California State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022
California Senate District 15
A district of about 992,000 people, 35% Hispanic and 32% Asian, 45% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+38.3 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Dave Cortese (D) · won68.6%
- Robert Paul Howell (R)31.4%
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:13 PM ET
Where it sits among all 40 seats
Every California State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.
Democratic
Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET
Every election for this seat
15 races since 1968; the seat changed party 2 times. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2022 | |||
| 2024 | Dave Cortese (D) | Robert Paul Howell (R) | 37.2 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Dave Cortese (D) | Ann M. Ravel (D) | 9.6 |
| 2016 | Jim Beall Jr. (D) | Nora Campos (D) | 25.1 |
| 2012 | Jim Beall Jr. (D) | Joe Coto (D) | 13.5 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | Abel Maldonado (R) | Jim Fitzgerald (I) | 25.8 |
| 2004 | Abel Maldonado (R) | Peg Pinard (D) | 10.1 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2000 | Bruce McPherson (R) | Anselmo A. Chavez (D) | 15.0 |
| 1996 | Bruce McPherson (R)Flip | Rusty Areias (D) | 1.4 |
| 1992 | Henry J. Mello (D) | Edward Laverone (R) | 24.3 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | Rose Ann Vuich (D) | — | Unopposed |
| 1984 | Rose Ann Vuich (D) | Patrick M. King (R) | 51.7 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1980 | Rose Ann Vuich (D) | Fay G. Adams (R) | 44.5 |
| 1976 | Rose Ann Vuich (D)Flip | Ernest N. Mobley (R) | 1.7 |
| 1972 | Howard Way (R) | Herbert R. Davis (D) | 24.3 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1968 | Howard Way (R) | John Eneca (D) | 11.3 |
Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Districts that overlap District 15
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 15's area in each.
Who lives here, compared
Grey bars show the spread of all 40 seats. Small marks are other seats in California. The black marker is District 15.
Higher than 72% of seats.
Lower than 72% of seats.
Lower than 54% of seats.
Lower than 72% of seats.
Higher than 95% of seats.
Less dense than 62% of seats.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET
Seats most like this one
Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.
District 2527% Hispanic · 48% college gradsD+26.8Not up in 2026District 9
25% Hispanic · 46% college gradsD+41.3Not up in 2026District 13
65% college gradsD+55.5Not up in 2026District 24
65% college gradsD+39.2Held D
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET