# 2012 California State Senate election

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vte :
The 2012 California State Senate election was held on November 6, 2012, with the primary election on June 5, 2012. Voters in the 20 odd-numbered districts of the California State Senate voted for their representatives. Other elections were also held on November 6. The same year, voters also passed Proposition 28 that relaxed term limits on legislators in both chambers.

## Overview

California State Senate elections, 2012 Primary election — June 5, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Candidates | Advancing to general | Seats contesting |
| | Democratic | 1,534,788 | 59.34% | 28 | 22 | 20 |
| | Republican | 1,015,668 | 39.27% | 20 | 16 | 16 |
| | Libertarian | 23,098 | 0.89% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| | No party preference | 11,923 | 0.46% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| | Peace and Freedom | 788 | 0.03% | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Totals | Totals | 2,586,265 | 100.00% | 53 | 40 | — |
California State Senate elections, 2012 General election — November 6, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Not up | Contested | Before | After | +/– |
| | Democratic | 4,035,256 | 62.61% | 14 | 11 | 25 | 29 | 4 |
| | Republican | 2,321,286 | 36.02% | 6 | 9 | 15 | 11 | 4 |
| | Peace and Freedom | 88,658 | 1.38% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | Totals | 6,445,200 | 100.00% | 20 | 20 | 40 | 40 | — |
| 29 | 11 |
| Democratic | Republican |

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Governing | Safe D | October 24, 2012 |

## Results
### District 1

California's 1st State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ted Gaines (incumbent) | 110,168 | 48.2 |
| | Democratic | Julie Griffith-Flatter | 68,947 | 30.2 |
| | Republican | Les Baugh | 37,442 | 16.4 |
| | No party preference | "Bo" Bogdan I. Ambrozewicz | 11,923 | 5.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 228,480 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Ted Gaines (incumbent) | 263,256 | 63.7 |
| | Democratic | Julie Griffith-Flatter | 150,111 | 36.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 413,367 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 3

California's 3rd State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lois Wolk (incumbent) | 116,403 | 96.9 |
| | Republican | Frank Miranda (write-in) | 2,402 | 2.0 |
| | Republican | Gary Clift (write-in) | 1,341 | 1.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 120,146 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Lois Wolk (incumbent) | 233,406 | 66.2 |
| | Republican | Frank Miranda | 119,033 | 33.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 352,439 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 5

California's 5th State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Cathleen Galgiani | 52,148 | 40.7 |
| | Republican | Bill Berryhill | 45,819 | 35.8 |
| | Republican | Leroy Ornellas | 30,109 | 23.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 128,076 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Cathleen Galgiani | 142,145 | 50.5 |
| | Republican | Bill Berryhill | 139,502 | 49.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 281,647 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) |

### District 7

California's 7th State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mark DeSaulnier (incumbent) | 91,224 | 57.0 |
| | Republican | Mark P. Meuser | 68,730 | 43.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 159,954 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Mark DeSaulnier (incumbent) | 229,105 | 61.5 |
| | Republican | Mark P. Meuser | 143,707 | 38.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 372,812 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 9

California's 9th State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Loni Hancock (incumbent) | 123,624 | 99.3 |
| | Peace and Freedom | Mary Catherine McIlroy (write-in) | 785 | 0.6 |
| | Libertarian | Lisa D. Ringer (write-in) | 95 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 124,504 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Loni Hancock (incumbent) | 300,994 | 85.8 |
| | Peace and Freedom | Mary Catherine McIlroy | 49,987 | 14.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 350,981 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 11

California's 11th State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Mark Leno (incumbent) | 118,023 | 82.0 |
| | Republican | Harmeet Dhillon | 25,828 | 18.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 143,851 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Mark Leno (incumbent) | 303,241 | 84.7 |
| | Republican | Harmeet Dhillon | 54,887 | 15.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 358,128 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 13

California's 13th State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jerry Hill | 76,033 | 51.1 |
| | Democratic | Sally J. Lieber | 33,566 | 22.5 |
| | Libertarian | John H. Webster | 23,003 | 15.4 |
| | Democratic | Christopher Kent Chiang | 16,317 | 11.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 148,919 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Jerry Hill | 218,775 | 66.1 |
| | Democratic | Sally J. Lieber | 112,321 | 33.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 331,096 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 15

