# 2010 United States Senate election in California

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vte :
The 2010 United States Senate election in California took place on November 2, 2010. The election was held alongside 33 other United States Senate elections in addition to congressional, state, and various local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer won re-election to a fourth term.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Barbara Boxer, incumbent U.S. Senator
* Mickey Kaus, journalist/blogger
* Brian Quintana, businessman/educator

### Controversies
#### Boxer

In 2009, Boxer was criticized for correcting a general who called her "ma'am". Brigadier General Michael Walsh was testifying on the Louisiana coastal restoration process in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and answered Boxer's query with "ma'am" when Boxer interrupted him. "Do me a favor," Boxer said. "can you say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am?'" "Yes, ma'am," Walsh interjected. "It's just a thing, I worked so hard to get that title, so I'd appreciate it. Thank you," she said. The Army's guide to protocol instructs service members to call members of the U.S. Senate "sir", "ma'am" or "senator". Fiorina used this incident prominently in campaign ads, as did David Zucker, who directed a humorous commercial for RightChange.com titled 'Call Me Senator'.

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Barbara Boxer (incumbent) | 1,957,920 | 81.0 |
| | Democratic | Brian Quintana | 338,442 | 13.9 |
| | Democratic | Mickey Kaus | 123,573 | 5.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,419,935 | 100.0 |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Tom Campbell, former Director of the California Department of Finance (2004–2005), former U.S. Representative for California's 15th congressional district (1995–2001, 1989–1993), candidate in 1992 and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2000
* Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard
* Chuck DeVore, state assemblyman from the 70th district (2004–2010)
* Tim Kalemkarian
* Al Ramirez, businessman

### Controversies
#### Fiorina

In February 2010, Carly Fiorina put out a campaign ad attacking Republican rival Tom Campbell featuring a "demon sheep", creating international, mostly negative, publicity.
The Los Angeles Times research of public records indicated Fiorina had failed to vote in most elections. Fiorina responded by saying, "I'm a lifelong registered Republican but I haven't always voted, and I will provide no excuse for it. You know, people die for the right to vote. And there are many, many Californians and Americans who exercise that civic duty on a regular basis. I didn't. Shame on me."

#### Campbell

Former State Senator and California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson alleged that during a telephone call with Carly Fiorina's campaign manager Marty Wilson, a longtime Sacramento political operative, Wilson expressed surprise that McPherson was endorsing Tom Campbell's candidacy, and called Campbell an anti-Semite. Subsequently, Wilson strongly denied having made that charge against Campbell, thus leading to a controversy for the Fiorina campaign, where the credibility of Wilson was called into comparison with that of McPherson.
On March 5, the three principal Republican primary candidates, Campbell, DeVore, and Fiorina participated in a live, on-air debate, which was broadcast on KTKZ in Sacramento. The debate was called by Campbell, in order to respond to accusations of anti-Semitism and otherwise being unfriendly to the interests of Israel.
Campbell had also been criticized for accepting campaign contributions (during his 2000 Senate race), from then-University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian. On March 2, 2006, Al-Arian entered a guilty plea to a charge of conspiracy to help the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, a "specially designated terrorist" organization; he was sentenced to 57 months in prison and ordered deported following his prison term. The usually subdued Campbell responded very strongly to the accusations from the Fiorina campaign, saying, "I called for this debate today so that both of my opponents can bring up absolutely any charge they want. Air it, and let me respond to it. But there’s no place for calling me anti-Semitic, then denying it. That whispering campaign, that 'silent slander,' stops today."
A dispute had been triggered as well by Campbell's 2002 letter in defense of Al-Arian. Campbell said he had not been aware of the charges against Al-Arian when he wrote his January 21, 2002, letter to USF's president, asking USF not to discipline Al-Arian.
He also said he had not been aware that Al-Arian had said, in a speech discussed in a 2001 television interview with Bill O'Reilly before Campbell wrote his letter: "Jihad is our path. Victory to Islam. Death to Israel." Campbell said:
   I did not hear, I did not read, I was not aware of statements Sami Al-Arian had made relative to Israel. And I would not have written the letter had I known about those. ... To say 'Death to Israel' is abhorrent, it's horrible.
Campbell said he was sorry he wrote the letter, adding that he did not know about the statements at the time. He said he should have researched that matter more thoroughly, and he would have known.
Initially, Campbell had maintained that Al-Arian had never contributed to his 2000 Senate campaign. That turned out to be untrue. Campbell also initially said his letter defending Al-Arian was sent before the O'Reilly broadcast where Al-Arian admitted saying "death to Israel," but that also turned out to be incorrect. Campbell said his misstatements were the result of the events having taken place years prior.

