the california state special elections, 2009 were held on may 19, 2009 throughout the state of california. the elections were authorized by the state legislature and governor arnold schwarzenegger as a part of a budget signed into law on february 19, 2009. voters voted on six ballot propositions, 1a through 1f, for the open 26th state senate district seat, and in a primary for the open 32nd congressional district seat. all of the propositions except 1f were defeated.