State Senator in California

A nonpartisan guide to State Senator in California. Find candidates and elected officials who have turned down partisan and big-money influence.
Election date
November 3, 2026
22
Days until election
Filing opensFiling deadlineElection day

On the ballot

40 candidates filed so far
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Candidates for State Senator

Learn about candidates who have filed to run for State Senator.

What this symbol means

Candidates and elected officials with this symbol took the GoodParty.org Pledge, promising to serve people first, independent of both major parties and big-money interests.

Who's currently in office

Learn about who represents you in California.

What this symbol means

Candidates and elected officials with this symbol took the GoodParty.org Pledge, promising to serve people first, independent of both major parties and big-money interests.

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About State Senator

About this position

State Senators are members of the state's upper chamber, as part of the state's bicameral legislature. State senators are responsible for voting on: bills related to public policy matters, levels for state spending, raises or decreases in taxes, and whether to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.
Office level
State
Election frequency
Every 4 years
Typical salary
$114,877/year
Commitment level
Full Time
Affiliation
Partisan
Positions
1 open seat

Election type

  • CheckPartisan election (party labels appear on ballots)
  • Run-off election

How to run for State Senator

  1. User Round
    Step 1

    Meet eligibility requirements

    An elector and a resident of the legislative district for one year, and a citizen of the United States and a resident of California for 3 years, immediately preceding the election

  2. File Text
    Step 2

    File for office

    Filing requirements
    Filing fee is 1% of salary or in lieu of filing fees; signature requirement of 2000 signatures
    Filing period
    February 9, 2026 - March 6, 2026
    Paperwork instructions
    Submit paperwork to the Secretary of State's Office.
    Where to file
    Office of the Secretary of State, 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, California 95814
    Filing phone
    916-653-6814
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    Step 3

    Launch your campaign

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Need help? You don't have to run alone. Join the GoodParty.org Community to get advice from real independents who have run and won.

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Guide

How to Run for State Legislature

A step-by-step guide to running for State Senator as an independent candidate, from deciding to run to election night.

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2026 Political Campaign Playbook

Your guide to launching a local campaign in 2026, with advice from winning candidates across the country.

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More offices in California

Explore offices coming up for election near you:

StateState Representative6 independents runningNov 3, 2026StateLieutenant Governor1 independent runningNov 3, 2026StateGovernor4 independents runningNov 3, 2026StateState Supreme Court Justice - RetentionNov 3, 2026StateState Superintendent of SchoolsNov 3, 2026StateState Attorney GeneralNov 3, 2026StateState Insurance Commissioner/Fire Safety Commissioner (Joint)Nov 3, 2026StateState Comptroller-ControllerNov 3, 2026

About this guide

GoodParty.org is a nonpartisan organization that helps people run for local office without backing from a political party. This voter guide shows you every race and candidate in one place. Candidates who take the GoodParty.org Pledge get a heart-and-star badge next to their name and can edit their own profiles.

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