2026 California elections

2026 California elections
November 3, 2026

The 2026 California general election will take place on November 3, 2026. The statewide direct primary election was held on June 2.

California voters will elect all of California's seats to the United States House of Representatives, all of the seats of the California State Assembly, all even-numbered seats of the California State Senate, and the Governor of California and various statewide offices.

Pursuant to Proposition 14 passed in 2010, California uses a nonpartisan primary for its races. All the candidates for the same elected office, regardless of respective political party, run against each other during the primary. The candidates receiving the most and second-most votes in the primary election then become the contestants in the general election.

United States Congress

House

All of California's 52 seats to the United States House of Representatives will be up for election to two-year terms. They will be using the redrawn district maps under the voter-approved Proposition 50. Three members of Congress have chosen not to run for re-election, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Additionally, two special elections were held in 2026. In California's 1st congressional district, James Gallagher was elected on June 2 to succeed the late Doug LaMalfa. In California's 14th congressional district, Aisha Wahab was elected on August 18 to succeed Eric Swalwell, who resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

Statewide constitutional offices

Governor

Incumbent Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is term-limited and ineligible to seek reelection. Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and political commentator and former policy adviser to UK prime minister David Cameron Steve Hilton advanced to the general election to succeed him.[1]

Gubernatorial election[1][2]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra 2,591,857 27.98
Republican Steve Hilton 2,277,318 24.59
Democratic Tom Steyer 2,110,707 22.79
Republican Chad Bianco 941,708 10.17
Democratic Katie Porter 403,908 4.36
Democratic Matt Mahan 327,537 3.54
Democratic Antonio Villaraigosa 104,107 1.12
Democratic Tony Thurmond 63,762 0.69
Peace and Freedom Ramsey Robinson 51,803 0.56
Democratic Betty Yee (withdrawn) 40,873 0.44
Democratic Eric Swalwell (withdrawn) 28,164 0.30
Republican Tim Nelson 23,712 0.26
Green Butch Ware (write-in) 22,493 0.24
Republican Randeep S. Dhillon 21,937 0.24
Democratic Barack D. Obama Shaw 16,716 0.18
Democratic Carolina Buhler 15,013 0.16
Republican Leo Samuel Zacky 14,708 0.16
Republican Gretha Solórzano 12,563 0.14
Democratic Matthew Chase Levy 11,059 0.12
Libertarian Tom Woodard (withdrawn) 9,328 0.10
Democratic Erin "Zez" Zezulak 9,251 0.10
Democratic Louis A. De Barraicua 8,851 0.10
Democratic Mohammad Arif 8,458 0.09
Republican Leo Naranjo IV 8,099 0.09
No party preference Nancy D. Young 7,012 0.08
Republican James Athans Jr. 6,633 0.07
No party preference Joseph Cabrera 6,196 0.07
Republican David Zickefoose 5,882 0.06
Democratic Satish Rao 5,668 0.06
No party preference Christine R. Sarmiento 5,643 0.06
No party preference Jon Henderson 5,589 0.06
Republican Alicia Olivia Lapp 5,370 0.06
No party preference Amanda Martin 5,234 0.06
No party preference Frederic C. Schultz 5,230 0.06
Republican Rafael M. Hernandez 5,223 0.06
Democratic Scott P. Shields 5,043 0.05
Democratic Derek Grasty 4,994 0.05
Democratic Larry Azevedo 4,675 0.05
No party preference Elaine Culotti 4,483 0.05
Republican Patricia De Luca Basualdo 4,064 0.04
No party preference Mauro Alberto Orozco 4,052 0.04
Democratic Raji Rab 3,606 0.04
Democratic Sophia Edum-a-Sam 3,550 0.04
No party preference Brent Maupin 3,132 0.03
Democratic Akinyemi Agbede 3,037 0.03
No party preference Lewis Herms 2,995 0.03
No party preference Naomi Bar-Lev 2,744 0.03
No party preference Daniel Mercuri 2,667 0.03
Republican Ché Ahn (write-in) 2,419 0.03
Democratic Gary Howard Kidgell 2,415 0.03
Democratic Joel E. Jacob 2,350 0.03
Democratic Thunder Parley 2,320 0.03
No party preference Margaret Trowe 2,286 0.02
No party preference LivingForGod AndCountry DeMott 2,206 0.02
No party preference Reza Safarnejad 1,990 0.02
No party preference Duane Terrence Loynes Jr. 1,905 0.02
No party preference Don J. Grundmann 1,903 0.02
No party preference Anne Komarovsk 1,535 0.02
No party preference Dawit Kellel 1,360 0.01
No party preference Sam Sandak 1,222 0.01
No party preference Max Fomin 842 0.01
No party preference Lukasz Adam Filinski 527 0.01
No party preference Serge Fiankan 488 0.01
No party preference Sean Forbes (write-in) 22 0.00
Democratic Jibri J. Peavy (write-in) 10 0.00
No party preference Dirk Langer (write-in) 8 0.00
Democratic Kalid Meky (write-in) 5 0.00
No party preference Michael J. Dilger (write-in) 1 0.00
Total votes 9,262,468 100.00
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra
Republican Steve Hilton
Total votes

