The 1992 United States Senate special election in California took place on November 3, 1992, at the same time as the regular election to the United States Senate in California.

Dianne Feinstein Dianne Emiel Feinstein (; June 22, 1933 – September 29, 2023) was an American politician who served as a United States senator from California from 1992 until her death in 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as the 38th ...

defeated future California governor

Gray Davis Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis Jr. (born December 26, 1942) is an American attorney and former politician who served as the 37th governor of California from 1999 until he was recalled and removed from office in 2003. He is the second state governor ...

in the Democratic primary, while John Seymour defeated William E. Dannemeyer in the Republican primary. In this special election to complete the unexpired term of Republican

Pete Wilson Peter Barton Wilson (born August 23, 1933) is an American attorney and politician who served as governor of California from 1991 to 1999. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, Wilson previously served as a United S ...

, who resigned to become Governor of California, incumbent Republican Senator John Seymour was defeated by former San Francisco Mayor

, whom Wilson defeated in the 1990 gubernatorial election. Feinstein subsequently held

seniority Seniority is the state of being older or placed in a higher position of status relative to another individual, group, or organization. For example, one employee may be senior to another either by role or rank (such as a CEO vice a manager), or by ...

over fellow Democrat

Barbara Boxer Barbara Sue Boxer (née Levy; born November 11, 1940) is a retired American politician, lobbyist, and former reporter who served in the United States Senate, representing California from 1993 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United St ...

, who was elected on the same day; because Feinstein was elected to complete an unexpired term, she took office on November 4, only 1 day after the election, while Boxer's term commenced with the beginning of the next session of Congress in January 1993. These elections marked the first time in history that two women simultaneously served in the Senate from the same state.

Background

The seat became vacant after incumbent Republican U.S. Senator

won the 1990 gubernatorial election, defeating Democrat

. Wilson appointed John Seymour to the Senate to replace himself.

Democratic primary

Candidates

*Joseph Alioto Jr., attorney and son of former

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

mayor

Joseph Alioto Joseph Lawrence Alioto (February 12, 1916 – January 29, 1998) was an American politician who served as the 36th mayor of San Francisco, California, from 1968 to 1976. Biography Alioto was born in San Francisco in 1916. His father, Giuseppe A ...

, California State Controller *

, former Mayor of San Francisco (1978–88) and nominee for Governor in 1990 *David Kearns

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

* William B. Allen, former Chair of the

United States Commission on Civil Rights The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (CCR) is a bipartisan, independent commission of the United States federal government, created by the Civil Rights Act of 1957 during the Eisenhower administration, that is charged with the responsibility f ...

and candidate for Senator in 1986 and Governor in 1990 * William E. Dannemeyer, U.S. Representative from Fullerton * John Seymour, incumbent U.S. Senator since January 1991 (appointed by Governor Pete Wilson) *Jim Trinity, retired Glendale dentist

Results

General election

Results

By county

References

External links

* JoinCaliforni
1992 Special Election
{{1992 United States elections 1992 special

California special California () is a state in the Western United States that lies on the Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares an international border with the Mexican state of Baja California to the sout ...

California 1992 United States Senate special

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

United States Senate 1992 Dianne Feinstein

Background

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Results

By county

See also

References

External links