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Tom Campbell | Carly Fiorina | Chuck DeVore | Other | Undecided |
| The Field Poll (report) | Feb. 20 – March 1, 2009 | 298 | ±3.6% | — | 31% | 19% | — | 36% |
| The Field Poll (report) | Sept. 18 – October 6, 2009 | 373 | ±4.5% | — | 21% | 20% | — | 59% |
| Los Angeles Times (report) | Oct. 27 – November 3, 2009 | 499 | — | — | 27% | 27% | 2% | 40% |
| The Field Poll (report) | January 5–17, 2010 | 202 | ±7.1% | 30% | 25% | 6% | — | 39% |
| PPIC (report) | January 27, 2010 | 2,001 | ±2.0% | 27% | 16% | 8% | 1% | 48% |
| M4 Strategies (report) | February 26, 2010 | 427 | — | 32% | 19% | 11% | — | 39% |
| Research 2000 (report) | March 10, 2010 | 400 | ±5.0% | 33% | 24% | 7% | — | 36% |
| PPIC (report) | March 24, 2010 | 2,002 | ±2.0% | 23% | 24% | 8% | 1% | 44% |
| Los Angeles Times (report) | March 23–30, 2010 | 1,515 | ±2.6% | 29% | 25% | 9% | 4% | 33% |
| Survey USA (report) | April 19–21, 2010 | 538 | ±4.3% | 34% | 27% | 14% | 3% | 23% |
| Survey USA (report) | May 6–9, 2010 | 548 | ±4.3% | 35% | 24% | 15% | 3% | 23% |
| Research 2000 (report) | May 17–19, 2010 | 400 | ±5.0% | 37% | 22% | 14% | — | 27% |
| PPIC (report) | May 9–16, 2010 | 1,168 | ±3.0% | 23% | 25% | 16% | — | 36% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | May 21–23, 2010 | 417 | ±4.8% | 21% | 41% | 16% | — | 18% |
| Survey USA (report) | May 21–23, 2010 | 612 | ±4.3% | 23% | 46% | 14% | 6% | 11% |
| Los Angeles Times (report) | May 19–26, 2010 | 1,506 | ±2.6% | 23% | 38% | 16% | 23% | 23% |
| Survey USA (report) | June 3–6, 2010 | 569 | ±4.2% | 22% | 48% | 16% | 9% | 9% |

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Carly Fiorina | 1,315,429 | 56.4 |
| | Republican | Tom Campbell | 504,289 | 21.7 |
| | Republican | Chuck DeVore | 452,577 | 19.3 |
| | Republican | Al Ramirez | 42,149 | 1.8 |
| | Republican | Tim Kalemkarian | 19,598 | 0.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,334,042 | 100.0 |

## Third party primaries
### Candidates

American Independent
* Don Grundmann, chiropractor and American Independent nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2006
* Edward Noonan, small-business owner
* Al Salehi, political analyst
California American Independent Senate primary, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | American Independent | Edward Noonan | 16,704 | 39.5 |
| | American Independent | Don Grundmann | 14,170 | 33.5 |
| | American Independent | Al Salehi | 11,423 | 27.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,297 | 100.0 |
Green
* Duane Roberts, community volunteer
California Green Senate primary, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Green | Duane Roberts | 19,983 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,983 | 100.0 |
Libertarian
* Gail Lightfoot, retired nurse
California Libertarian Senate primary, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Libertarian | Gail Lightfoot | 17,791 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,791 | 100.0 |
Peace and Freedom
* Marsha Feinland, retired teacher and Peace and Freedom nominee for president in 1996
California Peace and Freedom Senate primary, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Peace and Freedom | Marsha Feinland | 4,070 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,070 | 100.0 |

## General election
### Candidates

The following were certified by the California Secretary of State as candidates in the general election for Senator.
* Barbara Boxer (Democratic), incumbent U.S. Senator
* Carly Fiorina (Republican), former CEO of Hewlett-Packard
* Edward Noonan (American Independent Party), small business owner
* Duane Roberts (Green), community volunteer
* Gail Lightfoot (Libertarian), retired nurse
* Marsha Feinland (Peace and Freedom), retired teacher and Peace and Freedom nominee for president in 1996

### Campaign

Boxer criticized Fiorina's choice "to become a CEO, lay off 30,000 workers, ship jobs overseas [and] have two yachts." A spokesman for Fiorina responded that the Fiorinas were a two-yacht family because they spent time in both California and Washington, D.C. Boxer also claimed that Fiorina "skirted the law" by selling equipment to Iran during her tenure as HP's CEO, also claiming that the equipment may have ended up in the hands of the Iranian military.

### Debate

The only debate took place on September 1 at Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga. It was sponsored by San Francisco Chronicle, KTVU, and KQED.
2010 United States Senate election in California debate :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Democratic | Republican |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Boxer | Fiorina |
| 1 | Sep. 1, 2010 | KQED-FM KTVU San Francisco Chronicle | Randy Shandobil | C-SPAN | P | P |

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Tossup | October 26, 2010 |
| Congressional Quarterly | Lean D | October 26, 2010 |
| FiveThirtyEight | Likely D | October 26, 2010 |
| New York Times | Tossup | October 26, 2010 |
| Rasmussen Reports | Tossup | October 26, 2010 |
| RealClearPolitics | Tossup | October 26, 2010 |
| Rothenberg | Tilt D | October 26, 2010 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean D | October 26, 2010 |

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Barbara Boxer (D) | Carly Fiorina (R) | Other | Undecided |
| The Field Poll (report) | Feb. 20 – March 1, 2009 | 761 | ± 3.6% | 55% | 25% | — | 20% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | March 9, 2009 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 47% | 38% | 10% | 5% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | July 22, 2009 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 45% | 41% | 7% | 7% |
| Research 2000 (report) | August 9–12, 2009 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 52% | 31% | — | 17% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | September 23, 2009 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 49% | 39% | 4% | 8% |
| The Field Poll (report) | Sept. 18 – October 6, 2009 | 1,005 | ± 3.2% | 49% | 35% | — | 16% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | November 17, 2009 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 46% | 37% | 5% | 12% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | January 14, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 46% | 43% | 3% | 8% |
| The Field Poll (report) | January 5–17, 2010 | 1,005 | ± 3.2% | 50% | 35% | — | 15% |
| PPIC (report) | January 27, 2010 | 2,001 | ± 2.0% | 48% | 40% | — | 12% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | February 11, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 46% | 42% | 7% | 5% |
| Research 2000 (report) | March 10, 2010 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 49% | 40% | — | 11% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | March 11, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 46% | 40% | 4% | 10% |
| The Field Poll (report) | March 18, 2010 | 748 | ± 3.7% | 45% | 44% | — | 11% |
| PPIC (report) | March 24, 2010 | 2,002 | ± 2.0% | 44% | 43% | — | 13% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | April 12, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 42% | 38% | 7% | 13% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | May 12, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 45% | 38% | 4% | 12% |
| PPIC (report) | May 9–16, 2010 | 2,003 | ± 2.0% | 48% | 39% | — | 13% |
| Research 2000 (report) | May 17–19, 2010 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 48% | 39% | — | — |
| Los Angeles Times (report) | May 19–26, 2010 | — | — | 44% | 38% | — | — |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | May 21–23, 2010 | 921 | ± 3.2% | 45% | 42% | — | 13% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | June 9, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 48% | 43% | 5% | 5% |
| Reuters (report) | June 30, 2010 | 600 | ± 4.5% | 45% | 41% | 1% | 13% |
| Survey USA (report) | July 8–11, 2010 | 614 | ± 4.0% | 45% | 47% | 3% | 5% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | July 12, 2010 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 49% | 42% | 4% | 5% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | July 23–25, 2010 | 614 | ± 3.95% | 49% | 40% | — | 11% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | August 3, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 45% | 40% | 5% | 10% |
| Survey USA/CBS 5 (report) | August 9–11, 2010 | 602 | ± 4.0% | 42% | 47% | — | 11% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | August 24, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 44% | 43% | 5% | 8% |
| Survey USA (report) | August 31 – September 1, 2010 | 569 | ± 4.2% | 46% | 48% | 5% | 1% |
| CNN(report Archived September 9, 2010, at the Wayback Machine) | September 2–7, 2010 | 866 | ± 3.5% | 48% | 44% | 5% | 3% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | September 6, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 42% | 47% | — | — |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | September 6, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 47% | 48% | 2% | 3% |
