Mark_Meuser

2022 United States Senate elections in California

2022 United States Senate elections in California

Class III senate seat election


Two 2022 United States Senate elections in California were held concurrently on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of California. There were two ballot items for the same Class 3 seat: a special election to fill the seat for the final weeks of the 117th United States Congress (ending on January 3, 2023), and a general election for a full term (beginning on the same day), starting in the 118th United States Congress.

Quick Facts Candidate, Party ...

Incumbent Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was appointed in 2021 by Governor Gavin Newsom to fill the vacancy created by Kamala Harris's election to the vice presidency in 2020, and he sought a full term.[1][2] A jungle primary for each of the terms took place on June 7.[3] The top two candidates in each primary, regardless of party, advanced to the special and regular general elections in November. With his advancement out of the primary, Mark P. Meuser (/ˈmɔɪʒər/ MOY-zhər) became the first Republican since 2012 to advance to the general election, as both the 2016 and 2018 Senate elections solely featured Democrats as the top two candidates. This race was a rematch between the two, as both had previously run for the secretary of state in 2018. Padilla easily won both elections.[4] Padilla became the first Latino elected to the U.S. Senate from California, and the first male elected to the Senate from California since Pete Wilson was re-elected in 1988 and the first male elected to the Class 3 Senate seat from California since Alan Cranston was re-elected in 1986.[5] This was the first time since 1988 where both major party nominees for a Senate seat in California were men and was also the first time where both major party nominees for the Class 3 Senate seat in California were men since 1986.

This was the best performance for a Republican candidate in a California Senate election since 2010.

Candidates

Democratic Party

Advanced to general

Eliminated in primary

  • Akinyemi Agbede, mathematician[7]
  • Dan O'Dowd, founder and president of Green Hills Software and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1994[8]
  • Douglas Howard Pierce, businessman and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018[7]
  • Obaidul Huq Pirjada, attorney[7]
  • Timothy J. Ursich, doctor[7]

Declined

Republican Party

Advanced to general

  • Mark P. Meuser, attorney and candidate for California Secretary of State in 2018[7]

Eliminated in primary

  • James P. Bradley, businessman, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018, and candidate for California's 33rd congressional district in 2020[7]
  • Jon Elist, small business owner[7]
  • Myron L. Hall, physician[7]
  • Sarah Sun Liew, entrepreneur[7]
  • Robert George Lucero Jr., consultant[7]
  • Enrique Petris, businessman[7]
  • Chuck Smith, retired law enforcement officer[7]
  • Carlos Guillermo Tapia, businessman[7]
  • Cordie Williams, marine veteran and doctor[7]
  • Lijun Zhou, businesswoman (write-in, general election only)[11]

Withdrawn

Green Party

Eliminated in primary

Peace and Freedom Party

Eliminated in primary

No party preference

Eliminated in primary

Endorsements

James P. Bradley (R)
Individuals
Mark Meuser (R)
Newspapers
Organizations
Alex Padilla (D)
U.S. Senators
Statewide officials
U.S. Representatives
Organizations
Newspapers
Stonewall Democrats clubs
  • Stonewall Democrats[37]
  • Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club (San Francisco)[38]
  • East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club (Berkeley)[39]
  • Fresno Stonewall Democrats[40]
  • Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club (San Francisco)[41]
  • San Diego Democrats for Equality[42]
John Parker (P&F)

Primary elections

Campaign

Incumbent senator Alex Padilla was appointed to the job in January 2021 following Kamala Harris's election to the office of Vice President of the United States.[43] Following his appointment, Padilla quickly began to focus on his 2022 election campaign, as the fact that he has not been elected to the position means that he has a relatively low profile.[9] Padilla's election strategy focused on advocating for progressive policies and building ties with left-wing organizations that had a poor relationship with California's other Senator, Dianne Feinstein.[9][44] The potential Democratic opponent to Padilla considered most likely to join the race was U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, a staunchly left-wing Democrat who rose to prominence as the co-chair of the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign, and who had a loyal base of support from California's Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities.[9][10] On August 9, 2021, Khanna announced that he would be endorsing Padilla for election, which was viewed as likely ending any possibility that Padilla would face a serious Democratic opponent.[45] It was noted by the San Francisco Chronicle that it was considered unlikely that Padilla would face any serious Republican opponent, as California's heavily Democratic lean caused potentially strong candidates, such as U.S. Representatives Mike Garcia and Young Kim, to prefer to remain in their positions rather than launch a long-shot Senate run.[46]

In April 2022, billionaire businessman Dan O'Dowd entered the race, launching a $650,000 ad campaign.[8] O'Dowd's goal with this ad buy, and with entering the race in the first place, was to "make computers safe for humanity"[47][48] and draw the attention of the public and politicians to the dangers of Tesla's unfinished Full Self-Driving software being rolled out to 100,000 cars on public roads.[49]

Special election blanket primary

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...

Results

Results by county
  Padilla
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Meuser
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
More information Party, Candidate ...

