Elections were held in California on November 3, 2020. Unlike previous election cycles, the primary elections were held on Super Tuesday, March 3, 2020.

In addition to the U.S. presidential race, California voters elected all of California's seats to the House of Representatives, all of the seats of the State Assembly, and all odd-numbered seats of the State Senate. Neither of the state's two U.S. Senate seats were up for election in 2020.

Pursuant to Proposition 14 passed in 2010, California uses a nonpartisan blanket primary for almost all races, with the presidential primary races being the notable exception. Under the nonpartisan blanket primary system, all the candidates for the same elected office, regardless of respective political party, run against each other at once during the primary. The candidates receiving the most and second-most votes in the primary election then become the contestants in the general election.

President of the United States

California, a stronghold for the Democratic Party, has 55 electoral votes in the Electoral College. Joe Biden won with 63% of the popular vote. On December 14, 2020, California cast its electoral votes for Joe Biden.

United States House of Representatives

There are 53 U.S. Representatives in California that were all up for election. The Democratic Party won 42 seats while the Republican Party won 11 seats. Three districts were gained by the Republican Party: the 21st, 39th, and 48th.

State Senate

The 20 California State Senators in the odd-numbered districts were up for election. Out of the contested seats, Democrats won 17 and Republicans won 3. The resulting composition was 31 Democrats and 9 Republicans. Two districts were gained by the Democratic Party: the 29th and 37th.

State Assembly

All 80 representatives in the California State Assembly were up for election. The resulting composition was 60 Democrats, 19 Republicans, and one independent. The Republican Party gained the 38th district.

Propositions Since the passage of a November 2011 law, only propositions placed on the ballot by the state legislature may appear on the primary ballot, and all qualifying measures placed via petition are automatically moved to the general election ballot.

Primary election Proposition 13: "Public Preschool, K-12, and College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2020" (Assembly Bill 48) Prop 13 was a $15 billion bond measure to fund seismic retrofitting and other capital improvements on various California public preschool, K-12, and college campuses. Supporters argued that these improvements would make public schools safer and healthier. Opponents said that the actual total cost of the bonds plus interest would exceed $27 billion, more expensive than using funds directly from the regular state budget. It failed by a margin of 6 percentage points.

General election Twelve state propositions were on the ballot. +2020 California propositions (November)NameDescriptionVotesTypeYes%No%Proposition 14Issues $5.5 billion in bonds for the state stem cell research institute. 8,588,156 51.128,211,69248.88 Citizen-initiated state statuteProposition 15Increases government and education funding by requiring commercial and industrial properties to be taxed based on market value.8,212,64148.03 8,885,052 51.97 Citizen-initiated constitutional amendmentProposition 16Repeals Proposition 209 (1996) , which says that the state cannot discriminate or grant preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, or contracting.7,216,72142.77 9,655,024 57.23 Legislatively referred constitutional amendmentProposition 17Establishes the right to vote for people convicted of felonies who are on parole. 9,985,065 58.557,068,70641.45Proposition 18Allows 17-year-olds who will be 18 at the time of the next general election to vote in primaries and special elections.7,513,95743.96 9,577,238 56.04Proposition 19Allows homeowners over 55 years old or severely disabled to transfer their property tax base from their old home to their new one, regardless of the new residence's property value or location. 8,545,393 51.118,175,61848.89Proposition 20Makes changes to policies related to criminal sentencing charges, prison release, and DNA collection.6,385,42138.28 10,293,563 61.72 Citizen-initiated state statuteProposition 21Expands local governments' power to use rent control.6,770,95840.15 10,094,634 59.85Proposition 22Considers app-based drivers to be independent contractors and enacts several labor policies related to app-based companies. 9,957,858 58.637,027,46741.37Proposition 23Requires physician on-site at dialysis clinics and consent from the state for a clinic to close.6,161,10936.58 10,683,606 63.42Proposition 24Expands the provisions of the California Consumer Privacy Act and creates the California Privacy Protection Agency to implement and enforce CCPA. 9,384,125 56.237,305,02643.77Proposition 25Replaces cash bail with risk assessments for suspects awaiting trial.7,231,04443.59 9,356,096 56.41 Veto referendumSource: California Secretary of State

References

Further reading

External links Statewide Election Results from the California Secretary of State's Elections Division 2020 Primary Election 2020 General Election