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California, State Senate, District 18

California State Senate District 18
Current incumbentRobert Hertzberg Democratic Party

California’s eighteenth state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Robert Hertzberg.

California state senators represent an average of 931,349 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 846,791 residents.

About the office

Members serve four-year terms with term limits. The terms of the senators are staggered so that half the membership is elected every two years. The senators representing odd-numbered districts are elected in years evenly divisible by four. The senators from even-numbered districts are elected in the intervening even-numbered years. California legislators assume office one month after election (December).

Qualifications

According to Article IV of the California Constitution, the candidate must be a United States Citizen, a resident of California for three years, a resident of the legislative district for one year and a registered voter in that district by the time nomination papers are filed.

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$110,459/year$192/day for each day in session.

Term limits

Since the passage of Prop 28 in 2012, legislators first elected on or after November 6, 2012, are limited to a maximum of 12 years. Prop 140, passed in 1990, affects any members elected prior to November 6, 2012, and limits them to a maximum of two four-year terms (eight years).

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the senate, the Governor must call for a special election. The election must be called by the Governor within fourteen days of the vacancy being created. No special election can be held if the vacancy happened in an election year and the nominating deadline passed.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of California State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for March 3, 2020. The filing deadline was December 6, 2019.

2018

General election
General election for California State Senate District 18

Incumbent Robert Hertzberg (D) defeated Rudy Melendez (R) in the general election for California State Senate District 18 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Robert Hertzberg (D)
78.1
195,623

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Rudy Melendez (R)
21.9
54,888

Total votes: 250,511
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Primary election
Primary for California State Senate District 18

Incumbent Robert Hertzberg and Rudy Melendez defeated Roger James Sayegh and Brandon Saario in the primary for California State Senate District 18 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Robert Hertzberg (D)
66.3
72,462

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Rudy Melendez (R)
11.5
12,564

Roger James Sayegh (D)
11.2
12,238

Brandon Saario (R)
11.0
12,048

Total votes: 109,312

2014

Elections for the California State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014. Bob Hertzberg (D) and Ricardo Antonio Benitez (R) defeated John P. "Jack" Lindblad (G) in the blanket primary. Hertzberg defeated Benitez in the general election.

California State Senate, District 18, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBob Hertzberg 70.2% 79,495
Republican Ricardo Antonio Benitez 29.8% 33,794
Total Votes 113,289

California State Senate, District 18 Blanket Primary, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBob Hertzberg 63.1% 35,338
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRicardo Antonio Benitez 29.1% 16,289
Green John P. Lindblad 7.8% 4,392
Total Votes 56,019

2010

Elections for the office of California State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 8, 2010, and a general election on November 6, 2010. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 25, 2010. Jean Fuller (R) defeated Carter N. Pope (D) in the general election. Both candidates ran unopposed in the June 8 primary.

California State Senate, District 18, General Election, 2010

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJean Fuller 68.8% 166,051
Democratic Carter N. Pope 31.2% 75,229
Total Votes 241,280

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2014, candidates for California State Senate District 18 raised a total of $5,211,611. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $400,893 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, California State Senate District 18

Year Amount Candidates Average
2014 $1,510,260 3 $503,420
2012 $492,740 1 $492,740
2010 $447,323 2 $223,662
2008 $3,885 1 $3,885
2006 $383,488 3 $127,829
2004 $258,544 1 $258,544
2002 $427,700 1 $427,700
2000 $1,687,671 1 $1,687,671
Total $5,211,611 13 $400,893