California's 37th senatorial district

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

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

• Aliso Viejo
• Anaheim Hills
• Costa Mesa
• Fullerton
• Irvine
• Laguna Niguel
• Laguna Woods
• Lake Forest
• North Tustin
• Orange
• Placentia
• Tustin
• Villa Park
• Yorba Linda

Election results from statewide races

Year	Office	Results
2022	Governor	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Newsom 50.7 – 49.3%
	Senator	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Padilla 52.0 - 48.0%
2021	Recall	align="right" Template:Na No 52.5 – 47.5%
2020	President	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Biden 54.3 – 43.6%
2018	Governor	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Newsom 50.2 – 49.8%
	Senator	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Feinstein 54.1 – 45.9%
2016	President	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Clinton 50.0 – 44.0%
	Senator	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Harris 59.0 – 41.0%
2014	Governor	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Kashkari 57.7 – 42.3%
2012	President	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Romney 53.7 – 43.9%
	Senator	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Emken 54.6 – 45.4%

List of senators representing the district

Senators	Party	Years served	Electoral history	Counties represented
District established January 3, 1887
File:George Steele, 1880s.jpg George Steele (San Luis Obispo)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	January 3, 1887 – January 7, 1889	Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1886. Retired.	San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Venutra
File:E. H. Heacock.png E. H. Heacock (Santa Barbara)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	January 7, 1889 – January 2, 1893	Elected in 1888.
John R. Mathews (Los Angeles)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |Democratic	January 2, 1893 – January 25, 1896	Elected in 1892. Resigned.	Los Angeles
Vacant		January 25, 1896 – January 4, 1897
File:Robert N. Bulla, 1895 (CHS-11377) (cropped).jpg Robert N. Bulla (Los Angeles)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	January 4, 1897 – January 1, 1901	Elected in 1896.
File:Frederick M. Smith, 1903.jpg Frederick M. Smith (Los Angeles)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	January 1, 1901 – January 2, 1905	Elected in 1900.
File:Henry E. Carter, 1907.jpg Henry E. Carter (Los Angeles)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	January 2, 1905 – January 4, 1909	Elected in 1904.
File:Henry M. Hurd, 1911.jpg Henry M. Hurd (Los Angeles)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	January 4, 1909 – January 6, 1913	Elected in 1908.
File:William E. Brown, 1911.jpg William E. Brown (Manhattan Beach)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	January 6, 1913 – January 3, 1921	Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1916.
File:Newton M. Allen, 1924.jpg Newton M. Allen (Los Angeles)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	January 3, 1921 – January 7, 1929	Elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1924.
File:George W. Rochester, 1935.jpg George W. Rochester (Los Angeles)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	January 7, 1929 – January 2, 1933	Elected in 1928.
File:Leonard J. Difani, 1936.jpg Leonard J. Difani (Riverside)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	January 2, 1933 – January 4, 1937	Elected in 1932. Lost renomination.	Riverside
File:John R. Phillips, 1942.jpg John R. Phillips (Banning)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	January 4, 1937 – November 15, 1942	Elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1940. Resigned after election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Vacant		November 15, 1942 – January 8, 1945
File:Nelson S. Dilworth, 1958.jpg Nelson S. Dilworth (Hemet)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	January 8, 1945 – January 2, 1961	Elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1956. Retired.
File:Lee Backstrand, 1963.jpg Lee Backstrand (Riverside)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	January 2, 1961 – April 26, 1964	Elected in 1960. Won renomination, then died.
Vacant		April 26, 1964 – January 4, 1965
File:Gordon Cologne, 1967.jpg Gordon Cologne (Indio)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	January 4, 1965 – January 2, 1967	Replaced Backstrand on ballot and elected in 1964. Redistricted to the 36th district.
File:George Deukmejian, 1975.jpg George Deukmejian (Long Beach)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |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
File:Paul B. Carpenter, 1975.jpg Paul B. Carpenter (Cypress)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |Democratic	December 6, 1976 – November 30, 1984	Elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1980. Redistricted to the 33rd district.	Orange
File:Orange County SupervisorMarian Bergeson at Crown Vally Park gym dedication, Mar. 23, 1986 (cropped).jpg Marian Bergeson (Newport Beach)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	December 3, 1984 – November 30, 1992	Elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1988. Redistricted to the 35th district.	Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Diego
File:David G. Kelley.jpg David G. Kelley (Riverside)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	December 7, 1992 – November 30, 2000	Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1992. Retired to run for State Assembly.	Imperial, Riverside, San Diego
File:JimBattin.jpg Jim Battin (La Quinta)	rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	December 4, 2000 – November 30, 2008	Elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2004. Term-limited and retired.
	Riverside
File:John J. Benoit portrait, 2008.jpg John J. Benoit (Bermuda Dunes)		style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	December 1, 2008 – November 30, 2009	Elected in 2008. Resigned after election to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.
Vacant		November 30, 2009 – June 9, 2010
File:Bill Emmerson, 2010.jpg Bill Emmerson (Redlands)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	June 9, 2010 – November 30, 2012	Elected to finish Benoit's term. Redistricted to the 23rd district.
File:Mimi Walters.jpg Mimi Walters (Irvine)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	December 3, 2012 – January 3, 2015	Redistricted from the 33rd district and re-elected in 2012. Retired to run for U.S. House of Representatives.	Orange
Vacant		January 3, 2015 – March 22, 2015
File:John Moorlach (1).jpg John Moorlach (Costa Mesa)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	March 22, 2015 – November 30, 2020	Elected to finish vacant term. Re-elected in 2016. Lost re-election.
File:Dave Min official portrait.jpg Dave Min (Irvine)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" |Democratic	December 7, 2020 – November 30, 2024	Elected in 2020. Retired to run for U.S. House of Representatives.
File:Steven Choi, 2025.jpg Steven Choi (Irvine)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" |Republican	December 2, 2024 – present	Elected in 2024.

