2026 California State Board of Equalization election
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November 3, 2026
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All 4 seats on the California State Board of Equalization | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in California |
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The 2026 California State Board of Equalization elections will be taking place on November 3, 2026, to elect all four seats of the State Board of Equalization, with the non-partisan blanket primary election taking place on June 2, 2026.
Overview
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Ted Gaines (term-limited) | Republican | ||||
| 2nd | Sally Lieber | Democratic | Democratic | |||
| 3rd | Tony Vazquez (term-limited) | Democratic | Democratic | |||
| 4th | Mike Schaefer (term-limited) | Democratic | ||||
District 1
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November 3, 2026
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 Grove: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% Esparza: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||
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The incumbent is Republican Ted Gaines, who was re-elected in 2022 with 55.5% of the vote. He is term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election, instead running for the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors.[1] District 1 encompasses much of inland California, stretching from Modoc County and Sisiyou County on the Oregon border to Southern California to include a portion of San Bernardino County.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Nelson Esparza (Democratic), Fresno city councilmember[2][3]
- Shannon Grove (Republican), state senator from the 12th district[4][3]
Eliminated in primary
- Dusty Beach (Republican), retired correctional officer[5]
- Nader F. Shahatit (Republican), tax consultant[3]
- Donald E. Williamson (Democratic), former San Bernardino County Assessor (1994–2006)[5]
Endorsements
Shannon Grove (R)
- US Representatives
- Doug LaMalfa, CA-01 (2013-2026) (deceased)[4]
- State officials
- Ted Gaines, incumbent Board of Equalization member[4]
- Newspapers
- Organizations
- Political party organizations
- Republican Party of Sacramento County[8]
Nelson Esparza (D)
- US Representatives
- Jim Costa, CA-20 (2005-2013), CA-16 (2013-2023), CA-21 (2023-present)[9]
- Adam Gray, CA-13 (2025-present)[9]
- State legislators
- Esmeralda Soria, state assemblymember from the 27th district (2022-present)[9]
- Labor unions
- Political parties
- California Democratic Party[11]
- Democratic Party of Sacramento County[12]
- Organizations
- California Young Democrats[13]
Results
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Shannon Grove | 672,039 | 34.46 | |
| Democratic | Nelson Esparza | 664,072 | 34.05 | |
| Democratic | Donald Williamson | 289,781 | 14.86 | |
| Republican | Dusty Beach | 238,861 | 12.25 | |
| Republican | Nader Shahatit | 85,636 | 4.39 | |
| Total votes | 1,950,389 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Shannon Grove | |||
| Democratic | Nelson Esparza | |||
| Total votes | 100.00 | |||
District 2
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November 3, 2026
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 Lieber: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||
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The incumbent is Democrat Sally Lieber, who was elected in 2022 with 69.8% of the vote and is eligible to run for a second term. District 2 encompasses a majority of coastal California, stretching from Del Norte County on the Oregon border to Ventura County, near Los Angeles County.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Sally Lieber (Democratic), incumbent member of the Board of Equalization[15][3]
- John Pimentel (Democratic), trustee for the San Mateo County Community College District[3]
Eliminated in primary
Endorsements
Sally Lieber (D)
- Labor unions
- AFL-CIO South Bay Labor Council[17]
- California Federation of Teachers[17]
- California Labor Federation[10]
- California Nurses Association[17]
- California School Employees Association[17]
- California Teachers Association[18]
- CWA District 9[17]
- IBEW Local 332[17]
- IFPTE Local 21[17]
- National Union of Healthcare Workers[17]
- SEIU California and Local 521[17]
- SEIU-UHW[19]
- United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council[17]
- Organizations
- Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club[17]
- California Young Democrats[13]
- East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club[20]
- Equality California[17]
- GrowSF[17]
- Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club[21]
- Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California[22]
- Sierra Club Redwood[17]
- Political parties
- California Democratic Party[11]
- California Working Families Party[23]
- San Francisco Democratic Party[24]
- Newspapers
J. Brett Marymee (R)
- Organizations
- California Republican Assembly[27]
- Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (co-endorsement with Pimentel)[18][7]
- Reform California[28]
John Pimentel (D)
- Statewide officials
- Fiona Ma, treasurer of California (2019–present)[29]
- Local officials
- Matt Mahan, mayor of San Jose (2023–present)[29]
- Organizations
- Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (co-endorsement with Marymee)[18][7]
- Newspapers
Results
| Primary election | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
| Democratic | Sally Lieber (incumbent) | 1,336,379 | 56.76 | ||
| Democratic | John Pimentel | 371,920 | 15.80 | ||
| Republican | Bill Shireman | 259,336 | 11.01 | ||
| Republican | J. Brett Marymee | 208,311 | 8.85 | ||
| Republican | Mark McComas | 108,318 | 4.60 | ||
| Republican | John Zaruka | 70,379 | 2.99 | ||
| Total votes | 2,354,643 | 100.00 | |||
| General election | |||||
| Democratic | Sally Lieber (incumbent) | ||||
| Democratic | John Pimentel | ||||
| Total votes | 100.00 | ||||
| Democratic hold | |||||
District 3
