California state legislative special elections, 2015

2016 →

<- 2014

2015 State Legislative
Special Elections

* * *

States
Arkansas • California
Connecticut • Delaware • Florida
Georgia • Iowa
Kentucky • Louisiana
Maine • Massachusetts • Michigan
Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri
New Hampshire • New Jersey
New York • Oklahoma
Pennsylvania • Rhode Island
South Carolina • Tennessee
Texas • Utah
Virginia • Washington
Wisconsin

* * *

Other 2015 Election coverage
Filing deadlines • Statewide elections
State legislative elections
Gubernatorial elections • Ballot measures

## Contents

* 1 Breakdown of 2015 special elections
* 2 How vacancies are filled
* 3 Special elections
* 3.1 May 19, 2015
* 4 See also
* 5 Footnotes

In 2015, three seats were vacated and filled by special elections in the California State Legislature. The following districts had a vacancy in 2015:

* State Senate District 7: The seat was vacant following Mark DeSaulnier's (D) election to Congress.
* State Senate District 21: The seat was vacant following Stephen Knight's (R) election to Congress.
* State Senate District 37: The seat was vacant following Mimi Walters's (R) election to Congress.

#### Breakdown of 2015 special elections[edit]

In 2015, the reasons prompting state legislative special elections were as follows:

* 38 due to appointment, election or seeking election to another position
* 14 due to a retirement
* 15 due to the incumbent accepting another job
* 1 due to an invalidated 2014 election result
* 1 due to a disqualification in the 2014 elections
* 9 due to a death
* 6 due to legal issues
* 3 due to moving
* 2 due to filling a remaining term

The partisan breakdown for vacancies were as follows:

* 42 Democratic seats
* 46 Republican seats
* 1 Independent seat

Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not total vacant seats.

Partisan Change from Special Elections

Party  | As of Vacancy  | After Special Election
| Democratic Party | 42  | 38*
| Republican Party | 46  | 50*
| Independent  | 1  | 1
Total |  89  |  89

*In 2015, Democrats lost nine seats in special elections, but gained six seats. Republicans lost five seats in special elections, but gained eight seats.
*Although Edwin Gomes won election to the Connecticut State Senate as a Working Families Party candidate, after swearing in he was listed as a Democratic senator.
*Although Diane Richardson won election to the New York State Assembly as a Working Families Party candidate, after swearing in she was listed as a Democratic representative.
*Although Jay Mathis won election to the Mississippi House of Representatives as a Nonpartisan candidate, after swearing in he was listed as a Republican representative.

#### How vacancies are filled[edit]

If there is a vacancy in the California State Legislature, the governor must call for a special election. The governor must call the election within 14 calendar days of the vacancy. No special election shall be held if the vacancy occurs after the nominating deadline has passed in the final year of the term of office.[1]

See sources: California Code, 1773 and California Cons. Art. IV, § 2

## Special elections[edit]

### May 19, 2015[edit]

☑ California State Senate District 7|

|

See also: California state legislative special elections, 2015

Susan Bonilla (D) and Steve Glazer (D) advanced past Joan Buchanan (D) and Terry Kremin (D) in the primary election on March 17.[2][3] Glazer defeated Bonilla in the special election on May 19.[4] Michaela M. Hertle (R) withdrew from the race shortly after the official candidate list came out.[5]

The seat was vacant following Mark DeSaulnier's (D) election to Congress.[6]

A special election for the position of California State Senate District 7 was called for May 19. A primary election took place on March 17, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 23, 2015.[7]

| California State Senate, District 7, Special Election, 2015

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Democratic  | Steve Glazer | 54.5% | 68,996
| Democratic  |  Susan Bonilla  | 45.5% | 57,491
Total Votes | 126,487

March 17 Primary election candidates:

Susan Bonilla a
Joan Buchanan
Steve Glazer a
Terry Kremin

Note: Michaela M. Hertle (R) filed to run but withdrew from the election shortly after the official candidate list was released.[5]

May 19 Special election candidates:

Susan Bonilla
Steve Glazer
☑ California State Senate District 21|

|

See also: California state legislative special elections, 2015

Sharon Runner (R) was unopposed in the primary election on March 17.[8] Because she was the only candidate, the special election on May 19 was called off.

The seat was vacant following Stephen Knight's (R) election to Congress.[6]

A special election for the position of California State Senate District 21 was initially called for May 19. A primary election took place on March 17, 2015. Because there was only one candidate, the special election scheduled for May 19 was not necessary. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 23, 2015.[7]

March 17 Primary election candidates:

Sharon Runner
☑ California State Senate District 37|

|

See also: California state legislative special elections, 2015

John Moorlach (R) defeated Donald P. Wagner (R) and Naz Namazi (R) in the primary election on March 17.[9][10][11]

The seat was vacant following Mimi Walters' (R) election to Congress.[6]

A special election for the position of California State Senate District 37 was called for May 19. A primary election took place on March 17, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 23, 2015.[7]

| California State Senate, District 37, Special Election, 2015

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | John M. W. Moorlach | 51.4% | 38,125
| Republican  |  Donald P. Wagner  | 45.1% | 33,411
| Republican  |  Naz Namazi  | 3.5% | 2,621
Total Votes | 74,157

