History / Congress

U.S. Senate seat, California (class 3)

28 members have held this seat since Sep 10, 1850. Now: Alex Padilla D.

Holders
28
15 D · 13 R
Longest tenure
18 years
Barbara Boxer
Current
5.7 years
Alex Padilla, since Jan 20, 2021
history/seat/ca-sen-3Every holder, newest first
+28
186018801900192019401960198020002020William McKendree Gwin · 1850-09-10 – 1855-03-04 · DemocratWilliam McKendree Gwin · 1857-12-07 – 1861-03-04 · DemocratJames Alexander McDougall · 1861-07-04 – 1867-03-04 · DemocratCornelius Cole · 1867-03-04 – 1873-03-04 · RepublicanAaron Augustus Sargent · 1873-12-01 – 1879-03-04 · RepublicanJames Thompson Farley · 1879-03-18 – 1885-03-04 · DemocratLeland Stanford · 1885-12-07 – 1891-03-04 · RepublicanLeland Stanford · 1891-12-07 – 1893-06-22 · RepublicanGeorge Clement Perkins · 1893-07-26 – 1897-03-04 · RepublicanGeorge Clement Perkins · 1897-03-15 – 1903-03-04 · RepublicanGeorge Clement Perkins · 1903-11-09 – 1909-03-04 · RepublicanGeorge Clement Perkins · 1909-03-15 – 1915-03-04 · RepublicanJames Duval Phelan · 1915-12-06 – 1921-03-04 · DemocratSamuel Morgan Shortridge · 1921-04-11 – 1927-03-05 · RepublicanSamuel Morgan Shortridge · 1927-12-05 – 1933-03-04 · RepublicanWilliam Gibbs McAdoo · 1933-03-04 – 1938-11-09 · DemocratThomas More Storke · 1938-11-09 – 1939-01-04 · DemocratRichard Milhous Nixon · 1950-12-01 – 1953-01-02 · RepublicanThomas Henry Kuchel · 1953-01-02 – 1963-01-04 · RepublicanThomas Henry Kuchel · 1963-01-09 – 1969-01-04 · RepublicanAlan Cranston · 1975-01-14 – 1987-01-04 · DemocratAlan Cranston · 1987-01-06 – 1993-01-04 · DemocratBarbara Boxer · 1993-01-05 – 1999-01-04 · DemocratBarbara Boxer · 1999-01-06 – 2017-01-04 · DemocratAlex Padilla · 2021-01-20 – present · DemocratSheridan Downey · 1939-01-03 – 1950-12-01 · DemocratAlan Cranston · 1969-01-03 – 1975-01-04 · DemocratKamala D. Harris · 2017-01-03 – 2021-01-19 · Democrat
Alex Padilla D
Jan 20, 2021 – present · 5.7 years
Kamala D. Harris D
Jan 3, 2017 – Jan 19, 2021 · 4 years
Barbara Boxer D
Jan 6, 1999 – Jan 4, 2017 · 18 years
Barbara Boxer D
Jan 5, 1993 – Jan 4, 1999 · 6 years
Alan Cranston D
Jan 6, 1987 – Jan 4, 1993 · 6 years
Alan Cranston D
Jan 14, 1975 – Jan 4, 1987 · 12 years
Alan Cranston D
Jan 3, 1969 – Jan 4, 1975 · 6 years
Thomas Henry Kuchel R
Jan 9, 1963 – Jan 4, 1969 · 6 years
Thomas Henry Kuchel R
Jan 2, 1953 – Jan 4, 1963 · 10 years
Richard Milhous Nixon R
Dec 1, 1950 – Jan 2, 1953 · 2.1 years
Sheridan Downey D
Jan 3, 1939 – Dec 1, 1950 · 12 years
Thomas More Storke D
Nov 9, 1938 – Jan 4, 1939 · 2 months
William Gibbs McAdoo D
Mar 4, 1933 – Nov 9, 1938 · 5.7 years
Samuel Morgan Shortridge R
Dec 5, 1927 – Mar 4, 1933 · 5.2 years
Samuel Morgan Shortridge R
Apr 11, 1921 – Mar 5, 1927 · 5.9 years
James Duval Phelan D
Dec 6, 1915 – Mar 4, 1921 · 5.2 years
George Clement Perkins R
Mar 15, 1909 – Mar 4, 1915 · 6 years
George Clement Perkins R
Nov 9, 1903 – Mar 4, 1909 · 5.3 years
George Clement Perkins R
Mar 15, 1897 – Mar 4, 1903 · 6 years
George Clement Perkins R
Jul 26, 1893 – Mar 4, 1897 · 3.6 years
Leland Stanford R
Dec 7, 1891 – Jun 22, 1893 · 18 months
Leland Stanford R
Dec 7, 1885 – Mar 4, 1891 · 5.2 years
James Thompson Farley D
Mar 18, 1879 – Mar 4, 1885 · 6 years
Aaron Augustus Sargent R
Dec 1, 1873 – Mar 4, 1879 · 5.3 years
Cornelius Cole R
Mar 4, 1867 – Mar 4, 1873 · 6 years
James Alexander McDougall D
Jul 4, 1861 – Mar 4, 1867 · 5.7 years
William McKendree Gwin D
Dec 7, 1857 – Mar 4, 1861 · 3.2 years
William McKendree Gwin D
Sep 10, 1850 – Mar 4, 1855 · 4.5 years

Dates are from the @unitedstates congress-legislators project. Consecutive terms of one person are merged.