Regular election blanket primary

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...

Results

Results by county
  Padilla
  •   20–30%
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Meuser
  •   20–30%
More information Party, Candidate ...

General elections

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...

Polling

Special election
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Regular election
More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
More information Party, Candidate ...

By county

More information By county, County ...

By congressional district

Padilla won 42 of 52 congressional districts in the regular election, including two that elected Republicans.[63]

More information District, Padilla ...

See also

Notes

  1. In January 2021, Padilla was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Kamala Harris, who had elected Vice President of the United States.
  2. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  3. Garcia is listed on the ballot as a "no party preference" candidate because the Socialist Workers Party did not have ballot access in California at the time the ballot was printed.[51]
  4. Grundmann is listed on the ballot as a "no party preference" candidate because the Constitution Party did not have ballot access in California at the time the ballot was printed.[52]

References

  1. Wilson, Reid (September 28, 2021). "California rule change means Padilla faces extra election". The Hill. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  2. Willon, Phil; McGreevy, Patrick (December 22, 2020). "Alex Padilla becomes California's first Latino U.S. senator, replacing Kamala Harris". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  3. "Statewide Direct Primary Election - June 7, 2022". California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  4. "Alex Padilla makes history as first Latino elected to U.S. Senate from California". Los Angeles Times. November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  5. "Primary Election - June 7, 2022". Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  6. Cadelago, Christopher (April 16, 2022). "He wants to destroy Elon Musk. He could end up endangering the Dems' Senate plans". Politico. Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  7. Marinucci, Carla (August 9, 2021). "Khanna won't challenge Padilla for Senate, ends intraparty threat from left". Politico. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  8. "Official Certified List of Write-In Candidates - June 7, 2022" (PDF). California Secretary of State. May 27, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  9. "FILING FEC-1503114". fec.gov. March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  10. Taub, David (December 17, 2021). "Heng Enters House Race Even as the Lines Keep Changing". GV Wire. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  11. "Yvonne For US Senate 2022". Yvonne For US Senate 2022. February 26, 2007. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  12. "News-Press announces its election endorsements". newspress.com. October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  13. Mehta, Seema (April 24, 2022). "California GOP endorses Brian Dahle for governor despite controversy over payment to party". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  14. "Mark Meuser's Ratings and Endorsements". justfacts.votesmart.org. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  15. "Rebuild California Endorsements 2022 Primary Election". www.rebuildcalifornia.com. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  16. "Alex Padilla Endorsements". alex-padilla.com. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  17. "Elections 2022". California Teachers Association.
  18. "Election Center". Equality California. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  19. "Endorsements". NARAL Pro-Choice California. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  20. "OUR RECOMMENDED CANDIDATES". Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  21. "Por Alex Padilla para el Senado federal". La Opinión (in Spanish). May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  22. "Endorsement: The nation needs Alex Padilla in the U.S. Senate". Los Angeles Times. September 29, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  23. "This U.S. Senate candidate is hard at work for California. Voters should look no further". www.fresnobee.com. October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  24. "Endorsement: Alex Padilla for U.S. Senate". www.ocregister.com. August 25, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  25. "Editorial: Alex Padilla is the standout choice for U.S. Senate". www.marinij.com. September 26, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  26. "California US Senator Alex Padilla deserves a full term". www.sanluisobispo.com. October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  27. "Endorsements". www.stonewalldems.org. Stonewall Democrats. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  28. "Endorsements". Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  29. "East Bay Stonewall - Endorsements". www.eastbaystonewalldemocrats.org. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  30. "Endorsements". Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  31. "2022 Endorsements". San Diego Democrats for Equality. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  32. Deruy, Emily (January 18, 2021). "Alex Padilla: 5 things to know about California's new senator". Mercury News. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  33. Garofoli, Joe (June 16, 2021). "Progressives fed up with Feinstein, want her to resign now". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  34. Garofoli, Joe (August 9, 2021). "Khanna considered challenging Padilla, but now he's endorsing him for Senate". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  35. Wildermuth, John (December 19, 2020). "Can California GOP find a Senate candidate in 2022? If not, Alex Padilla could be set for years". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  36. Korosec, Kirsten (April 20, 2022). "Billionaire's Senate run focuses on banning 'self-driving' Tesla's". techcrunch.com.
  37. Loveday, Steven (April 18, 2022). "Elon Musk Says Tesla's FSD Now Has over 100,000 Beta Testers". Insideevs.com.
  38. Stone, Betsey (February 7, 2022). "Socialist Workers Party conference launches 2022 California campaign". The Militant. Vol. 86, no. 5. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  39. "2022 Senate Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  40. "Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  41. "2022 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  42. "2022 Election Forecast". Fox News. May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  43. "2022 Election Forecast". DDHQ. July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  44. "2022 Election Forecast". FiveThirtyEight. June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  45. "Economist's 2022 Senate forecast". The Economist. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  46. "General Election - Statement of the Vote, November 8, 2022" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  47. Results. docs.google.com (Report).

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