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. Feinstein 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 to 2003. In 2003, only a few months into his second term, Davis was recalled and remov ...

in the Democratic primary, while Seymour defeated

William E. Dannemeyer William Edwin Dannemeyer (September 22, 1929 – July 9, 2019) was a conservative Politics of the United States, American politician, activist, and author, known for his LGBT rights opposition, opposition to LGBT rights. He served as United State ...

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 the 36th governor of California from 1991 to 1999. A member of the Republican Party, he also served as a United States senator from California bet ...

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

Dianne Feinstein Dianne Goldman Berman Feinstein ( ; born Dianne Emiel Goldman; June 22, 1933) is an American politician who serves as the senior United States senator from California, a seat she has held since 1992. A member of the Democratic Party, she was ...

. 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 an American politician and lobbyist who served in the United States Senate, representing California from 1993 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the U.S. ...

, who was elected on the same day; because Feinstein was elected to complete an existing term, she took office on November 10, only 7 days 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 *

, 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 William Barclay Allen (born 1944) is an American author, professor, and political scientist from Fernandina Beach, Florida. He was a member of the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Council on the Humanities from 1984 to 1987 and ch ...

, 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 for ...

and candidate for Senator in 1986 and Governor in 1990 *

, U.S. Representative from Fullerton * John Seymour, incumbent U.S. Senator since January 1991 (appointed by Governor Pete Wilson) *Jim Trinity, retired

Glendale Glendale is the anglicised version of the Gaelic Gleann Dail, which means ''valley of fertile, low-lying arable land''. It may refer to: Places Australia * Glendale, New South Wales ** Stockland Glendale, a shopping centre *Glendale, Queensland, ...

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, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

California 1992 United States Senate special

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

United States Senate 1992

Background

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Results

By county

See also

References

External links