Election results

2020

Template:Election box open primary begin no change |- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| John Moorlach (incumbent) |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 47.3 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Dave Min |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 28.0 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Katrina Foley |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 24.7 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100.0 |- Template:Election box open primary general election no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | Dave Min | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 51.1 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| John Moorlach (incumbent) |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 48.9 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100.0 |-

|- style="background-color: #F6F6F6;" | style="color:inherit; background-color:;" | | colspan="4" | gain from |-

|}

2016

Template:Election box open primary begin no change |- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| John Moorlach (incumbent) |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 54.8 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Ari Grayson |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 45.2 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100.0 |- Template:Election box open primary general election no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | John Moorlach (incumbent) | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 57.0 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Ari Grayson |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 43.0 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100.0 |-

|-style="background-color:#F6F6F6" |style="color:inherit; background-color:"| !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" colspan="4"| hold |-

|}

2015 (special)

Template:Election box open primary begin no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | John Moorlach | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 50.3 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Don Wagner |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 44.0 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Naz Namazi |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 3.5 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Louise Stewardson (write-in) |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 2.2 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100.0 |-

|-style="background-color:#F6F6F6" |style="color:inherit; background-color:"| !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" colspan="4"| hold |-

|}

2012

Template:Election box open primary begin no change |- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Mimi Walters (incumbent) |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 63.6 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Steve Young |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 36.4 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100.0 |- Template:Election box open primary general election no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | Mimi Walters (incumbent) | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 57.0 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Steve Young |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 43.0 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100.0 |-

|-style="background-color:#F6F6F6" |style="color:inherit; background-color:"| !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" colspan="4"| hold |-

|}

2010 (special)

2010 Special Primary election
Fill the vacant left by John J. Benoit when he became a member of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Bill Emmerson		41.76%
		Russ Bogh		21.95%
		Justin Blake		13.92%
		Anna Nevenic		8.46%
		Arthur Bravo Guerrero		7.15%
		Matt Monica		4.39%
		David W. Peters		2.37%
Total votes				100.0%

2010 Special General election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Bill Emmerson		59.66%
		Justin Blake		30.13%
		Matt Monica		10.20%
Total votes				100.0%
	hold

2008

California State Senate election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		John Benoit		54.79
		Arthur Guerrero		45.21
Total votes				100.00
Turnout				72.48
	hold

2004

California State Senate election, 2004

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Jim Battin (incumbent)		59.63
		Pat Johansen		40.37
Total votes				100.00
	hold

2000

California State Senate election, 2000

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Jim Battin		62.18
		Sedalia L. Sanders		33.04
		Donna Tello		4.78
Invalid or blank votes			23,380	7.56
Total votes				100.00
	hold

1996

California State Senate election, 1996

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		David G. Kelley (incumbent)		61.14
		Hans Alfred Schroeder		29.59
		Donna Tello		4.01
		George Angell		3.55
		Jim J. Moner		1.75
Invalid or blank votes			23,024	6.22
Total votes				100.00
	hold

1992

California State Senate election, 1992

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		David G. Kelley		52.47
		Jim Rickard		37.65
		Renate M. Kline		6.24
		Craig McElvany		3.64
Invalid or blank votes			29,858	9.94
Total votes				100.00
	hold

See also

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

External links

• District map from the California Citizens Redistricting Commission