Lieutenant governor

Incumbent Democratic Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis is term-limited and ineligible to seek re-election; she is instead running for state Treasurer.[3] Democratic State Treasurer Fiona Ma and former Republican state Senator Gloria Romero advanced to the general election to succeed her.[4]

Lieutenant gubernatorial election[1][5]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fiona Ma 1,631,935 19.12
Republican Gloria Romero 1,521,181 17.83
Democratic Josh Fryday 1,256,824 14.73
Democratic Michael Tubbs 1,132,160 13.27
Democratic Oliver Ma 621,147 7.28
Republican David Collenberg 594,336 6.96
Republican David Fennell 521,455 6.11
Republican Skip Shelton 345,324 4.05
Democratic Janelle Kellman 311,237 3.65
Republican Ebie Lynch 156,714 1.84
Democratic Tim Myers 132,564 1.55
Peace and Freedom Alice Stek 125,100 1.47
Democratic Jeyson Lopez 94,058 1.10
Democratic Abdur Rahman Sikder 51,620 0.60
No party preference Sean Collinson 24,927 0.29
No party preference Rakesh Christian 12,870 0.15
Republican James P. Cameron (write-in) 45 0.00
Democratic Mushtaq MT Tahirkheli (write-in) 7 0.00
Total votes 8,533,504 100.0
General election
Democratic Fiona Ma
Republican Gloria Romero
Total votes

Attorney general

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta is running for re-election. He advanced to the general election alongside Republican candidate Michael Gates, the Huntington Beach City Attorney.[6]

Attorney general election[1][5]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rob Bonta (incumbent) 4,979,967 56.62
Republican Michael Gates 3,337,433 37.94
Green Marjorie Mikels 478,450 5.44
Total votes 8,795,850 100.0
General election
Democratic Rob Bonta (incumbent)
Republican Michael Gates
Total votes

Secretary of state

Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Shirley Weber is running for re-election.[7] She advanced to the general election alongside Republican Orange County Supervisor Donald Wagner.[8]

Secretary of state election[1][5]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shirley Weber (incumbent) 5,092,491 58.70
Republican Donald P. Wagner 3,187,180 36.74
Green Michael Feinstein 207,602 2.39
Green Gary Blenner 187,925 2.17
Total votes 8,675,198 100.0
General election
Democratic Shirley Weber (incumbent)
Republican Donald P. Wagner
Total votes

Treasurer

Incumbent Democratic Treasurer Fiona Ma is term-limited and ineligible to seek re-election; she is instead running for Lieutenant Governor. Democratic Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and Republican former human resources manager Jennifer Hawks advanced to the general election to succeed her.