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November 3, 2026
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 Gipson: 20–30% 30–40% Sukaton: 20–30% | |||||||||||
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The incumbent is Democrat Tony Vazquez, who was re-elected in 2022 with 70.4% of the vote. He is term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election, instead ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer.[31] District 3 encompasses the entirety of Los Angeles County.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Mike Gipson (Democratic), state assemblymember from the 65th district (2014-present)[32][3]
- Samuel P. Sukaton (Democratic), labor organizer[5]
Eliminated in primary
- Carlo Basail (Republican)[5]
- Rudy Bermudez (Democratic), former state assemblyman (2002–2006)[5]
- Stephan Hohil (Republican)[5]
- Zhijing Liu (Democratic)[5]
- Marie Manvel (No party preference)[5]
- Rey Portela (Republican)[5]
- Baru Alejandro Sanchez (Democratic)[5]
- Yvonne Yiu (Democratic), former Monterey Park city councilmember (2020-2024), candidate for SD-25 in 2024, and candidate for state controller in 2022[3]
Declined
- Ben Allen (Democratic), state senator from the 24th district[15] (running for insurance commissioner)
Endorsements
Carlo Basail (R)
- Organizations
- Reform California[28]
Mike Gipson (D)
- Statewide officials
- Malia Cohen, California State Controller (2023-present)[32]
- Tony Vazquez, incumbent California State Board of Equalization member (2019-present)[32]
- State legislators
- Robert Rivas, Speaker of the California State Assembly (2023-present) and state assemblymember from the 29th district (2018-present)[32]
- Labor unions
- Political parties
Samuel P. Sukaton (D)
- Organizations
- California Working Families Party[23]
- Our Revolution[33]
Results
| Primary election | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
| Democratic | Mike Gipson | 516,324 | 27.88 | ||
| Democratic | Samuel Sukaton | 337,313 | 18.21 | ||
| Democratic | Yvonne Yiu | 236,627 | 12.78 | ||
| Republican | Carlo Basail | 194,323 | 10.49 | ||
| Republican | Rey Portela | 186,451 | 10.07 | ||
| Democratic | Rudy Bermudez | 111,616 | 6.03 | ||
| Republican | Stephan Hohil | 106,141 | 5.73 | ||
| Democratic | Baru Sanchez | 105,086 | 5.67 | ||
| No party preference | Marie Manvel | 30,513 | 1.65 | ||
| Democratic | Zhijing Liu | 27,760 | 1.50 | ||
| Total votes | 1,852,154 | 100.00 | |||
| General election | |||||
| Democratic | Mike Gipson | ||||
| Democratic | Samuel Sukaton | ||||
| Total votes | 100.00 | ||||
| Democratic hold | |||||
District 4
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November 3, 2026
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 Bilodeau: 30–40% 40–50% | |||||||||||
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The incumbent is Democrat Mike Schaefer, who was re-elected in 2022 with 58.8% of the vote. He is term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election, instead running for California's 48th congressional district. District 4 is in Southern California and encompasses a portion of Greater Los Angeles, including a portion of San Bernardino County and the entirety of Orange County, Riverside County, San Diego County, and Imperial County.
Candidates
Advanced to general
- Denis Bilodeau (Republican), Orange city councilmember and Orange County Water District board member[34][3]
- Tom Umberg (Democratic), state senator from the 34th district[34][35][3]
Eliminated in primary
- Cody Petterson (Democratic), member of the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education[36]
- Martin Arias (Democratic), taxpayer advocate in San Diego County accessor office[5]
- Gardner Osborne (Libertarian)[5]
Withdrawn
- Chris Duncan (Democratic), former San Clemente city councilmember (running for California State Senate, endorsed Tom Umberg)[37]
Endorsements
Tom Umberg (D)
- Labor unions
- Political party organizations
- California Young Democrats[13]
- San Diego County Democratic Party (co-endorsement)[38]
Denis Bilodeau (R)
- Organizations
- Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (co-endorsement with Arias)[7]
- Reform California[28]
- Political party organizations
- Imperial County Republican Central Committee[39]
- California Republican Party[40]
- Republican Party of Orange County[41]
Martin Arias (D)
- Political party organizations
- San Diego County Democratic Party (co-endorsement)[38]
- Organizations
- Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (co-endorsement with Bilodeau)[7]
Cody Petterson (D)
- Elected Officials
- Congressman Juan Vargas (co-endorsed Umberg)
- State Senator Akilah Weber Pierson (co-endorsed Umberg)
- State Assemblymember Tasha Boerner
- Organizations
- Political party organizations
- San Diego County Democratic Party (co-endorsement)[38]
Gardner C. Osborne (L)
- Political party organizations
Post-primary endorsements
Tom Umberg (D)
- Political parties
Results
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Denis Bilodeau | 972,838 | 45.06 | |
| Democratic | Tom Umberg | 446,715 | 20.69 | |
| Democratic | Cody Petterson | 397,057 | 18.39 | |
| Democratic | Martin Arias | 308,330 | 14.28 | |
| Libertarian | Gardner C. Osborne | 33,860 | 1.57 | |
| Total votes | 2,158,800 | 100.00 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Denis Bilodeau | |||
| Democratic | Tom Umberg | |||
| Total votes | 100.00 | |||
References
- ↑ Alarcon, Cris (February 27, 2026). "Ted Gaines Enters Race for El Dorado County Supervisor in District 4". Placerville NewsWire. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ↑ Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (January 15, 2026). "The tax proposal Bay Area CEOs don't hate". POLITICO. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Board of Equalization" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Segall, Peter (August 27, 2025). "Grove seeks seat on Board of Equalization". The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "2026 Primary Election Notice to Candidates" (PDF). California Secretary of State. March 21, 2026.
- 1 2 "Read The Bee endorsement for the Board of Equalization's District 1 | Opinion". The Fresno Bee. April 21, 2026. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "STATEWIDE PRIMARY ELECTION – JUNE 2, 2026". Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
- ↑ DeLuz, Craig (May 19, 2026). "June 2, 2026 – Endorsed Candidates". Republican Party of Sacramento County. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Esparza launches campaign for Board of Equalization". The San Joaquin Valley Sun. January 15, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "California Federation of Labor Unions Endorse for Governor and Other Statewide Races for 2026 Primary Election". California Federation of Labor Unions. March 16, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "2026 Primary election Endorsements" (PDF). Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Endorsements - June 2, 2026 Primary Election". Democratic Party of Sacramento County. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Endorsements". California Young Democrats. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Primary Election * June 2, 2026 - STATEMENT OF VOTE" (PDF). California Secretary of State. July 10, 2026. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 11, 2026. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
- 1 2 "California Secretary of State - CalAccess - Campaign Finance". cal-access.sos.ca.gov. Archived from the original on July 2, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Our Board of Directors". Future500. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Voter Guide for California Board of Equalization District 2". Blue Voter Guide. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Board of Equalization". CalMatters. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "SEIU-UHW 2026 Primary Election Endorsements". SEIU-UHW. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 Primary Election Endorsements". East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ↑ "Endorsements - June 2026 Primary Endorsement Process". Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ↑ "State Constitutional Officer Endorsements". Planned Parenthood. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- 1 2 "Our 2026 Candidates". Working Families Party. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ↑ "June 2, 2026 Primary Election Voter Guide". San Francisco Democratic Party. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ↑ Redmond, Tim (May 6, 2026). "Endorsements for the June 2 election". San Francisco Bay Guardian. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ "If you care about Diablo Canyon tax revenue, this election endorsement matters Opinion". San Luis Obispo Tribune. April 26, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 Primary Election – CRA Endorsements". California Republican Assembly. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "CA Statewide Voter Guide". Reform California. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
- 1 2 Mihalovich, Cayla; Ashton, Adam (May 25, 2026). "Lawmakers stripped the Board of Equalization of power. Now they're fighting to join it". CalMatters. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
a number of Bay Area Democratic leaders are backing Pimentel, including state Treasurer Ma and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan
- ↑ "Endorsement: The Board of Equalization shouldn't exist. This candidate is willing to finally get rid of it". San Francisco Chronicle. April 18, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (March 10, 2025). "Aftershocks from a possible Harris run". Politico. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
There have been loud rumblings in recent weeks that Kounalakis is considering running for state treasurer...it could complicate the path for the candidates already in that race: former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Board of Equalization member Tony Vazquez.
- 1 2 3 4 Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (January 8, 2025). "Dems tack right on immigration". Politico. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- 1 2 "CA Board of Equalization Endorsement". Our Revolution. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
- 1 2 "Sen. Umberg Announces Bid for Board of Equalization". MyNewsLA.com. November 26, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
- ↑ Jones, Blake; Bluth, Rachel; Gardiner, Dustin (November 25, 2025). "Frontline GOPers caught in health care jam". POLITICO. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
- ↑ Stephenson, Jemma (July 16, 2025). "San Diego Unified's board president won't run for re-election. But there's another office he's eyeing". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Chris Duncan for State Senate". Chris Duncan for State Senate. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Democratic Candidates in the 2026 Primary Election". San Diego County Democratic Party. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ↑ "Imperial County GOP endorses Gonzalez, Hodges and Bilodeau". The Desert Review. March 4, 2026. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ↑ "CRP ENDORSEMENTS". California Republican Party. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ↑ "Endorsements - 2026 Primary Election". Republican Party of Orange County. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ↑ "Libertarian Party's Post". Facebook. February 15, 2026. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ↑ "California Democratic Party Announces Endorsements for Statewide, Congressional and State Legislature Candidates". cadems.org. July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.