How Might the State Legislature Look for the New Session?

As Friday, March 11 was the filing deadline for candidates for the California State Legislature (although seats without an incumbent running get an extra week to file), we can look at the 120 legislative seats and see what changes are ahead for the start of the 2023 Legislative Session that begins on the first Monday in December.

State Senate

Half of the State Senate seats are up every two years. The following chart lists each Senator in alphabetical order, followed by the year in which they will be forced from office, and then a note about another office they may be running for this year or later. The key highlights are:

• 7 Senators are termed out in 2022, who are highlighted in red color
• 3 Senators are not running for re-election
• 6 Senators are running for re-election this November for their final 4-year term
• 10 Senators will be termed out in 2024, who are highlighted in light blue color

State Assembly

All of the State Assembly seats are up every two years. The following chart lists each Assembly Member in alphabetical order, followed by the year in which they will be forced from office, and then a note about another office they may be running for this year or later, or if they resigned, or are choosing to not run for a final term in office. The key highlights are:

• There are no Assembly Members who are termed out in 2022
• 5 special elections will be held in 2022 to fill vacancies; Mike Fong has already taken Ed Chau’s seat; so, 4 vacancies remain to be filled this year
• 24 Assembly Members are termed out in 2024, who are highlighted in light blue color; but only 8 Assembly Members are running for re-election in 2022 for their final term
• 13 Assembly Members are termed out in 2026 (5 more who would have been termed out in 2026 have already decided against running)

2022 marks one of the biggest turnovers in the California Legislature since 2012, when the first group of 12-year term limit legislators entered office. Among the interesting items:

It is likely that 30 Senators will continue in 2023 (assuming re-election of those on the ballot in November). Therefore, at least one-fourth or 25% of the Senate will be new legislators in December.

It is likely that 56 Assembly Members will continue in 2023 (assuming re-election of those on the ballot in November). This number does not count the 5 who will be elected to office in special elections this year. Therefore, 24 seats or 30% of the Assembly will be new legislators in December.

                With at least 34 new legislators being elected to the California Legislature in November, the start of the 2023-24 Session will have a lot of new faces – at least 28% of the 120-member Legislature.