Treasurer election[1][5]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eleni Kounalakis 3,154,323 36.69
Republican Jennifer Hawks 2,063,253 24.00
Democratic Anna Caballero 1,410,005 16.40
Republican David Serpa 1,106,595 12.87
Democratic Tony Vazquez 609,482 7.09
Green Glenn Turner 254,085 2.96
Total votes 8,597,743 100.0
General election
Democratic Eleni Kounalakis
Republican Jennifer Hawks
Total votes

Controller

Incumbent Democratic Controller Malia Cohen is running for re-election. She advanced to the general election alongside Republican financial advisor Herb Morgan,[9] a former President of the San Diego Employees Retirement System.[10]

Controller election[1][5]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Malia Cohen (incumbent) 4,909,613 56.80
Republican Herb Morgan 3,244,252 37.53
Peace and Freedom Meghann Adams 489,663 5.67
Total votes 8,643,528 100.0
General election
Democratic Malia Cohen (incumbent)
Republican Herb Morgan
Total votes

Insurance Commissioner

Incumbent Democratic Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is term-limited and ineligible to seek re-election. Democratic State Senator Ben Allen and Democratic former San Francisco County Supervisor Jane Kim advanced to the general election to succeed him.

Insurance commissioner election[1][5]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jane Kim 2,328,836 27.40
Democratic Ben Allen 1,649,501 19.41
Republican Stacy A. Korsgaden 1,320,966 15.54
Republican Robert P. Howell 649,093 7.64
Democratic Patrick Wolff 615,069 7.24
Republican Merritt Farren 570,669 6.71
Republican Sean Lee 458,056 5.39
Democratic Steven Bradford 416,998 4.91
Peace and Freedom Eduardo "Lalo" Vargas 248,039 2.92
Republican Eric Thor Aarnio 158,603 1.87
American Independent Keith W. Davis 83,994 0.99
Total votes 8,499,824 100.0
General election
Democratic Jane Kim
Democratic Ben Allen
Total votes

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Incumbent Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond is term-limited and ineligible to seek re-election; he is instead running for Governor. As no candidate received over 50% of the vote in the first round, Chino School Board President Sonja Shaw and San Diego School Board President Richard Berrera advanced a runoff election.[11][12]

Superintendent of public instruction election[1][5]
Candidate Votes %
Sonja Shaw 1,737,735 22.64
Richard Barrera 1,558,298 20.30
Nichelle M. Henderson 738,236 9.62
Wendy Castaneda Leal 675,968 8.81
Al Muratsuchi 646,329 8.42
Anthony Rendon 624,266 8.13
Frank Lara 578,171 7.53
Josh Newman 522,758 6.81
Ainye Long 426,104 5.55
Gus Mattammal 167,723 2.19
Total votes 7,675,588 100.0
Runoff election
Sonja Shaw
Richard Barrera
Total votes

Board of Equalization

All four seats on the California State Board of Equalization are up for election, with three of four incumbents term-limited and ineligible for re-election.

District 1

Incumbent Republican Ted Gaines is term-limited and ineligible to seek re-election; he is instead running for the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors.[13] State Senator Shannon Grove and Fresno City Councilman Nelson Esparza are running to succeed him.

California's 1st Board of Equalization district election[1][5]
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 1,950,389 100.0
General election
Republican Shannon Grove
Democratic Nelson Esparza
Total votes 100.0

District 2

Incumbent Democrat Sally Lieber is running for re-election. She is being challenged by trustee for the San Mateo County Community College District John Pimentel.

California's 2nd Board of Equalization district election[1][5]
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 2,354,643 100.0
General election
Democratic Sally Lieber (incumbent)
Democratic John Pimentel
Total votes 100.0

District 3

Incumbent Democrat Tony Vazquez is term-limited and ineligible to seek re-election; he is instead running for state Treasurer. State Assemblyman Mike Gipson and labor union organizer Samuel P. Sukaton are running to succeed him.

California's 3rd Board of Equalization district election[1][5]
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 1,852,154 100.0
General election
Democratic Mike Gipson
Democratic Samuel Sukaton
Total votes

District 4

Incumbent Democrat Mike Schaefer is term-limited and ineligible to seek re-election; he is instead running for congress. Orange City Councilman Denis Bilodeau and state Senator Tom Umberg are running to succeed him.

California's 4th Board of Equalization district election[1][5]
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 2,158,800 100.0
General election
Republican Denis Bilodeau
Democratic Tom Umberg
Total votes

State legislature

State senate

Twenty seats from all even-numbered districts in the California State Senate are up for election.

State Assembly

All eighty seats of the California State Assembly are up for election.

