State Senator, District 36
November 3, 2026 · State Senate District 36; California · State senate district · general
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Average · 54 out of 100
This district is mid-sized for its type, so each vote carries average weight. About 973,798 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(1,046,386 ÷ 973,798) ÷ ln(1,046,386 ÷ 916,831) = 54.39, comparing state senate districts in CA (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Average representation + unknown decisiveness → Average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
State Senator is responsible for:
- Voting on state laws and the state budget
- Representing their district in the state senate
- Confirming certain governor appointments in many states
- Helping district residents deal with state agencies
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Reduce Wealth Gap, Anti-Corruption, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Education Quality, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Election Integrity, Personal Income Tax Reduction, Data Privacy, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
Chris Duncan
Democratic · declared
Chris Duncan is the Democratic nominee for California's 36th State Senate District (coastal Orange/LA counties) in the 2026 general election, challenging Republican incumbent Tony Strickland. A former federal prosecutor of 16 years, he served on the San Clemente City Council (2020-2024) including a term as Mayor, and ran for the State Assembly in 2024.
Tony Strickland
Republican · Incumbent · declared
Tony Strickland is a Republican member of the California State Senate for District 36 (coastal Orange and Los Angeles counties), elected in 2024. A longtime officeholder, he previously served in both the California State Assembly and State Senate and as Mayor and Councilmember of Huntington Beach.
Election sources
Source: ballotpedia.org