How many electoral votes does California have?

California, the most populous state in the United States, plays a pivotal role in the outcome of presidential elections. With a total of 54 electoral votes, California holds the largest share of any state, contributing significantly to the 270 votes needed for a presidential candidate to win the Electoral College.

California's voting patterns have also made it a reliably Democratic state in recent presidential elections, though its large number of electoral votes makes it a key focus of national political strategies.

Each state's number of electoral votes in U.S. presidential elections is determined by its representation in Congress. Here’s how it works:

Total Electoral Votes: There are 538 electoral votes in total.

Allocation per State: Each state gets electoral votes equal to its number of Senators (always 2) plus the number of its Representatives, which is based on population.

Majority to Win: A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.