State propositions

Since the enactment of Senate Bill 202 in 2011, only state propositions placed on the ballot by the state legislature may appear in the June primary election, and all measures placed via a petition signed by registered voters are automatically moved to the general election ballot.[14][15] This year, the state legislature has only placed propositions on the November ballot.[16]

On June 25, 2026, Secretary of State Shirley Weber announced an initial list of propositions that had qualified for and would appear on the November ballot. After legislative negotiations, some measures were added, modified, or removed; 14 measures will appear on the November ballot.[16][17][a]

  • Proposition 1, a legislatively-referred measure allowing the state to bond $11.25 billion for affordable housing.[18]
  • Proposition 2, a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment allowing the state to deposit more of its general fund revenue into its rainy day fund, increasing the current 10% yearly cap to 20%.[18]
  • Proposition 3, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot via petition that would make permanent the top marginal income tax rates first enacted via Proposition 30 in 2012, and their expiration date extended to 2031 via Proposition 55 in 2016. Under the 2024 levels (adjusted annually for inflation), the rates would apply to single filers earning at least $360,000, joint filers earning at least $721,000, and $490,000 for heads of household. 89% of the revenue generated would fund K-12 schools, and 11% on community colleges. Although local school boards would decide how these revenues are specifically spent, they cannot use them for any administrative costs.[19]
  • Proposition 4, a state statute placed on the ballot by the state legislature. It would repeal the 1988 ban on public financing of campaigns and allow for state and local governments to create programs that provide candidates with public funds under spending limits and eligibility rules.[20]
  • Proposition 5, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the state legislature. It would eliminate the election of a successor when a state officer is recalled, thereby leaving the office vacant until it is filled according to state law; allowing for the recalled officer to run again for the same office at the special election, if one is held; and authorize the lieutenant governor to fill the gubernatorial vacancy until the expired term, unless the vacancy occurred before the close of the nomination period for the next statewide election during the first two years of the governor’s term, in which a special election would be called and which the winner would serve the remainder of the term.[21]
  • Proposition 37, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition. It would establish a second mortgage homebuyer program for qualified homebuyers on qualifying homes administered by the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), and authorize the CalHFA to issue up to $25 billion in bonds to fund the program. The second mortgages would cover up to 17% of the home's price for those making a down payment of at least 3%.[22]
  • Proposition 38, an citizen-initiated state statute allowing the state to issue $8.4 billion in bonds to fund immunology research to treat conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.[18]
  • Proposition 39, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot via petition. It would mandate voter identification requirements, specifically voters would have to either present a government-issued ID when voting in-person or the last four digits of a government-issued ID number when voting by mail. The state would also need to provide free voter ID cards upon request to those who do not already have a government-issued ID. County election officials would further be required to report the percentage of voters who have been verified.[23][24]
  • Proposition 40, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot via petition. It would require the state's billionaires would pay a one-time 5% tax on their accumulated wealth, including businesses, securities, art, collectibles, and intellectual property. Real property and some pensions and retirement accounts would be exempt. 90% of the revenue generated would fund health care, and 10% on food assistance or education-related programs. It also mandates that the revenue would supplement, not replace, the existing funding for these programs.[25]
  • Proposition 41, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot via petition. It would require new taxes be counted towards the state's spending limit and require audits pre-election and every four years for any programs funded by new state taxes. The measure is intended to neutralize Proposition 40.[18]
  • Proposition 42, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot via petition. It would prevent new taxes on personal property. The measure is intended to neutralize Proposition 40.[18]
  • Proposition 43, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the state legislature as a compromise with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. It would require new citizen-initiated local tax proposals to be approved with a two-thirds majority by voters.[18]
  • Proposition 44, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition. It would require nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and FQHC Look-Alikes to spend at least 90 percent of their annual total revenue on expenses advancing their respective health center's mission.[26]
  • Proposition 45, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition that would amend the California Environmental Quality Act to allow an expedite environmental review process for certain essential projects, including most of those for housing, transportation, water, health, and clean energy. Specifically, the measure would establish deadlines for public agencies for them to complete the environmental review and take the required actions, limit public agencies' existing requirements to consider alternatives to reduce the environmental impacts, and limit the court review process for project approvals by setting deadlines for filing and resolving lawsuits and limiting the evidence and relief the court can consider.[27]

Removed from the November ballot

Qualified ballot measures can be removed from the ballot if their supporters decide to withdraw them. In 2026, multiple qualified propositions were withdrawn by their sponsors.

