California

Current Numbers

Congress
20
(18D, 2R)
36.4% of 55 seats

(2 Senate, 53 House)

Full list of officeholders
Statewide Elective Executive
4
(4D)
50% of 8 seats

Total positions: 8

Full list of officeholders
State Legislature
38
(29D, 9R)
31.7% of 120 seats
Full list of officeholders
Export Table Data
Congress - Current and Historic
Name Party Position Year(s) Served Notes
Dianne Feinstein D U.S. Senator 1992-present Feinstein initially won a special election to fill a vacancy caused by a resignation; that seat had been filled temporarily by appointment. She was subsequently re-elected.
Karen R. Bass D U.S. Representative 2013-present
Julia Brownley D U.S. Representative 2013-present
Judy Chu D U.S. Representative 2013-present
Nanette Diaz Barragan D U.S. Representative 2017-present
Anna G. Eshoo D U.S. Representative 2013-present
Sara Jacobs D U.S. Representative 2021-present
Young O. Kim R U.S. Representative 2021-present
Barbara J. Lee D U.S. Representative 1998-present Lee initially won a special election to fill vacancy caused by resignation.
Zoe Lofgren D U.S. Representative 1995-present
Doris O. Matsui D U.S. Representative 2005-present Matsui won a special election to fill a vacancy caused by the death of her husband.
Grace F. Napolitano D U.S. Representative 1999-present
Nancy Pelosi D U.S. Representative 1987-present Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, is second in the line of presidential succession after the vice president. She initially won a special election to fill a vacancy caused by death.
Katherine Porter D U.S. Representative 2019-present
Lucille Roybal-Allard D U.S. Representative 1993-present Roybal-Allard was the first Mexican-American woman elected to Congress.
Linda T. Sanchez D U.S. Representative 2003-present
Jackie Speier D U.S. Representative 2008-present Speier won a special election to fill a vacancy caused by death.
Michelle Steel R U.S. Representative 2021-present
Norma J. Torres D U.S. Representative 2015-present
Maxine Waters D U.S. Representative 1991-present
Kamala Harris D U.S. Senator 2017-2021 Harris left office on 1/18/21 to ascend to the Vice Presidency.
Susan A. Davis D U.S. Representative 2003-2020
Katherine L. Hill D U.S. Representative 2019-2019
Mimi Walters R U.S. Representative 2015-2018
Barbara Boxer D U.S. Senator 1993-2016
Lois Capps D U.S. Representative 2013-2016
Loretta L. Sanchez D U.S. Representative 1997-2016
Janice Hahn D U.S. Representative 2012-2016 Hahn won a special election to fill a vacancy caused by resignation.
Gloria Negrete McLeod D U.S. Representative 2013-2014
Karen R. Bass D U.S. Representative 2011-2012
Mary Bono Mack R U.S. Representative 2003-2012
Lois Capps D U.S. Representative 2003-2012
Judy Chu D U.S. Representative 2009-2012
Anna G. Eshoo D U.S. Representative 1993-2012
Laura Richardson D U.S. Representative 2007-2012 Richardson won a special election to fill a vacancy caused by death.
Lynn Woolsey D U.S. Representative 1993-2012
Jane Harman D U.S. Representative 2001-2011
Diane E. Watson D U.S. Representative 2001-2010 Watson initially won a special election to fill a vacancy caused by death.
Ellen O. Tauscher D U.S. Representative 1997-2009
Hilda Solis D U.S. Representative 2001-2009
Juanita Millender-McDonald D U.S. Representative 1996-2007 Millender-McDonald initially won a special election to fill a vacancy.
Mary Bono Mack R U.S. Representative 1998-2002 Bono initially won a special election to fill vacancy caused by death of her husband.
Lois Capps D U.S. Representative 1998-2002 Capps initially won a special election to fill vacancy caused by the death of her husband.
Susan A. Davis D U.S. Representative 2001-2002
Jane Harman D U.S. Representative 1993-1998
Andrea Seastrand R U.S. Representative 1995-1996
Lynn Schenk D U.S. Representative 1993-1994
Barbara Boxer D U.S. Representative 1983-1992
Sala Burton D U.S. Representative 1983-1987 Burton initially won a special election to fill a vacancy caused by the death of her husband. Burton died while serving in office in 1987.
Bobbi Fiedler R U.S. Representative 1981-1986
Yvonne Burke D U.S. Representative 1975-1978
Shirley N. Pettis R U.S. Representative 1975-1978 Pettis initially won a special election to fill a vacancy caused by the death of her husband.
Yvonne Burke D U.S. Representative 1973-1974
Helen Gahagan Douglas D U.S. Representative 1945-1950
Florence Prag Kahn R U.S. Representative 1925-1936 Kahn initially won a special election to fill a vacancy caused by the death of her husband.
Mae Nolan R U.S. Representative 1923-1925 Nolan simultaneously won a special election to fill the unexpired term caused by the death of her husband and a regular election.
Source: CAWP Women Elected Officials Database
Export Table Data
Statewide Elective Executive - Current and Historic
Name Party Position Year(s) Served Notes
Eleni Kounalakis D Lt. Governor 2019-present
Fiona Ma D Treasurer 2019-present
Shirley N. Weber D Secretary of State 2021-present Weber was appointed to fill a vacancy.
Betty T. Yee D Comptroller 2015-present
Kamala Harris D Attorney General 2011-2016
Debra Bowen D Secretary of State 2007-2014
Mona Pasquil D Lt. Governor 2009-2010 Pasquil served as acting Lieutenant Governor.
Kathleen Connell D Comptroller 1995-2002
Delaine Eastin NP Superintendent of Public Instruction 1995-2002
Kathleen Brown D Treasurer 1991-1994
March Fong Eu D Secretary of State 1975-1994 Eu was the first Asian American woman in the country elected statewide to an executive post.
Elizabeth Whitney D Treasurer 1987-1988 Whitney was appointed to fill a vacancy.
Ivy Baker Priest R Treasurer 1967-1974
Source: CAWP Women Elected Officials Database
State Legislature - Numbers and Percentage of Officeholders by Year
Year State Rank Senate Total Women/Total Senate House Total Women/Total House Total Women/Total Legislature % Total Women
2022 23 11D | 4R 15/40 18D | 5R 23/80 38/120 31.7
2021 21 11D | 4R 15/40 19D | 5R 24/80 38/120 32.5
2020 20 10D | 4R 14/40 21D | 2R 23/80 35/120 29.2
2019 18 11D | 3R 14/40 21D | 3R 24/80 38/120 31.7
2018 25 7D | 4R 11/40 17D | 3R 20/80 31/120 25.8
2017 30 6D | 3R 9/40 15D | 3R 18/80 27/120 22.5
2016 22 8D | 3R 11/40 11D | 8R 19/80 30/120 25.0
2015 20 8D | 4R 12/40 11D | 8R 19/80 31/120 25.8
2014 17 10D | 2R 12/40 13D | 7R 20/80 32/120 26.7
2013 19 10D | 2R 12/40 13D | 7R 20/80 32/120 26.7
2012 13 9D | 3R 12/40 15D | 6R 21/80 33/120 27.5
2011 12 9D | 3R 12/40 15D | 6R 21/80 33/120 27.5
2010 17 11D | 1R 12/40 15D | 4R 19/80 31/120 25.8
2009 16 12D | 1R 13/40 15D | 4R 19/80 32/120 26.7
2008 17 10D | 0R 10/40 16D | 6R 22/80 32/120 26.7
2007 16 10D | 0R 10/40 16D | 6R 22/80 32/120 26.7
2006 12 12D | 0R 12/40 19D | 6R 25/80 37/120 30.8
2005 10 12D | 0R 12/40 19D | 6R 25/80 37/120 30.8
2004 6 11D | 0R 11/40 20D | 5R 25/80 36/120 30.0
2003 6 11D | 0R 11/40 20D | 5R 25/80 36/120 30.0
2002 13 10D | 0R 10/40 19D | 4R 23/80 33/120 27.5
2001 13 10D | 0R 10/40 20D | 4R 24/80 34/120 28.3
2000 15 9D | 1R 10/40 16D | 4R | 1Ind 21/80 31/120 25.8
1999 15 9D | 1R 10/40 16D | 4R | 1Ind 21/80 31/120 25.8
1998 24 5D | 1R 6/40 18D | 3R 21/80 27/120 22.5
1997 24 6D | 1R 7/40 17D | 3R 20/80 27/120 22.5
1996 26 3D | 1R | 1Ind 5/40 15D | 4R 19/80 24/120 20.0
1995 26 3D | 1R | 1Ind 5/40 16D | 4R 20/80 25/120 20.8
1994 19 3D | 2R | 1Ind 5/40 19D | 5R 24/80 29/120 24.2
1993 20 2D | 2R | 1Ind 5/40 18D | 5R 22/80 27/120 22.5
1992 25 3D | 2R 5/40 9D | 7R 16/80 21/120 17.5
1991 25 3D | 2R 5/40 9D | 7R 16/80 21/120 17.5
1990 27 3D | 2R 5/40 7D | 6R 13/80 18/120 15.0
1989 27 3D | 2R 5/40 7D | 6R 13/80 18/120 15.0
1988 30 2D | 2R 4/40 8D | 5R 13/80 17/120 14.2
1987 30 2D | 2R 4/40 8D | 5R 13/80 17/120 14.2
1986 30 2D | 2R 4/40 6D | 5R 11/80 15/120 12.5
1985 30 2D | 2R 4/40 6D | 5R 11/80 15/120 12.5
1984 29 2D | 0R 2/40 6D | 5R 11/80 13/120 10.8
1983 30 2D | 0R 2/40 6D | 6R 12/80 14/120 11.7
1981 28 2D | 0R 2/40 4D | 6R 10/80 12/120 10.0
1979 23 2D | 0R 2/40 5D | 4R 9/80 11/120 9.2
1977 39 1D | 0R 1/40 3D | 2R 5/80 6/120 5.0
1975 46 0D | 0R 0/40 3D | 0R 3/80 3/120 2.5