| Fox News (report) | September 11, 2010 | 1,000 | ± 3.0% | 46% | 44% | 4% | 6% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | September 14–16, 2010 | 630 | ± 3.9% | 50% | 42% | — | 8% |
| Fox News/Pulse Opinion Research (report) | September 18, 2010 | 1,000 | ± 3.0% | 47% | 46% | 3% | 4% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | September 20, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 47% | 43% | 4% | 6% |
| Survey USA (report) | September 19–21, 2010 | 610 | ± 4.0% | 49% | 43% | 6% | 2% |
| CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation (report) | September 24–28, 2010 | 786 | ± 3.5% | 52% | 43% | 3% | 2% |
| PPIC report | September 19–26, 2010 | 1,104 | ± 3% | 42% | 35% | 6% | 17% |
| USC poll report | September 27, 2010 | 1,003 | — | 39% | 34% | — | 23% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | October 3, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 49% | 45% | 2% | 5% |
| Angus Reid Public Opinion (report) | October 6, 2010 | 501 | ± 4.5% | 55% | 39% | 6% | — |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | October 13, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 49% | 46% | 2% | 3% |
| Reuters (report) | October 12–14, 2010 | 601 | ± 4.0% | 46% | 45% | 2% | 6% |
| PPIC (report) | October 10–17, 2010 | 1,067 | ± 3.5% | 43% | 38% | 6% | 13% |
| Tarrance Group (report) | October 17–19, 2010 | — | ± 4.1% | 44% | 44% | 6% | 5% |
| USC/LA Times (report) | October 13–20, 2010 | 878 | ± 3.2% | 50% | 42% | 4% | 4% |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | October 21, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 48% | 46% | 3% | 3% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 21–23, 2010 | 622 | ± 3.2% | 52% | 43% | 0% | 5% |
| Fox/Pulse Opinion Research (report) | October 23, 2010 | 1,000 | ± 3.0% | 48% | 44% | 5% | 3% |
| Suffolk University (report Archived November 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine) | October 21–24, 2010 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 52% | 43% | 4% | 2% |
| SurveyUSA (report) | October 21–25, 2010 | 594 | ± 4.1% | 45% | 40% | 7% | 8% |
| Field Poll (report) | October 14–26, 2010 | 1,501 | ± 3.2% | 49% | 41% | — | 10% |
| CNN/Time/Opinion Research (report) | October 20–26, 2010 | 1,527 | ± 2.5% | 50% | 45% | 1% | — |
| Rasmussen Reports (report) | October 27, 2010 | 750 | ± 4.0% | 49% | 46% | 2% | 3% |
| Angus Reid Public Opinion (report) | October 28–29, 2010 | 485 | ± 4.5% | 51% | 44% | 5% | — |
| SurveyUSA (report) | October 26–31, 2010 | 587 | ± 4.1% | 46% | 38% | 6% | 10% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 29–31, 2010 | 882 | ± 3.3% | 50% | 46% | — | 3% |
| Poll source | Dates administered | Barbara Boxer | Chuck DeVore |
| Research 2000 | August 9–12, 2009 | 53% | 29% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 23, 2009 | 46% | 37% |
| The Field Poll | September 18 – October 6, 2009 | 50% | 33% |
| Rasmussen Reports | November 17, 2009 | 46% | 36% |
| Rasmussen Reports | January 14, 2010 | 46% | 40% |
| The Field Poll | January 5–17, 2010 | 51% | 34% |
| PPIC | January 27, 2010 | 47% | 39% |
| Rasmussen Reports | February 11, 2010 | 47% | 42% |
| Research 2000 | March 10, 2010 | 49% | 39% |
| Rasmussen Reports | March 11, 2010 | 46% | 40% |
| Field Research | March 18, 2010 | 45% | 41% |
| PPIC | March 24, 2010 | 46% | 40% |
| Rasmussen Reports | April 12, 2010 | 42% | 39% |
| Rasmussen Reports | May 12, 2010 | 46% | 40% |
| Public Policy Institute of California (Report) | May 2010 | 50% | 39% |
| Research 2000 | May 17–19, 2010 | 47% | 38% |
| Public Policy Polling | May 21–23, 2010 | 46% | 40% |
| USC/Los Angeles Times (Report) | May 19–26, 2010 | 46% | 36% |
| Poll source | Dates administered | Barbara Boxer | Tom Campbell |
| Rasmussen Reports | January 14, 2010 | 46% | 42% |
| The Field Poll | January 5–17, 2010 | 48% | 38% |
| PPIC | January 27, 2010 | 45% | 41% |
| Rasmussen Reports | February 11, 2010 | 45% | 41% |
| Research 2000 | March 10, 2010 | 47% | 43% |
| Rasmussen Reports | March 11, 2010 | 43% | 41% |
| Field Research | March 18, 2010 | 43% | 44% |
| PPIC | March 24, 2010 | 43% | 44% |
| Rasmussen Reports | April 12, 2010 | 42% | 41% |
| Rasmussen Reports | May 12, 2010 | 42% | 41% |
| Public Policy Institute of California (Report) | May 2010 | 46% | 40% |
| Research 2000 | May 17–19, 2010 | 47% | 40% |
| Public Policy Polling | May 21–23, 2010 | 47% | 40% |
| USC/Los Angeles Times (Report) | May 19–26, 2010 | 38% | 45% |

