282,796 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2008

California State Senate election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Abel Maldonado (incumbent) | 222,617 | 62.91 |
| | Independent | Jim Fitzgerald | 131,229 | 37.09 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 353,846 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 74.71 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2004

California State Senate election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Abel Maldonado | 194,674 | 52.78 |
| | Democratic | Peg Pinard | 157,556 | 42.71 |
| | Green | Brook Madsen | 16,644 | 4.51 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 368,874 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2000

California State Senate election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bruce McPherson (incumbent) | 155,039 | 55.21 |
| | Democratic | Anselmo A. Chavez | 112,942 | 40.22 |
| | Natural Law | David Rosenkranz | 6,425 | 2.29 |
| | Libertarian | Gordon D. Sachtjen | 6,394 | 2.28 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 18,112 | 6.06 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 298,912 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1996

California State Senate election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bruce McPherson | 124,448 | 47.18 |
| | Democratic | Rusty Areias | 120,846 | 45.82 |
| | Green | E. Craig Coffin | 12,089 | 4.56 |
| | Natural Law | Scott R. Hartley | 6,377 | 2.42 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 11,400 | 4.14 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 275,160 | 100.00 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### 1992

California State Senate election, 1992 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Henry J. Mello (incumbent) | 162,771 | 58.40 |
| | Republican | Edward Laverone | 95,412 | 34.13 |
| | Peace and Freedom | Susanne Espinoza | 20,818 | 7.47 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 16,888 | 5.71 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 295,889 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |