# California's 35th senatorial district

California's 35th senatorial district is one of 40 California State Senate districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Laura Richardson of Long Beach.

## District profile

The district straddles Interstate 110, including the inland portions of the South Bay in addition to parts of South Los Angeles. The district stretches from Inglewood and Watts in the north down to San Pedro and the Port of Los Angeles in the south.

## Election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2020 | President | Biden 76.3 – 21.5% |
| 2018 | Governor | Newsom 78.5 – 21.5% |
| 2018 | Senator | Feinstein 60.0 – 40.0% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 79.3 – 15.8% |
| 2016 | Senator | Harris 63.0 – 37.0% |
| 2014 | Governor | Brown 75.2 – 24.8% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 80.3 – 17.9% |
| 2012 | Senator | Feinstein 80.8 – 19.2% |

## List of senators who represented the district

| Senators | Party | Years served | Electoral history | Counties represented |
| District established January 3, 1887 |||||
| B. V. Sargent (Monterey) | Democratic | January 3, 1887 – January 7, 1889 | Elected in 1886. [data missing] | Monterey, San Benito |
| Thomas Flint Jr. (Hollister) | Republican | January 7, 1889 – January 2, 1893 | Elected in 1888. Redistricted to the 33rd district. | Monterey, San Benito |
| Orestes Orr (Ventura) | Republican | January 2, 1893 – January 4, 1897 | Elected in 1892. [data missing] | Santa Barbara, Ventura |
| J. J. Boyce (Santa Barbara) | Republican | January 4, 1897 – January 1, 1901 | Elected in 1896. [data missing] | Santa Barbara, Ventura |
| Charles B. Greenwell (Santa Barbara) | Republican | January 1, 1901 – January 2, 1905 | Elected in 1900. Redistricted to the 33rd district. | Santa Barbara, Ventura |
| Howard A. Broughton (Los Angeles) | Republican | January 2, 1905 – January 4, 1909 | Elected in 1904. [data missing] | Los Angeles |
| Newton W. Thompson (Alhambra) | Republican | January 4, 1909 – January 8, 1917 | Elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1912. [data missing] | Los Angeles |
| Egbert J. Gates (Pasadena) | Republican | January 8, 1917 – January 5, 1925 | Elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1920. [data missing] | Los Angeles |
| Herbert J. Evans (Monrovia) | Republican | January 5, 1925 – January 2, 1933 | Elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1928. Retired to run for State Assembly. | Los Angeles |
| Nelson T. Edwards (Orange) | Republican | January 2, 1933 – January 4, 1937 | Redistricted from the 39th district and re-elected in 1932. [data missing] | Orange |
| Harry C. Westover (Laguna Hills) | Democratic | January 4, 1937 – January 6, 1941 | Elected in 1936. [data missing] | Orange |
| Thomas Kuchel (Anaheim) | Republican | January 6, 1941 – February 11, 1946 | Elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1944. Resigned to become California State Controller. | Orange |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 11, 1946 – January 6, 1947 | | Orange |
| Clyde A. Watson (Orange) | Republican | January 6, 1947 – January 5, 1953 | Elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1950. [data missing] | Orange |
| John A. Murdy Jr. (Newport Beach) | Republican | January 5, 1953 – January 4, 1965 | Elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1960. [data missing] | Orange |
| John G. Schmitz (Santa Ana) | Republican | January 4, 1965 – January 2, 1967 | Elected in 1964. Redistricted to the 34th district. | Orange |
| James E. Whetmore (Dana Point) | Republican | January 2, 1967 – November 30, 1976 | Elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1972. | Los Angeles, Orange |
| John Briggs (Fullerton) | Republican | December 6, 1976 – December 28, 1981 | Elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1980. Resigned. | Orange |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 28, 1981 – April 26, 1982 | | Orange |
| John Seymour (Anaheim) | Republican | April 26, 1982 – January 7, 1991 | Elected to finish Briggs's term. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1988. Resigned after appointment to the U.S. Senate. | Orange |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 7, 1991 – May 16, 1991 | | Orange |
| John Lewis (Orange) | Republican | May 16, 1991 – November 30, 1992 | Elected to finish Seymour's term. Redistricted to the 33rd district. | Orange |
| Marian Bergeson (Newport Beach) | Republican | December 7, 1992 – January 2, 1995 | Redistricted from the 37th district and re-elected in 1992. Resigned after appointment as Superintendent of Public Instruction failed in Assembly. | Orange |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 2, 1995 – May 11, 1995 | | Orange |
| Ross Johnson (Fullerton) | Republican | May 11, 1995 – November 30, 2004 | Elected to finish Bergeson's term. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 2000. Term-limited and retired. | Orange |
| John Campbell (Irvine) | Republican | December 6, 2004 – December 6, 2005 | Elected in 2004. Resigned after election to the U.S. House of Representatives. | Orange |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 6, 2005 – June 12, 2006 | | Orange |
| Tom Harman (Huntington Beach) | Republican | June 12, 2006 – November 30, 2012 | Elected to finish Campbell in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Term-limited and retired. | Orange |
| Roderick Wright (Inglewood) | Democratic | December 3, 2012 – September 22, 2014 | Redistricted from the 25th district and re-elected in 2012. Resigned after being indicted on voter fraud. | Los Angeles |
| Vacant | Vacant | September 22, 2014 – December 10, 2014 | | Los Angeles |
| Isadore Hall III (Compton) | Democratic | December 10, 2014 – November 30, 2016 | Elected to finish Wright's term. Retired to run for U.S. House of Representatives. | Los Angeles |
| Steven Bradford (Gardena) | Democratic | December 5, 2016 – November 30, 2024 | Elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2020. Term-limited and retired. | Los Angeles |
| Laura Richardson (Long Beach) | Democratic | December 2, 2024 – present | Elected in 2024. | Los Angeles |