### Fundraising

| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
| Barbara Boxer (D) | $20,314,189 | $22,178,746 | $2,271,034 | $0 |
| Carly Fiorina (R) | $17,935,605 | $16,664,055 | $1,271,550 | $805,844 |
| Jerry Carroll (I) | $140 | $140 | $10 | $1,305 |
| Marsha Feinland (P&F) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Neil Goldberg (I) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Gail Lightfoot (L) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Edward Noonan (AI) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Duane Roberts (G) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $12,562 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission (FEC) (Note that some candidates filed with the FEC, but did not pursue their candidacy.) |||||

### Results

Despite the last poll before the election showed Fiorina only trailing by 4 points, on election night Boxer defeated Fiorina by a ten-point margin, and around a one million vote majority. Boxer performed extremely well in Los Angeles County, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Boxer was declared the winner shortly after the polls closed. Fiorina conceded defeat to Boxer at 11:38 P.M.
United States Senate election in California, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Barbara Boxer (incumbent) | 5,218,137 | 52.18% | −5.53% |
| | Republican | Carly Fiorina | 4,217,386 | 42.17% | +4.37% |
| | Libertarian | Gail Lightfoot | 175,235 | 1.75% | −0.05% |
| | Peace and Freedom | Marsha Feinland | 135,088 | 1.35% | −0.67% |
| | Green | Duane Roberts | 128,512 | 1.29% | N/A |
| | American Independent | Edward Noonan | 125,435 | 1.25% | +0.58% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 67 | 0.00% | ±0.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,999,860 | 100.0% | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

#### By county

Results from the Secretary of State of California.
| County | Boxer | Votes | Fiorina | Votes | Noonan | Votes | Roberts | Votes | Lightfoot | Votes | Feinland | Votes |
| Alameda | 73.9% | 338,632 | 22.1% | 100,989 | 0.7% | 3,362 | 1.3% | 5,560 | 1.1% | 5,334 | 0.9% | 4,537 |
| Alpine | 50.9% | 282 | 44.0% | 244 | 0.7% | 4 | 0.7% | 4 | 2.5% | 14 | 1.2% | 7 |
| Amador | 31.9% | 5,137 | 59.6% | 9,617 | 2.3% | 364 | 1.2% | 209 | 3.0% | 480 | 2.0% | 334 |
| Butte | 37.0% | 27,827 | 54.5% | 40,958 | 1.8% | 1,393 | 1.9% | 1,435 | 2.9% | 2,181 | 1.9% | 1,456 |
| Calaveras | 32.1% | 6,294 | 58.6% | 11,495 | 3.0% | 593 | 1.6% | 326 | 3.1% | 617 | 1.6% | 324 |
| Colusa | 30.3% | 1,567 | 63.4% | 3,288 | 1.4% | 76 | 1.2% | 67 | 2.2% | 109 | 1.5% | 81 |
| Contra Costa | 59.8% | 206,270 | 35.9% | 123,934 | 1.0% | 3,492 | 1.0% | 3,607 | 1.4% | 4,996 | 0.9% | 3,181 |
| Del Norte | 39.4% | 3,212 | 52.0% | 4,240 | 2.1% | 177 | 1.8% | 154 | 3.0% | 245 | 1.7% | 139 |
| El Dorado | 32.7% | 25,085 | 61.0% | 46,771 | 1.3% | 1,043 | 1.1% | 910 | 2.4% | 1,822 | 1.5% | 1,129 |
| Fresno | 37.5% | 74,705 | 57.0% | 113,583 | 1.3% | 2,633 | 1.2% | 2,431 | 1.5% | 3,067 | 1.5% | 3,079 |
| Glenn | 25.5% | 2,020 | 66.3% | 5,257 | 2.1% | 174 | 1.6% | 128 | 2.7% | 208 | 1.8% | 143 |
| Humboldt | 54.6% | 27,081 | 37.6% | 18,659 | 0.8% | 420 | 3.2% | 1,574 | 2.5% | 1,284 | 1.3% | 653 |
| Imperial | 55.6% | 14,802 | 37.2% | 9,887 | 1.2% | 341 | 1.9% | 516 | 1.9% | 511 | 2.2% | 570 |
| Inyo | 33.8% | 2,353 | 56.2% | 3,909 | 2.4% | 169 | 1.7% | 120 | 3.5% | 241 | 2.4% | 170 |
| Kern | 30.0% | 51,364 | 62.0% | 106,448 | 1.9% | 3,302 | 1.4% | 2,435 | 2.6% | 4,522 | 2.1% | 3,641 |
| Kings | 30.0% | 7,816 | 62.7% | 16,362 | 2.2% | 560 | 1.1% | 309 | 1.9% | 520 | 2.1% | 542 |
| Lake | 49.0% | 10,265 | 40.8% | 8,534 | 2.8% | 585 | 2.4% | 505 | 3.0% | 625 | 2.0% | 440 |
| Lassen | 24.0% | 2,200 | 66.7% | 6,127 | 1.6% | 155 | 1.7% | 157 | 4.0% | 374 | 2.0% | 185 |
| Los Angeles | 62.3% | 1,432,450 | 32.6% | 749,353 | 1.0% | 23,198 | 1.2% | 29,323 | 1.5% | 33,431 | 1.4% | 32,168 |
| Madera | 30.3% | 10,308 | 62.9% | 21,413 | 1.7% | 601 | 1.3% | 462 | 1.9% | 632 | 1.9% | 630 |
| Marin | 69.3% | 78,236 | 27.5% | 31,001 | 0.6% | 756 | 0.9% | 982 | 1.1% | 1,237 | 0.6% | 710 |
| Mariposa | 31.8% | 2,593 | 60.4% | 4,939 | 1.9% | 158 | 1.7% | 147 | 2.8% | 223 | 1.4% | 118 |
| Mendocino | 61.6% | 19,422 | 29.9% | 9,426 | 2.0% | 643 | 2.8% | 867 | 2.3% | 749 | 1.4% | 472 |
| Merced | 40.2% | 19,058 | 53.4% | 25,280 | 1.7% | 827 | 1.2% | 576 | 1.8% | 854 | 1.7% | 831 |
| Modoc | 20.9% | 787 | 70.6% | 2,666 | 2.2% | 84 | 1.4% | 56 | 3.1% | 116 | 1.8% | 68 |
| Mono | 43.5% | 1,155 | 50.1% | 1,455 | 1.7% | 154 | 1.5% | 81 | 2.1% | 76 | 1.1% | 556 |
| Monterey | 59.1% | 58,574 | 35.0% | 34,721 | 1.1% | 1,182 | 1.3% | 1,315 | 2.0% | 1,914 | 1.5% | 1,497 |
| Napa | 56.2% | 26,194 | 38.1% | 17,743 | 1.4% | 658 | 1.5% | 732 | 1.8% | 836 | 1.0% | 511 |
| Nevada | 40.9% | 18,504 | 52.7% | 23,875 | 0.6% | 310 | 1.8% | 860 | 3.1% | 1,367 | 0.9% | 424 |
| Orange | 37.1% | 323,477 | 57.7% | 502,756 | 1.1% | 10,432 | 1.1% | 10,137 | 1.7% | 14,625 | 1.3% | 10,904 |
