# California's 37th senatorial district

California's 37th senatorial district is one of 40 California State Senate districts. It is currently represented by Republican Steven Choi of Irvine.

## District profile

The district encompasses central Orange County, centered on the city of Irvine. The district contains a mix of coastal beaches, suburban sprawl, and the Santa Ana Mountains.

## Election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2022 | Governor | Newsom 50.7 – 49.3% |
| 2022 | Senator | Padilla 52.0 - 48.0% |
| 2021 | Recall | No 52.5 – 47.5% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 54.3 – 43.6% |
| 2018 | Governor | Newsom 50.2 – 49.8% |
| 2018 | Senator | Feinstein 54.1 – 45.9% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 50.0 – 44.0% |
| 2016 | Senator | Harris 59.0 – 41.0% |
| 2014 | Governor | Kashkari 57.7 – 42.3% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 53.7 – 43.9% |
| 2012 | Senator | Emken 54.6 – 45.4% |

## List of senators representing the district

| Senators | Party | Years served | Electoral history | Counties represented |
| District established January 3, 1887 |||||
| George Steele (San Luis Obispo) | Republican | January 3, 1887 – January 7, 1889 | Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1886. Retired. | San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Venutra |
| E. H. Heacock (Santa Barbara) | Republican | January 7, 1889 – January 2, 1893 | Elected in 1888. [data missing] | San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Venutra |
| John R. Mathews (Los Angeles) | Democratic | January 2, 1893 – January 25, 1896 | Elected in 1892. Resigned. | Los Angeles |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 25, 1896 – January 4, 1897 | | Los Angeles |
| Robert N. Bulla (Los Angeles) | Republican | January 4, 1897 – January 1, 1901 | Elected in 1896. [data missing] | Los Angeles |
| Frederick M. Smith (Los Angeles) | Republican | January 1, 1901 – January 2, 1905 | Elected in 1900. [data missing] | Los Angeles |
| Henry E. Carter (Los Angeles) | Republican | January 2, 1905 – January 4, 1909 | Elected in 1904. [data missing] | Los Angeles |
| Henry M. Hurd (Los Angeles) | Republican | January 4, 1909 – January 6, 1913 | Elected in 1908. [data missing] | Los Angeles |
| William E. Brown (Manhattan Beach) | Republican | January 6, 1913 – January 3, 1921 | Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1916. [data missing] | Los Angeles |
| Newton M. Allen (Los Angeles) | Republican | January 3, 1921 – January 7, 1929 | Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1924. [data missing] | Los Angeles |
| George W. Rochester (Los Angeles) | Republican | January 7, 1929 – January 2, 1933 | Elected in 1928. [data missing] | Los Angeles |
| Leonard J. Difani (Riverside) | Republican | January 2, 1933 – January 4, 1937 | Elected in 1932. Lost renomination. | Riverside |
| John R. Phillips (Banning) | Republican | January 4, 1937 – November 15, 1942 | Elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1940. Resigned after election to the U.S. House of Representatives. | Riverside |
| Vacant | Vacant | November 15, 1942 – January 8, 1945 | | Riverside |
| Nelson S. Dilworth (Hemet) | Republican | January 8, 1945 – January 2, 1961 | Elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1956. Retired. | Riverside |
| Lee Backstrand (Riverside) | Republican | January 2, 1961 – April 26, 1964 | Elected in 1960. Won renomination, then died. | Riverside |
| Vacant | Vacant | April 26, 1964 – January 4, 1965 | | Riverside |
| Gordon Cologne (Indio) | Republican | January 4, 1965 – January 2, 1967 | Replaced Backstrand on ballot and elected in 1964. Redistricted to the 36th district. | Riverside |
| George Deukmejian (Long Beach) | Republican | January 2, 1967 – November 30, 1976 | Elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1972. Redistricted to the 31st district. | Los Angeles |
| Paul B. Carpenter (Cypress) | Democratic | December 6, 1976 – November 30, 1984 | Elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1980. Redistricted to the 33rd district. | Orange |
| Marian Bergeson (Newport Beach) | Republican | December 3, 1984 – November 30, 1992 | Elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1988. Redistricted to the 35th district. | Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Diego |
| David G. Kelley (Riverside) | Republican | December 7, 1992 – November 30, 2000 | Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1992. Retired to run for State Assembly. | Imperial, Riverside, San Diego |
| Jim Battin (La Quinta) | Republican | December 4, 2000 – November 30, 2008 | Elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2004. Term-limited and retired. | Imperial, Riverside, San Diego |
| Jim Battin (La Quinta) | Republican | December 4, 2000 – November 30, 2008 | Elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2004. Term-limited and retired. | Riverside |
| John J. Benoit (Bermuda Dunes) | Republican | December 1, 2008 – November 30, 2009 | Elected in 2008. Resigned after election to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. | Riverside |
| Vacant | Vacant | November 30, 2009 – June 9, 2010 | | Riverside |
| Bill Emmerson (Redlands) | Republican | June 9, 2010 – November 30, 2012 | Elected to finish Benoit's term. Redistricted to the 23rd district. | Riverside |
| Mimi Walters (Irvine) | Republican | December 3, 2012 – January 3, 2015 | Redistricted from the 33rd district and re-elected in 2012. Retired to run for U.S. House of Representatives. | Orange |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 3, 2015 – March 22, 2015 | | Orange |
| John Moorlach (Costa Mesa) | Republican | March 22, 2015 – November 30, 2020 | Elected to finish vacant term. Re-elected in 2016. Lost re-election. | Orange |
| Dave Min (Irvine) | Democratic | December 7, 2020 – November 30, 2024 | Elected in 2020. Retired to run for U.S. House of Representatives. | Orange |
| Steven Choi (Irvine) | Republican | December 2, 2024 – present | Elected in 2024. | Orange |

