California › Imperial County › California Senate District 18
2 candidates are tracked for California Senate District 18 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Steve Padilla and Art Hodges. Candidate information follows official Imperial County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Steve Padilla (Democratic) and Art Hodges (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Steve Padilla is the incumbent, per the Secretary of State's list. June 2 top-two primary result: Steve Padilla (DEM) 63.8 percent and Art Hodges (REP) 36.2 percent advanced, per the Secretary of State's Statement of Vote. California's top-two primary decides who prints in November; the field is the Secretary of State's Certified List of Candidates for the General Election (August 27, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Steve Padilla is the Democratic candidate for California Senate District 18 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's Certified List of Candidates (ballot designation: California State Senator). Steve Padilla is the incumbent, per the Secretary of State's list. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
2026 priorities (per the official Senate site)
- Strengthen digital safety protections for children
- Expand community representation on air quality boards
- Reform insurance claims practices
Art Hodges is a Republican candidate for California's 18th Senate District and a retired pastor and bishop who oversaw 350 churches, pastors, and ministers in Southern California, per his campaign website. He has also served as a college class president, school principal, and college chancellor, per the same source.
2026 priorities (per the campaign site)
- Reducing government spending to lower housing, gas, and food costs
- Public safety and law enforcement
Source: candidate campaign site.
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