| Placer | 33.6% | 47,331 | 60.2% | 84,905 | 1.5% | 2,142 | 1.0% | 1,518 | 2.2% | 3,239 | 1.5% | 2,132 |
| Plumas | 32.1% | 2,934 | 60.3% | 5,521 | 1.7% | 161 | 1.4% | 131 | 2.8% | 257 | 1.7% | 160 |
| Riverside | 40.7% | 195,418 | 53.2% | 255,738 | 1.6% | 8,117 | 1.2% | 6,046 | 1.8% | 8,321 | 1.5% | 7,404 |
| Sacramento | 50.4% | 210,164 | 43.5% | 181,300 | 1.6% | 6,833 | 1.1% | 4,981 | 2.1% | 8,667 | 1.3% | 5,560 |
| San Benito | 49.7% | 7,909 | 43.8% | 6,977 | 1.3% | 215 | 1.1% | 191 | 2.2% | 337 | 1.9% | 307 |
| San Bernardino | 42.7% | 185,164 | 49.9% | 216,441 | 1.8% | 8,111 | 1.4% | 6,302 | 2.4% | 10,424 | 1.8% | 7,926 |
| San Diego | 43.5% | 389,806 | 50.7% | 454,301 | 1.3% | 11,725 | 1.3% | 11,808 | 1.8% | 16,578 | 1.4% | 12,585 |
| San Francisco | 80.0% | 213,252 | 16.2% | 43,108 | 0.6% | 1,630 | 1.5% | 3,863 | 1.0% | 2,780 | 0.7% | 1,937 |
| San Joaquin | 44.5% | 70,031 | 48.5% | 76,342 | 1.6% | 2,608 | 1.3% | 2,122 | 2.1% | 3,358 | 2.0% | 3,175 |
| San Luis Obispo | 42.8% | 44,799 | 51.2% | 53,695 | 1.2% | 1,347 | 1.1% | 1,250 | 2.5% | 2,521 | 1.2% | 1,293 |
| San Mateo | 66.5% | 146,537 | 29.9% | 65,803 | 0.8% | 1,866 | 1.0% | 2,208 | 1.2% | 2,605 | 0.6% | 1,480 |
| Santa Barbara | 49.8% | 64,771 | 45.2% | 58,817 | 1.0% | 1,425 | 1.0% | 1,432 | 1.8% | 2,243 | 1.2% | 1,578 |
| Santa Clara | 63.3% | 320,734 | 32.0% | 161,986 | 1.0% | 5,105 | 1.1% | 5,711 | 1.6% | 8,148 | 1.0% | 5,295 |
| Santa Cruz | 68.6% | 65,049 | 25.4% | 24,065 | 0.9% | 923 | 1.6% | 1,579 | 2.2% | 2,048 | 2.3% | 1,257 |
| Shasta | 26.4% | 17,204 | 66.1% | 43,056 | 2.0% | 1,266 | 1.3% | 902 | 2.6% | 1,683 | 1.6% | 1,060 |
| Sierra | 29.1% | 529 | 62.3% | 1,135 | 2.4% | 45 | 1.4% | 27 | 2.8% | 51 | 2.0% | 37 |
| Siskiyou | 33.7% | 6,132 | 57.2% | 10,430 | 2.2% | 405 | 1.4% | 270 | 3.6% | 648 | 1.9% | 360 |
| Solano | 55.1% | 64,658 | 39.2% | 45,995 | 1.3% | 1,600 | 1.2% | 1,429 | 2.0% | 2,289 | 1.2% | 1,460 |
| Sonoma | 64.3% | 116,996 | 29.5% | 53,678 | 1.4% | 2,686 | 1.5% | 2,806 | 2.1% | 3,720 | 1.2% | 2,281 |
| Stanislaus | 39.6% | 47,158 | 53.6% | 63,814 | 1.6% | 2,007 | 1.5% | 1,789 | 2.0% | 2,455 | 1.7% | 2,029 |
| Sutter | 31.9% | 8,121 | 61.2% | 15,606 | 1.9% | 487 | 1.1% | 292 | 2.4% | 607 | 1.5% | 408 |
| Tehama | 26.6% | 5,352 | 64.3% | 12,950 | 2.6% | 524 | 1.5% | 321 | 3.1% | 622 | 1.9% | 397 |
| Trinity | 37.1% | 2,029 | 51.4% | 2,813 | 2.0% | 112 | 3.5% | 192 | 4.4% | 242 | 1.6% | 90 |
| Tulare | 30.6% | 24,742 | 62.9% | 50,856 | 1.5% | 1,264 | 1.1% | 921 | 1.8% | 1,509 | 2.1% | 1,625 |
| Tuolumne | 33.4% | 7,430 | 58.6% | 13,057 | 2.6% | 576 | 1.6% | 359 | 2.5% | 564 | 1.3% | 304 |
| Ventura | 44.8% | 115,337 | 49.9% | 128,619 | 1.3% | 3,394 | 1.1% | 3,095 | 1.8% | 4,586 | 1.1 | 2,965 |
| Yolo | 59.0% | 34,925 | 35.9% | 21,263 | 1.1% | 683 | 1.2% | 764 | 1.7% | 973 | 1.1% | 677 |
| Yuba | 32.4% | 5,212 | 58.6% | 9,452 | 2.4% | 394 | 1.4% | 231 | 3.3% | 536 | 1.9% | 210 |
* Republican — >15%
* Republican — +12.5−15%
* Republican — +10−12.5%
* Republican — +7.5−10%
* Republican — +5−7.5%
* Republican — +2.5−5%
* Republican — +0−2.5%
* Democratic — +0−2.5%
* Democratic — +2.5−5%
* Democratic — +5−7.5%
* Democratic — +7.5-10%

##### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Merced (largest community: Merced)
* Mono (largest municipality: Mammoth Lakes)
* San Luis Obispo (largest town: San Luis Obispo)
* San Bernardino (largest town: San Bernardino)
* San Diego (largest community: San Diego)
* San Joaquin (largest city: Stockton)
* Santa Barbara (largest municipality: Santa Barbara)

#### By congressional district

Boxer won 33 of 53 congressional districts, with the remaining 20 going to Fiorina, including one that elected a Democrat.
| District | Boxer | Fiorina | Representative |
| 1st | 57% | 36% | Mike Thompson |
| 2nd | 32% | 60% | Wally Herger |
| 3rd | 41% | 53% | Dan Lungren |
| 4th | 34% | 60% | Tom McClintock |
| 5th | 62% | 31% | Doris Matsui |
| 6th | 67% | 28% | Lynn Woolsey |
| 7th | 65% | 29% | George Miller |
| 8th | 81% | 15% | Nancy Pelosi |
| 9th | 85% | 12% | Barbara Lee |
| 10th | 56% | 39% | John Garamendi |
| 11th | 44% | 51% | Jerry McNerney |
| 12th | 68% | 28% | Jackie Speier |
| 13th | 69% | 26% | Pete Stark |
| 14th | 65% | 30% | Anna Eshoo |
| 15th | 62% | 33% | Mike Honda |
| 16th | 64% | 31% | Zoe Lofgren |
| 17th | 63% | 31% | Sam Farr |
| 18th | 48% | 45% | Dennis Cardoza |
| 19th | 34% | 59% | George Radanovich (111th Congress) |
| 19th | 34% | 59% | Jeff Denham (112th Congress) |
| 20th | 48% | 43% | Jim Costa |
| 21st | 30% | 64% | Devin Nunes |
| 22nd | 29% | 64% | Kevin McCarthy |
| 23rd | 56% | 38% | Lois Capps |
| 24th | 40% | 55% | Elton Gallegly |
| 25th | 39% | 54% | Buck McKeon |
| 26th | 42% | 53% | David Dreier |
| 27th | 58% | 37% | Brad Sherman |
| 28th | 70% | 25% | Howard Berman |
| 29th | 61% | 35% | Adam Schiff |
| 30th | 63% | 34% | Henry Waxman |
| 31st | 78% | 16% | Xavier Becerra |
| 32nd | 64% | 30% | Judy Chu |
| 33rd | 83% | 13% | Diane Watson (111th Congress) |
| 33rd | 83% | 13% | Karen Bass (112th Congress) |
| 34th | 71% | 23% | Lucille Roybal-Allard |
| 35th | 79% | 16% | Maxine Waters |
| 36th | 56% | 39% | Jane Harman |
| 37th | 74% | 21% | Laura Richardson |
| 38th | 67% | 26% | Grace Napolitano |
| 39th | 60% | 34% | Linda Sánchez |
| 40th | 37% | 57% | Ed Royce |
| 41st | 35% | 57% | Jerry Lewis |
| 42nd | 34% | 61% | Gary Miller |
| 43rd | 60% | 32% | Joe Baca |
| 44th | 39% | 55% | Ken Calvert |
| 45th | 42% | 52% | Mary Bono |
| 46th | 38% | 56% | Dana Rohrabacher |
| 47th | 56% | 37% | Loretta Sanchez |
| 48th | 36% | 59% | John B. T. Campbell III |
| 49th | 34% | 59% | Darrell Issa |
| 50th | 40% | 55% | Brian Bilbray |
| 51st | 56% | 37% | Bob Filner |
| 52nd | 35% | 59% | Duncan L. Hunter |
| 53rd | 58% | 36% | Susan Davis |