California State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022
California Senate District 35
A district of about 927,000 people, 61% Hispanic and 20% Black, 21% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+51.0 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Laura Richardson (D) · won50.6%
- Michelle Chambers (D)49.4%
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. 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 | Laura Richardson (D) | Michelle Chambers (D) | 1.1 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Steven Bradford (D) | Anthony Perry (I) | 45.0 |
| 2016 | Steven Bradford (D) | Warren Furutani (D) | 7.1 |
| 2012 | Roderick Wright (D) | Charlotte Svolos (R) | 53.0 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | Tom Harman (R) | Ginny Mayer (D) | 17.1 |
| 2004 | John Campbell (R) | Rita B. Siebert (D) | 32.2 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2000 | Ross Johnson (R) | Steve Ray (D) | 27.2 |
| 1996 | Ross Johnson (R) | Madelene Arakelian (D) | 27.0 |
| 1992 | Marian Bergeson (R) | Dorianne Garcia (D) | 29.5 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | John Seymour (R) | Mike Balmages (D) | 52.0 |
| 1984 | John Seymour (R) | Jan Mark Dudman (D) | 51.5 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1980 | John V. Briggs (R) | Louis D. Velasquez (D) | 31.3 |
| 1976 | John V. Briggs (R) | Paul Bell (D) | 16.2 |
| 1972 | James E. Whetmore (R) | Otto J. Lacayo (D) | 29.5 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1968 | James E. Whetmore (R) | Gordon T. Shepard (D) | 36.3 |
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 35
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 35'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 35.
Lower than 90% of seats.
Lowest of 40 seats.
Higher than 77% of seats.
Highest of 40 seats.
Lower than 72% of seats.
Denser than 92% 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 2847% Hispanic · 38% college gradsD+64.2Held DDistrict 33
65% Hispanic · 24% college gradsD+40.9Not up in 2026District 8
27% Hispanic · 33% college gradsD+35.6Held DDistrict 7
27% Hispanic · 51% college gradsD+76.6Not up in 2026
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