California's 15th State Senate district

Infobox
name =
title = California's 15th State Senate district


caption =

headerstyle = background:#ccf;
labelstyle = background:#ddf;

header1 =
label1 = Registration
data1 = 40.0% Democratic 39.9 Republican 14.7% DTS
header2 =
label2 = Demographics
data2 = 63.2% White 24.4% Latino 7.7% Asian 2.3% Black 1.0% N. American 0.6% Other 0.5% Multiracial 0.3% Pac. Islander
header3 =
label3 = Population (2000)
data3 = 846,792
header4 =
label4 = Voting-age population
data4 = 634,491
header5 =
label5 = Registered voters
data5 = 449,108

belowstyle =
below =

California's 15th Senate district is one of 40 California State Senate districts. It is currently represented by Republican Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria.

District profile

The 15th District takes in most of the Central Coast. The district includes one of the longest stretches of coastline, from Santa Cruz to just into Santa Barbara County. The district has a relatively small minority population due to the division of Monterey County.

The 15th includes all or portions of five counties, with no one county contributing more than a quarter of the district's population. San Luis Obispo County is entirely in the district, along with the city of Santa Maria in Santa Barbara County.

State Route 1 connects San Luis Obispo with Monterey County. The western sections of the county, including the city of Monterey and all of Monterey Bay, are in the district, but the county's largest city, Salinas, is not. The district also includes the southeastern edge of Santa Cruz County, specifically the cities of Watsonville, and Scotts Valley.

Lastly, a small area in the southern edge of Santa Clara County is in the 15th, including the cities of Saratoga, Los Gatos, and Morgan Hill, as well as a portion of San Jose.

The district is one of the more competitive districts in the state. A large Democratic margin in Santa Cruz County is offset by a large Republican margin in San Luis Obispo County.

Monerey County
*Carmel-by-the-Sea
*Del Rey Oaks
*Marina
*Monterey
*Pacific Grove
*Sand City
*Seaside
*Aromas
*Bradley
*Carmel Valley
*Del Monte Forest
*Elkhorn
*Las Lomas
*Moss Landing
*Pajaro
*Prunedale
*San Ardo
*San Lucas
*SpreckelsSanta Barbara County
*Guadalupe
*Santa Maria
*Orcutt (69.6 of residents) Santa Clara County
*Los Gatos
*Monte Sereno
*Morgan Hill
*San Jose (7.5% of residents)
*Saratoga
*Lexington Hills
*San Martin Santa Cruz County
*Scotts Valley
*Watsonville
*Amesti
*Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley
*Corralitos
*Day Valley
*Felton
*Freedom
*Interlaken
*Rio del Mar

Election Results

2004

Election box candidate with party link
party = California Republican Party
candidate = Abel Maldonado
votes = 194,674
percentage = 52.8
change = -2.5Election box candidate with party link
party = California Democratic Party
candidate = Peg Pinard
votes = 157,556
percentage = 42.7
change = +2.4Election box candidate with party link
party = Green Party of California
candidate = Brook Madsen
votes = 16,644
percentage = 4.5
change = +4.5Election box total
votes = 368,874
percentage = 100.0
change = Election box majority
votes = 37,118
percentage = 10.1
change = -4.9Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = California Republican Party
swing = -4.9

2000

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Bruce McPherson (inc.)
votes = 155,039
percentage = 55.3
change = +8.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Anselmo A. Chavez
votes = 112,942
percentage = 40.3
change = -5.5Election box candidate with party link
party = Natural Law Party (United States)
candidate = David Rosenkranz
votes = 6,425
percentage = 2.2
change = -0.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Libertarian Party (United States)
candidate = Gordon D. Sachtjen
votes = 6,394
percentage = 2.2
change = +2.2Election box total
votes = 280,800
percentage = 100.0
change = Election box majority
votes = 42,097
percentage = 15.0
change = +13.6Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Republican Party (United States)
swing = +13.6

2001 redistricting

Before and after, the 15th included the southern portion of Santa Clara County, and the Monterey Bay area between Watsonville and Big Sur, but little else remained the same. The city of Santa Cruz was removed from the north end, San Benito County removed from the east along with Salinas and large portions of eastern Santa Clara and Monterey Counties. San Luis Obispo County and the Santa Maria area of Santa Barbara County were added, pushing the district distinctly southward.

External links

Official Profile of Senate District from California State Senate-- [http://www.sen.ca.gov/ftp/SEN/senplan/SD15.HTM]