California's 15th State Senate district 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 hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 17

California's 17th State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Monning | 110,890 | 59.4 |
| | Republican | Larry Beaman | 75,713 | 40.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 186,603 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Bill Monning | 236,213 | 63.3 |
| | Republican | Larry Beaman | 136,836 | 36.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 373,049 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 19

California's 19th State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Stoker | 69,252 | 44.9 |
| | Democratic | Hannah-Beth Jackson | 64,219 | 41.6 |
| | Democratic | Jason Hodge | 20,828 | 13.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 154,299 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Hannah-Beth Jackson | 180,780 | 55.7 |
| | Republican | Mike Stoker | 143,819 | 44.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 324,599 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 21

California's 21st State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve Knight | 61,245 | 69.0 |
| | Democratic | Star Moffatt | 27,545 | 31.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 88,790 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Steve Knight | 153,412 | 57.6 |
| | Democratic | Star Moffatt | 112,780 | 42.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 266,192 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 23

California's 23rd State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Emmerson (incumbent) | 70,465 | 65.0 |
| | Democratic | Melissa Ruth O'Donnell | 37,939 | 35.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 108,404 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Bill Emmerson (incumbent) | 159,045 | 56.3 |
| | Democratic | Melissa Ruth O'Donnell | 123,518 | 43.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 282,563 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 25

California's 25th State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Carol Liu (incumbent) | 62,930 | 51.3 |
| | Republican | Gilbert V. Gonzales | 53,093 | 43.3 |
| | Democratic | Ameenah Fuller | 6,592 | 5.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 122,615 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Carol Liu (incumbent) | 213,127 | 60.8 |
| | Republican | Gilbert V. Gonzales | 137,651 | 39.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 350,778 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 27

California's 27th State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Todd Zink | 68,384 | 51.1 |
| | Democratic | Fran Pavley (incumbent) | 65,552 | 48.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 133,936 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Fran Pavley (incumbent) | 197,757 | 53.6 |
| | Republican | Todd Zink | 171,438 | 46.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 369,195 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 29

California's 29th State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Huff (incumbent) | 68,708 | 64.3 |
| | Democratic | Greg Diamond | 38,169 | 35.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 106,877 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Bob Huff (incumbent) | 160,912 | 55.1 |
| | Democratic | Greg Diamond | 131,228 | 44.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 292,140 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 31

California's 31st State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jeff Miller | 38,641 | 51.1 |
| | Democratic | Richard Roth | 21,812 | 28.8 |
| | Democratic | Steve Clute | 15,191 | 20.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 75,644 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Richard Roth | 133,882 | 55.3 |
| | Republican | Jeff Miller | 108,320 | 44.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 242,202 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) |

### District 33

California's 33rd State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ricardo Lara | 35,865 | 100.0 |
| | Peace and Freedom | Lee H. Chauser (write-in) | 3 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 35,868 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Ricardo Lara | 158,707 | 80.4 |
| | Peace and Freedom | Lee H. Chauser | 38,671 | 19.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 197,378 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 35

California's 35th State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Roderick Wright (incumbent) | 40,312 | 57.4 |
| | Republican | Charlotte A. Svolos | 18,793 | 26.8 |
| | Democratic | Paul Butterfield | 11,091 | 15.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 70,196 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Roderick Wright (incumbent) | 192,483 | 76.5 |
| | Republican | Charlotte A. Svolos | 59,077 | 23.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 251,560 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 37

California's 37th State Senate district election, 2012 :
| 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 |

### District 39

California's 39th State Senate district election, 2012 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marty Block | 85,930 | 46.3 |
| | Republican | George Plescia | 81,214 | 43.7 |
| | Democratic | Patrick L. Marsh | 18,510 | 10.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 185,654 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Marty Block | 221,012 | 58.4 |
| | Republican | George Plescia | 157,305 | 41.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 378,317 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |