The 1852 United States Senate special election in California was held on January 30, 1852, by the California State Legislature to elect a U.S. senator (Class 1) to represent the State of California in the United States Senate. Legislators had previously attempted to elect a Senator in 1851, but could not reach a majority for a single candidate. In a special joint session, former Democratic Congressman from Ohio John B. Weller was elected over previous Whig candidate for Governor Pierson B. Reading.