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California, State Senate, District 40

California State Senate District 40
Current incumbentBen Hueso Democratic Party
Voting age71.4% age 18 and over

California’s fortieth state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Ben Hueso.

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 40

Incumbent Ben Hueso (D) defeated Luis R. Vargas (R) in the general election for California State Senate District 40 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Ben Hueso (D)
65.9
152,896

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Luis R. Vargas (R)
34.1
79,207

Total votes: 232,103
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Primary election
Primary for California State Senate District 40

Incumbent Ben Hueso and Luis R. Vargas advanced from the primary for California State Senate District 40 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Ben Hueso (D)
60.1
70,649

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Luis R. Vargas (R)
39.9
46,850

Total votes: 117,499

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. Incumbent Ben Hueso (D) and Rafael Estrada (D) defeated write-in candidate Michael Diaz (R) in the blanket primary. Hueso defeated Estrada in the general election.

California State Senate, District 40, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBen Hueso Incumbent 54.9% 58,880
Democratic Rafael Estrada 45.1% 48,397
Total Votes 107,277

California State Senate, District 40 Blanket Primary, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBen Hueso Incumbent 71.8% 45,249
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngRafael Estrada 27.9% 17,547
Republican Michael Diaz (Write-in) 0.3% 188
Total Votes 62,984

2013

Ben Hueso won a special election for California State Senate District 40. The seat was vacant following Juan Vargas's (D) election to the 51st Congressional District of California on November 6, 2012. Hueso (D) defeated Anna Nevenic (D), Hector Gastelum (R) and Xanthi Gionis (R) in the special election on March 12, 2013.

California State Senate, District 40, Special Election, 2013

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBen Hueso 53.1% 29,367
Democratic Anna Nevenic 10.4% 5,740
Republican Hector Gastelum 21.6% 11,951
Republican Xanthi Gionis 14.9% 8,243
Total Votes 55,301

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2014, candidates for California State Senate District 40 raised a total of $10,613,719. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $663,357 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, California State Senate District 40

Year Amount Candidates Average
2014 $570,962 3 $190,321
2012 $198,164 1 $198,164
2010 $1,976,399 3 $658,800
2008 $1,747 1 $1,747
2006 $664,497 3 $221,499
2004 $407,488 1 $407,488
2002 $6,593,212 3 $2,197,737
2000 $201,250 1 $201,250
Total $10,613,719 16 $663,357