## Contents

* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2010 (special)
* 2012
* 2015 (special)
* 2016
* 2020

### 2020

2020 California State Senate election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Moorlach (incumbent) | 132,275 | 47.3 |
| | Democratic | Dave Min | 78,293 | 28.0 |
| | Democratic | Katrina Foley | 68,952 | 24.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 279,520 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Dave Min | 270,522 | 51.1 |
| | Republican | John Moorlach (incumbent) | 258,421 | 48.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 528,943 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2016

2016 California State Senate election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Moorlach (incumbent) | 114,540 | 54.8 |
| | Democratic | Ari Grayson | 94,369 | 45.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 208,909 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | John Moorlach (incumbent) | 228,480 | 57.0 |
| | Democratic | Ari Grayson | 172,455 | 43.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 400,935 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2015 (special)

California's 37th State Senate district special election, 2015 Vacancy resulting from the resignation of Mimi Walters :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Moorlach | 38,125 | 50.3 |
| | Republican | Don Wagner | 33,411 | 44.0 |
| | Republican | Naz Namazi | 2,621 | 3.5 |
| | Democratic | Louise Stewardson (write-in) | 1,696 | 2.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 75,853 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

2012 California State Senate election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mimi Walters (incumbent) | 88,321 | 63.6 |
| | Democratic | Steve Young | 50,562 | 36.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 138,883 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Mimi Walters (incumbent) | 213,086 | 57.0 |
| | Democratic | Steve Young | 160,595 | 43.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 373,681 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010 (special)

2010 Special Primary election Fill the vacant left by John J. Benoit when he became a member of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Emmerson | 39,875 | 41.76% |
| | Republican | Russ Bogh | 20,957 | 21.95% |
| | Democratic | Justin Blake | 13,289 | 13.92% |
| | Democratic | Anna Nevenic | 8,076 | 8.46% |
| | Democratic | Arthur Bravo Guerrero | 6,826 | 7.15% |
| | American Independent | Matt Monica | 4,195 | 4.39% |
| | Republican | David W. Peters | 2,267 | 2.37% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 95,485 | 100.0% |
2010 Special General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Emmerson | 81,655 | 59.66% |
| | Democratic | Justin Blake | 41,243 | 30.13% |
| | American Independent | Matt Monica | 13,965 | 10.20% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 136,863 | 100.0% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2008

California State Senate election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Benoit | 190,415 | 54.79 |
| | Democratic | Arthur Guerrero | 157,142 | 45.21 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 347,557 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 72.48 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2004

California State Senate election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Battin (incumbent) | 182,578 | 59.63 |
| | Democratic | Pat Johansen | 123,602 | 40.37 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 306,180 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2000

California State Senate election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Battin | 177,665 | 62.18 |
| | Democratic | Sedalia L. Sanders | 94,391 | 33.04 |
| | Libertarian | Donna Tello | 13,649 | 4.78 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 23,380 | 7.56 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 309,085 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1996

California State Senate election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David G. Kelley (incumbent) | 157,080 | 61.14 |
| | Democratic | Hans Alfred Schroeder | 75,943 | 29.59 |
| | Libertarian | Donna Tello | 10,313 | 4.01 |
| | Reform | George Angell | 9,121 | 3.55 |
| | Natural Law | Jim J. Moner | 4,486 | 1.75 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 23,024 | 6.22 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 279,967 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1992

California State Senate election, 1992 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David G. Kelley | 141,970 | 52.47 |
| | Democratic | Jim Rickard | 101,872 | 37.65 |
| | Peace and Freedom | Renate M. Kline | 16,870 | 6.24 |
| | Libertarian | Craig McElvany | 9,845 | 3.64 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 29,858 | 9.94 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 300,415 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |