| Election Name: | 1871 United States Senate election in California |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Flag Image: | First Bear Flag of California (1846).svgborder |
| Previous Election: | 1865 United States Senate election in California |
| Previous Year: | 1865 |
| Next Election: | 1877 United States Senate election in California |
| Next Year: | 1877 |
| Election Date: | December 20, 1871 |
| Votes For Election: | Majority vote of both houses needed to win |
| 1Blank: | Joint session |
| 2Blank: | Percentage |
| Image1: | Aaron Augustus Sargent - Brady-Handy 3x4.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Aaron A. Sargent |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| 1Data1: | 72 |
| 2Data1: | 61.02% |
| Nominee2: | William T. Wallace |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| 1Data2: | 46 |
| 2Data2: | 38.98% |
| Senator | |
| Before Election: | Cornelius Cole |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Aaron A. Sargent |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 1871 United States Senate election in California was held on December 20, 1871, by the California State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator (Class 3) to represent the State of California in the United States Senate. In a special joint session, Republican Congressman Aaron A. Sargent was elected over Democratic State Supreme Court Justice William T. Wallace.[1]