## See also[edit]

* State legislative special elections, 2015
* California State Senate elections, 2014
* California State Assembly elections, 2014
* California State Senate elections, 2012
* California State Assembly elections, 2012
* California State Legislature
* California state legislative special elections: 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ California Legislative Information, "California Code," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute, 1773-California Government Code)
2. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed January 28, 2015
3. ↑ The Sacramento Bee, "Democrats Steve Glazer, Susan Bonilla proceed to Senate runoff," March 17, 2015
4. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Special General Election, May 19, 2015," accessed June 8, 2015
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Vallejo Times-Herald, "Lone Republican quits East Bay state Senate election," February 2, 2015
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Los Angeles Times, "Gov. Brown calls special election for three vacant state Senate seats," January 13, 2015
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 California Secretary of State, "Special election calendar," accessed January 14, 2015
8. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed January 28, 2015
9. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed January 28, 2015
10. ↑ The Washington Times, "2 Republicans headed for runoff in OC state Senate primary," March 18, 2015
11. ↑ Orange County, "Orange County Results for Election, District 37," accessed April 6, 2015

State legislatures

Legislatures

Alabama (H, S) · Alaska (H, S) · Arizona (H, S) · Arkansas (H, S) · California (A, S) · Colorado (H, S) · Connecticut (H, S) · Delaware (H, S) · Florida (H, S) · Georgia (H, S) · Hawaii (H, S) · Idaho (H, S) · Illinois (H, S) · Indiana (H, S) · Iowa (H, S) · Kansas (H, S) · Kentucky (H, S) · Louisiana (H, S) · Maine (H, S) · Maryland (H, S) · Massachusetts (H, S) · Michigan (H, S) · Minnesota (H, S) · Mississippi (H, S) · Missouri (H, S) · Montana (H, S) · Nebraska · Nevada (A, S) · New Hampshire (H, S) · New Jersey (GA, S) · New Mexico (H, S) · New York (A, S) · North Carolina (H, S) · North Dakota (H, S) · Ohio (H, S) · Oklahoma (H, S) · Oregon (H, S) · Pennsylvania (H, S) · Rhode Island (H, S) · South Carolina (H, S) · South Dakota (H, S) · Tennessee (H, S) · Texas (H, S) · Utah (H, S) · Vermont (H, S) · Virginia (H, S) · Washington (H, S) · West Virginia (H, S) · Wisconsin (A, S) · Wyoming (H, S)

2026

State legislative elections (2026) • State legislative special elections (2026) • Primary dates and filing requirements • 2026 Session Dates

2025

State legislative elections (2025) • State legislative special elections (2025) • Primary dates and filing requirements • 2025 Session Dates

Historical elections

2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000

Features of state legislatures

How vacancies are filled in state legislatures • States with a full-time legislature • State legislatures with term limits • Comparison of state legislative salaries • When state legislators assume office after a general election • Population represented by state legislators • State constitutional articles governing state legislatures • State legislative sessions • Resign-to-run law • State legislature candidate requirements by state • Official names of state legislatures • State legislative chambers that use multi-member districts • Factors Affecting Competitiveness in State Legislative Elections

State senates

Length of terms of state senators • State senators • Partisan composition of state senates • State senators sorted by year first elected

State houses

Length of terms of state representatives • State representatives • Partisan composition of state houses • State representatives sorted by year first elected

Leadership positions

President of the Senate • President Pro Tempore • Senate Majority Leader • Senate Minority Leader • House Majority Leader • House Minority Leader • State Speaker of the House

Ballotpedia

About

Overview • What people are saying • Support Ballotpedia • Contact • Contribute • Job opportunities

* * *

Executive: Leslie Graves, Founder and CEO • Gwen Beattie, Chief Operating Officer

Communications: Alison Graves, Director of Communications • Carley Allensworth • Abigail Campbell • Sarah Groat • Nathaniel Harwood • Dillon Redmond
External Relations:  Geoff Pallay, Director of External Relations • Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy • Ashley Fleming • Thomas Mardik • Hannah Nelson
Operations: Meghann Olshefski, Director of Operations • Amanda Herbert • Mandy Morris • Caroline Presnell • Kelly Rindfleisch
Tech: Matt Latourelle, Director of Technology Operations • Ryan Burch • Kirsten Corrao • Beth Dellea • Travis Eden • Tate Kamish • Margaret Kearney • Eric Lotto • Joseph Sanchez • Mary Susmitha

Contributors: Scott Rasmussen

* * *

Editorial Content

Josh Altic, Director of Content • Daniel Anderson, Associate Director of Elections & Data • Cory Eucalitto, Associate Director of Features • Ryan Byrne, Managing Editor of Ballot Measures • Mandy McConnell, Managing Editor of News • Doug Kronaizl, Managing Editor of Local Expansion • Abbey Smith, Managing Editor of Elections • Janie Valentine, Managing Editor of Law • Joel Williams, Managing Editor of Events • Joseph Greaney, Managing Editor of Policy • Andrew Bahl • Jaclyn Beran • Marielle Bricker • Joseph Brusgard • Emma Burlingame • Kelly Coyle • Jon Dunn • Victoria Edwards • Thomas Ellis • Nicole Fisher • Thomas Grobben • Brianna Hosea • Molly Kehoe • Tyler King • Glorie Martinez • Norm Leahy, Senior Editor • Nathan Maxwell • Brandon McCauley • Andrew McNair • Ellie Mikus • Mackenzie Murphy • Kaley Platek • Samantha Post • Adam Powell • Annelise Reinwald • Spencer Richardson • Victoria Rose • Briana Ryan • Myj Saintyl • Maddy Salucka • Emma Soukup • Alexis Thacker • Mina Vogel • Samuel Wonacott • Trenton Woodcox • Heather Yates