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Elections Simplified

State Senator, District 18

Unofficial result: Won — Steve Padilla (Democratic)

Source: electionresults.sos.ca.gov

State Senate District 18; California
My vote power: High

What does this office do?

  • Voting on how much you pay in state taxes
  • Voting on how much money your local public schools get
  • Voting on which roads and highways get built or repaired

Affects: AI Regulation, Healthcare Affordability, Environment and Public Health,

Candidates:

Art Hodges

Lost

Republican

Art Hodges is the Republican nominee for California's 18th State Senate District in the 2026 general election, challenging Democratic incumbent Steve Padilla. A retired pastor and bishop who has also worked as a school principal and college administrator, he has not previously held elected office.

Steve Padilla

Won

Democratic · Incumbent

Steve Padilla has served in the California Senate since 2022 and was Chula Vista's first Latino mayor and its first openly LGBT elected city official. He authored a 2024 law creating financial protections for minor content creators.

Records: Corporate Accountability 34 for, Civil Rights 26 for, Environment and Public Health 26 for,

Source: ballotpedia.org