California's 15th senatorial district

California's 15th State Senate district
California's 15th State Senate district
Current senator
	Dave Cortese; D–San Jose
Population (2010); • Voting age; • Citizen voting age	928,584; 698,809; 539,225
Demographics	34.28% White; 2.74% Black; 30.04% Latino; 31.18% Asian; 0.47% Native American; 0.41% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander; 0.25% other; 0.64% remainder of multiracial;
Registered voters	498,633
Registration	47.86% Democratic; 17.17% Republican; 30.83% No party preference

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%
	Senator	Boxer 55.0 - 36.8%
	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 2021 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
Joshua Plummer Abbott		January 3, 1887 – January 7, 1889
Frank Coye De Long		January 7, 1889 – January 2, 1893
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		January 2, 1905 – January 4, 1909	Alameda
John Walter Stetson		January 4, 1909 – January 6, 1913
Arthur H. Breed Sr.		January 6, 1913 – January 5, 1931		At the time when the Lieutenant Governor's seat became vacant, he temporary becoming acting Lieutenant Governor.
Thomas McCormack		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		December 6, 1976 – November 30, 1992	Fresno, Tulare
Henry J. Mello		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.
Vacant		April 27, 2010 – August 23, 2010
Sam Blakeslee	Republican	August 23, 2010 – November 30, 2012		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

Election results

2024

2024 California State Senate 15th district election^[3]^[4]
Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dave Cortese (incumbent)	124,539	69.0
	Republican	Robert Howell	34,205	19.0
	Republican	Tony Loaiza	21,643	12.0
Total votes			180,387	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Dave Cortese (incumbent)	260,719	68.6
	Republican	Robert Howell	119,310	31.4
Total votes			380,029	100.0
	Democratic hold

2020

2020 California State Senate 15th district election^[5]^[6]
Primary election
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			234,444	100.0
General election
	Democratic	David Cortese	212,207	54.8
	Democratic	Ann Ravel	175,203	45.2
Total votes			387,410	100.0
	Democratic hold

2016

2016 California State Senate 15th district election^[7]^[8]
Primary election
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			198,128	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Jim Beall (incumbent)	196,089	62.5
	Democratic	Nora Campos	117,442	37.5
Total votes			313,531	100.0
	Democratic hold

2012

2012 California State Senate 15th district election^[9]^[10]
Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jim Beall	69,179	55.5
	Democratic	Joe Coto	55,387	44.5
Total votes			124,566	100.0
General election
	Democratic	Jim Beall	160,451	56.7
	Democratic	Joe Coto	122,345	43.3
Total votes			282,796	100.0
	Democratic gain from Republican

2010 (special)

2019 California State Senate 15th district special election
Vacancy resulting from the resignation of Abel Maldonado^[11]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sam Blakeslee	72,248	49.4
	Democratic	John Laird	61,150	41.8
	Independent	John Fitzgerald	8,620	5.9
	Libertarian	Mark Hinkle	4,241	2.9
Total votes			146,259	100.0
	Republican gain from Democratic

2008

2008 California State Senate 15th district election^[12]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Abel Maldonado (incumbent)	222,617	62.9
	Independent	Jim Fitzgerald	131,229	37.1
Total votes			353,846	100.0
	Republican hold

2004

2004 California State Senate 15th district election^[13]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Abel Maldonado	194,674	52.8
	Democratic	Peg Pinard	157,556	42.7
	Green	Brook Madsen	16,644	4.5
Total votes			368,874	100.0
	Republican hold

2000

2000 California State Senate 15th district election^[14]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bruce McPherson (incumbent)	155,039	55.2
	Democratic	Anselmo A. Chavez	112,942	40.2
	Natural Law	David Rosenkranz	6,425	2.3
	Libertarian	Gordon D. Sachtjen	6,394	2.3
Total votes			280,800	100.0
	Republican hold

1996

1996 California State Senate 15th district election^[15]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bruce McPherson	124,448	47.2
	Democratic	Rusty Areias	120,846	45.8
	Green	E. Craig Coffin	12,089	4.6
	Natural Law	Scott R. Hartley	6,377	2.4
Total votes			263,760	100.0
	Republican gain from Democratic

1992

1992 California State Senate 15th district election^[16]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Henry J. Mello (incumbent)	162,771	58.4
	Republican	Edward Laverone	95,142	34.1
	Peace and Freedom	Susanne Espinoza	20,818	7.5
Total votes			278,731	100.0
	Democratic hold

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Citizens Redistricting Commission Final Report, 2011" (PDF).
^ "Report of Registration as of February 18, 2020" (PDF).
^ "March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
^ "November 5, 2024, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
^ "March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
^ "November 3, 2020, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
^ "June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
^ "November 8, 2016, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
^ "June 5, 2012, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
^ "November 6, 2012, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
^ "Official Canvass - State Senator - 15th Senate District* - Special Primary Election, June 22, 2010" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
^ "November 4, 2008, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
^ "November 2, 2004, Presidential General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
^ "November 7, 2000, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
^ "November 5, 1996, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
^ "November 3, 1992, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

External links

District map from the California Citizens Redistricting Commission

[population-1] "Citizens Redistricting Commission Final Report, 2011" (PDF).

[2] "Report of Registration as of February 18, 2020" (PDF).

[3] "March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

[4] "November 5, 2024, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

[5] "March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

[6] "November 3, 2020, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

[7] "June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

[8] "November 8, 2016, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

[9] "June 5, 2012, Presidential Primary Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

[10] "November 6, 2012, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

[11] "Official Canvass - State Senator - 15th Senate District* - Special Primary Election, June 22, 2010" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

[12] "November 4, 2008, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

[13] "November 2, 2004, Presidential General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

[14] "November 7, 2000, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

[15] "November 5, 1996, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

[16] "November 3, 1992, General Election - State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 31, 2025.

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