2010 California elections

The California state elections, November 2010 were held on November 2, 2010.

On a year marked by a strong Republican wave nationwide, the State of California elected Democrats to the state's top offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Controller, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Education, Insurance Commissioner and United States Senator. On November 24, 2010, the California Democratic Party set a record for winning every statewide elected office in California in a single election when the last outstanding race - the one for Attorney General - was decided in Kamala Harris's favor. Because fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein holds the other Senate seat that was not up for election in 2010, the Democrats held every statewide elected office in California beginning in 2011.

State Senate
There are 40 seats in the State Senate, the upper house of California's bicameral State Legislature. Voters in the 20 even-numbered districts of the California State Senate will vote for their representatives.

State Assembly
Voters in all 80 of California's State Assembly districts voted for their representatives.

Statewide ballot propositions
The following propositions have been approved for the November ballot either through referral by the state legislature or by obtaining 433,971 signatures for proposed statutes and 694,354 signatures for constitutional amendments.

Proposition 18
This is a legislatively referred state statute that would authorize an $11.1 billion bond to upgrade California's water system. On August 9, 2010, the California Legislature postponed the vote on the proposition until 2012.

Proposition 19


This is a citizen-initiated state statute that would legalize up to 1 ounce of marijuana for persons 21 years or older and would allow local governments to regulate as well as tax the newly created cannabis market.

Proposition 20


This is a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment that would require the California Citizens Redistricting Commission to re-draw congressional district lines, in addition to its current job of drawing state senate district lines and state assembly district lines.

Proposition 21
This is a citizen-initiated state statute that would increase vehicle license fees by $18 a year to fund state parks. The initiative also removes current state park motor vehicle parking fees.

Proposition 22
This is a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment that would prevent the state government from taking certain funds, such as transportation funds, from the local governments.

Proposition 23


This is a citizen-initiated state statute that would suspend California's Global Warming Solutions Act until statewide unemployment falls below 5.5% for four consecutive quarters.

Proposition 24
This is a citizen-initiated state statute that would repeal three business tax breaks passed by the state legislature as part of negotiations of the 2008–10 California budget crisis.

Proposition 25
This is a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment that would allow state budgets to be passed by the state legislature by a simple majority instead of the current two-thirds requirement. The two-thirds majority for passing taxes would not change.

Proposition 26
This is a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment that would require voters to approve new state levies and charges by a two-thirds super majority, with some exceptions.

Proposition 27


This is a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment that would repeal Proposition 11, which established the Citizens Redistricting Commission.