## Contents

* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2014 (special)
* 2016
* 2020

### 2020

2020 California State Senate election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Steven Bradford (incumbent) | 106,742 | 75.7 |
| | American Independent | Anthony Perry | 35,024 | 24.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 140,995 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Steven Bradford (incumbent) | 234,881 | 72.5 |
| | American Independent | Anthony Perry | 89,080 | 27.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 323,961 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

California State Senate election, 2016 :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Steven Bradford | 50,998 | 35.6 |
| | Democratic | Warren Furutani | 35,024 | 24.4 |
| | Democratic | Isaac Galvan | 32,105 | 22.4 |
| | Republican | Charlotte Ann Svolos | 25,197 | 17.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 143,324 | 100.0 |
| General election |||||
| | Democratic | Steven Bradford | 135,353 | 53.5 |
| | Democratic | Warren Furutani | 117,455 | 46.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 252,808 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2014 (special)

California's 35th State Senate district special election, 2014 Vacancy resulting from the resignation of Rod Wright :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Isadore Hall, III | 17,951 | 55.9 |
| | Republican | James Spencer | 8,014 | 25.0 |
| | Democratic | Louis L. Dominguez | 4,067 | 12.7 |
| | Democratic | Hector Serrano | 2,069 | 6.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,101 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2012

California State Senate elections, 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 gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2008

California's 35th State Senate district election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Harman (incumbent) | 222,149 | 58.55 |
| | Democratic | Ginny Meyer | 157,271 | 41.45 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 379,420 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 67.73 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2004

California's 35th State Senate district election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Campbell | 230,220 | 63.79 |
| | Democratic | Rita B. Siebert | 114,126 | 31.62 |
| | Libertarian | Timothy Johnson | 16,561 | 4.59 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 360,907 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2000

California's 35th State Senate district election, 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ross Johnson (incumbent) | 189,523 | 60.06 |
| | Democratic | Stephen M. Ray | 103,700 | 32.86 |
| | Libertarian | Paul L. Studier | 11,401 | 3.61 |
| | Natural Law | Cynthia F. Katz | 10,918 | 3.46 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 33,207 | 9.52 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 348,749 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1996

California's 35th State Senate district election, 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ross Johnson (incumbent) | 183,739 | 61.52 |
| | Democratic | Madolene Arakeljian | 103,170 | 34.54 |
| | Natural Law | Nat Adam | 11,780 | 3.94 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 20,812 | 6.51 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 319,501 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1992

California's 35th State Senate district election, 1992 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Marian Bergeson (incumbent) | 204,504 | 62.24 |
| | Democratic | Dorianne Garcia | 107,512 | 32.72 |
| | Libertarian | Eric Sprik | 16,536 | 5.03 |
| Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | Invalid or blank votes | 38,755 | 10.55 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 367,307 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |