| Election Name: | 1996 California State Senate election |
| Country: | California |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1994 California State Senate election |
| Previous Year: | 1994 |
| Next Election: | 1998 California State Senate election |
| Next Year: | 1998 |
| Seats For Election: | 20 seats from odd-numbered districts in the California State Senate |
| Majority Seats: | 21 |
| Leader1: | Bill Lockyer |
| Party1: | California Democratic Party |
| Leaders Seat1: | 10th–Hayward |
| Seats Before1: | 21 |
| Seats After1: | 23 |
| Seat Change1: | 2 |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,599,659 |
| Percentage1: | 49.32% |
| Leader2: | Rob Hurtt |
| Party2: | California Republican Party |
| Leaders Seat2: | 34th–Garden Grove |
| Seats Before2: | 17 |
| Seats After2: | 16 |
| Seat Change2: | 1 |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,521,858 |
| Percentage2: | 47.85% |
| Map Size: | 450px |
| President pro tempore | |
| Posttitle: | President pro tempore-designate |
| Before Election: | Bill Lockyer |
| Before Party: | California Democratic Party |
| After Election: | Bill Lockyer |
| After Party: | California Democratic Party |
The 1996 California State Senate elections were held on November 5, 1996. Senate seats of odd-numbered districts were up for election. Senate terms are staggered so that half the membership is elected every two years. Senators serve four-year terms and are limited to two terms. Democrats expanded their majority, gaining two seats, one from the Republicans and one from an Independent.
| California State Senate elections, 1996 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Not up | Incumbents | Open | Before | After | +/– | ||
| Democratic | 2,599,659 | 49.32% | 14 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 23 | +2 | ||
| Republican | 2,521,858 | 47.85% | 5 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 16 | -1 | ||
| Libertarian | 62,525 | 1.19% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Natural Law | 50,359 | 0.96% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Reform | 33,913 | 0.64% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Peace and Freedom | 20,601 | 0.39% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Green | 12,089 | 0.23% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Write-ins | 55 | 0.00% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Independent | 0 | 0.00% | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -1 | ||
| Invalid or blank votes | 400,098 | 7.06% | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Totals | 5,670,635 | 100.00% | 20 | 9 | 11 | 40 | 40 | — | ||
| Pre-election | Seats | |
| Democratic-held | 21 | |
| Republican-held | 17 | |
| Independent-held | 2 | |
| Total | 40 | |
| 1996 Elections | Seats | |
| Republican held and uncontested | 11 | |
| Democratic held and uncontested | 8 | |
| Independent-held and uncontested | 1 | |
| Contested | 20 | |
| Total | 40 | |
| State Senate: post-election | Seats | |
| Democratic-held | 23 | |
| Republican-held | 16 | |
| Independent-held | 1 | |
| Total | 40 | |
Final results from the California Secretary of State:[1]
| align=center | District 1 • District 3 • District 5 • District 7 • District 9 • District 11 • District 13 • District 15 • District 17 • District 19 • District 21 • District 23 • District 25 • District 27 • District 29 • District 31 • District 33 • District 35 • District 37 • District 39 |