California's 37th senatorial district explained

California's 37th senatorial district is one of 40 California State Senate districts. It is currently represented by of .

District profile

The district encompasses central Orange County, centered on the city of Irvine. The district contains a mix of coastal beaches, suburban sprawl, and the Santa Ana Mountains.

Orange County

• Fullerton
• Irvine
• Laguna Niguel
• Laguna Woods
• Lake Forest
• Orange
• Placentia
• Santa Ana
  • Tustin Villa Park
• Yorba Linda

Election results from statewide races

Year	Office	Results
2022	Governor	Newsom 50.7 – 49.3%
	Senator	Padilla 52.0 - 48.0%
2021	Recall	align="right" No 52.5 – 47.5%
2020	President	Biden 54.3 – 43.6%
2018	Governor	Newsom 50.2 – 49.8%
	Senator	Feinstein 54.1 – 45.9%
2016	President	Clinton 50.0 – 44.0%
	Senator	Harris 59.0 – 41.0%
2014	Governor	Kashkari 57.7 – 42.3%
2012	President	Romney 53.7 – 43.9%
	Senator	Emken 54.6 – 45.4%

List of senators representing the district

Senators	Party	Years served	Electoral history	Counties represented
District established January 3, 1887
George Steele		Republican	January 3, 1887 – January 7, 1889	Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1886. Retired.	San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Venutra
E. H. Heacock		Republican	January 7, 1889 – January 2, 1893	Elected in 1888.
John R. Mathews		Democratic	January 2, 1893 – January 25, 1896	Elected in 1892. Resigned.	Los Angeles
Vacant		January 25, 1896 – January 4, 1897
Robert N. Bulla		Republican	January 4, 1897 – January 1, 1901	Elected in 1896.
Frederick M. Smith		Republican	January 1, 1901 – January 2, 1905	Elected in 1900.
100px Henry E. Carter		Republican	January 2, 1905 – January 4, 1909	Elected in 1904.
Henry M. Hurd		Republican	January 4, 1909 – January 6, 1913	Elected in 1908.
William E. Brown		Republican	January 6, 1913 – January 3, 1921	Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1916.
Newton M. Allen		Republican	January 3, 1921 – January 7, 1929	Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1924.
George W. Rochester		Republican	January 7, 1929 – January 2, 1933	Elected in 1928.
Leonard J. Difani		Republican	January 2, 1933 – January 4, 1937	Elected in 1932. Lost renomination.	Riverside
John R. Phillips		Republican	January 4, 1937 – November 15, 1942	Elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1940. Resigned to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Vacant		November 15, 1942 – January 8, 1945
Nelson S. Dilworth		Republican	January 8, 1945 – January 2, 1961	Elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1956. Retired.
Lee Backstrand		Republican	January 2, 1961 – April 26, 1964	Elected in 1960. Won renomination, then died.
Vacant		April 26, 1964 – January 4, 1965
Gordon Cologne		Republican	January 4, 1965 – January 2, 1967	Replaced Backstrand on ballot and elected in 1964. Redistricted to the 36th district.
George Deukmejian		Republican	January 2, 1967 – November 30, 1976	Elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1972. Redistricted to the 31st district.	Los Angeles
Paul B. Carpenter		Democratic	December 6, 1976 – November 30, 1984	Elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1980. Redistricted to the 33rd district.	Orange
Marian Bergeson		Republican	December 3, 1984 – November 30, 1992	Elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1988. Redistricted to the 35th district.	Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Diego
David G. Kelley		Republican	December 7, 1992 – November 30, 2000	Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1992. Retired to run for State Assembly.	Imperial, Riverside, San Diego
Jim Battin	Republican	December 4, 2000 – November 30, 2008	Elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2004. Retired due to term limits.
Riverside
	John J. Benoit		Republican	December 1, 2008 – November 30, 2009	Elected in 2008. Resigned to become a member of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.
	Vacant		November 30, 2009 – June 9, 2010
	Bill Emmerson		Republican	June 9, 2010 – November 30, 2012	Elected to finish Benoit's term. Redistricted to the 23rd district.
Mimi Walters		Republican	December 3, 2012 – January 3, 2015	Redistricted from the 33rd district and re-elected in 2012. Retired to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.	Orange
Vacant		January 3, 2015 – March 22, 2015
John Moorlach		Republican	March 22, 2015 – November 30, 2020	Elected to finish vacant term. Re-elected in 2016. Lost re-election.
Dave Min		Democratic	December 7, 2020 – November 30, 2024	Elected in 2020. Retired to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Steven Choi		Democratic	December 2, 2024 – present	Elected in 2024.

Election results

1992

See also

• California State Senate
• California State Senate districts
• Districts in California

External links

• District map from the California Citizens Redistricting Commission

Notes and References

1. Web site: Citizens Redistricting Commission Final Report, 2011.
2. Web site: Report of Registration as of October 3, 2023.