California State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022
California Senate District 5
A district of about 1,032,000 people, 36% Hispanic and 22% Asian, 33% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+11.6 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Jerry McNerney (D) · won52.9%
- Jim Shoemaker (R)47.1%
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 1 time. 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 | Jerry McNerney (D) | Jim Shoemaker (R) | 5.8 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Susan Talamantes Eggman (D) | Jim Ridenour (R) | 9.8 |
| 2016 | Cathleen Galgiani (D) | Alan Nakanishi (R) | 13.4 |
| 2012 | Cathleen Galgiani (D) | Bill Berryhill (R) | 1.0 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | Lois Wolk (D) | Greg Aghazarian (R) | 29.1 |
| 2004 | Michael J. Machado (D) | Gary A. Podesto (R) | 4.4 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2000 | Michael J. Machado (D) | Alan Nakanishi (R) | 0.5 |
| 1996 | Patrick Johnston (D) | Kurt Boese (R) | 20.2 |
| 1992 | Patrick Johnston (D) | Ron Stauffer (R) | 20.1 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | John Garamendi (D) | Sam L. Lawrence (R) | 38.2 |
| 1984 | John Garamendi (D) | John W. Saunders III (R) | 41.4 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1980 | Milton Marks (R) | Eric Garris (I) | 70.8 |
| 1976 | Milton Marks (R)Flip | Bob Mendelsohn (D) | 4.6 |
| 1972 | Albert S. Rodda (D) | David R. McKinley (R) | 39.4 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1968 | Albert S. Rodda (D) | Norman D. Baldwin (R) | 28.7 |
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 5
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 5'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 5.
Lower than 59% of seats.
Higher than 62% of seats.
Higher than 54% of seats.
Higher than 72% of seats.
Higher than 79% of seats.
Less dense than 67% 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. 2 of the 4 flipped this year.
District 4027% Hispanic · 46% college gradsD+4.6Flipped DDistrict 3
31% Hispanic · 34% college gradsD+29.4Not up in 2026District 25
27% Hispanic · 48% college gradsD+26.8Not up in 2026District 36
24% Hispanic · 45% college gradsR+2.9Flipped 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