California’s thirty-third state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Lena Gonzalez.

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

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.

2019

A special election for District 33 of the California State Senate was called for June 4, 2019. A primary election took place on March 26, 2019. Candidates wishing to run in this election were required to file by January 31, 2019.

The seat became vacant after Ricardo Lara (D) was elected to serve as the insurance commissioner of California.

2016

Elections for the California State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2016, for candidates filing with signatures. The deadline for candidates using a filing fee to qualify was March 11, 2016.

Incumbent Ricardo Lara defeated Honor "Mimi" Robson in the California State Senate District 33 general election.

California State Senate, District 33 General Election, 2016

Incumbent Ricardo Lara and Honor "Mimi" Robson were unopposed in the California State Senate District 33 Blanket primary.

California State Senate, District 33 Blanket Primary, 2016

2012

Elections for the office of California State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 5, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 9, 2012. Incumbent Ricardo Lara defeated Peace and Freedom Party candidate Lee H. Chauser in the general election. Lara ran unopposed in the June 5 blanket primary.

California State Senate, District 33, General Election, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for California State Senate District 33 raised a total of $7,318,603. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $457,413 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, California State Senate District 33