California Vote Requirements for Initiatives Requiring Supermajority Votes Amendment

The California Vote Requirements for Initiatives Requiring Supermajority Votes Amendment, also known as ACA 13, was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment that was set appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot in California. The amendment required initiated constitutional amendments that propose increased voter approval requirements for state or local measures to first be approved by the same majority requirement they are proposing.[28][b]

On June 25, 2026, the amendment was removed from the ballot after both chambers of California State Legislature voted unanimously to pass a Assembly Constitutional Amendment 21 (ACA 21).[29]

Notes

  1. ↑ Some of the initiatives had qualifed for the ballot, but had withdrew prior to June 25, 2026, such as the Require Background Checks and Sexual Assault Reporting by Rideshare Companies Initiative and the Limits Ability of Voters to Raise Revenues for Local Government Service Initiative
  2. ↑ For example, a citizen initiated constitutional amendment proposing a 66.67% vote threshold for future ballot measures would first need to be approved by 66.67% of California voters

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "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.
  2. ↑ "California Governor Primary Election Results". The New York Times. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis announces early bid in 2026 California governor's race". Los Angeles Times. April 24, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  4. ↑ https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/state/a-job-about-nothing-meet-the-candidates-for-california-lieutenant-governor/article_110cba92-0ea9-4502-ba50-fa38eda07888.html
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "CERTIFIED LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR THE JUNE 2, 2026, PRIMARY ELECTION" (PDF). Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  6. ↑ https://www.sbsun.com/2026/05/05/michael-gates-california-attorney-general-candidate-2026-primary-election-questionnaire/
  7. ↑ Nixon, Nicole (May 22, 2025). "Shirley Weber to seek reelection as California Secretary of State". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  8. ↑ https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2026/05/04/2026-primary-election-california-secretary-of-state-race-explainer
  9. ↑ https://www.ocregister.com/2026/05/14/2026-california-controller-candidates-weigh-in-on-government-audits-divestments-and-property-taxes/
  10. ↑ https://californiaglobe.com/author/herb-morgan/
  11. ↑ https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-05-01/2026-california-election-state-superintendent-public-instruction-voter-guide
  12. ↑ https://www.independent.com/2026/05/14/california-voters-are-about-to-elect-a-new-state-superintendent-its-barely-on-the-radar/
  13. ↑ Alarcon, Cris (February 27, 2026). "Ted Gaines Enters Race for El Dorado County Supervisor in District 4". Placerville NewsWire. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Senate Bill No. 202". California State Legislature. October 7, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  15. ↑ Siders, David (October 8, 2011). "Gov. Jerry Brown signs bill restricting ballot initiative to November elections". Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on February 12, 2013.
  16. 1 2 "Qualified Statewide Ballot Measures". California Secretary of State. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Eligible Statewide Initiative and Referendum Measures". Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Yu, Yue Stella; Hwang, Kristen (June 30, 2026). "Your November ballot: See the 14 measures California voters will decide". CalMatters. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  19. ↑ "California Renew State Income Tax Increase for Education Funding Initiative (2026)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  20. ↑ "California Allow Public Financing of Election Campaigns Measure (2026)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  21. ↑ "California Eliminate State Officer Recall Successor Elections Amendment (2026)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  22. ↑ "California Second Mortgage Homebuyer Program and Revenue Bond Initiative (2026)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  23. ↑ "California Voter Identification and Voter List Maintenance Requirements Initiative (2026)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Voter ID measure qualifies for the California ballot". Politico. April 24, 2026.
  25. ↑ "California One-Time Wealth Tax for State-Funded Healthcare, Education, and Food Assistance Programs Initiative (2026)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  26. ↑ "California Spending Requirements for Federally Qualified Health Centers Initiative (2026)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  27. ↑ "California Expedited Environmental Review Process for Certain Projects Initiative (2026)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  28. ↑ "New Bill Would Move ACA 13 to 2026 Ballot – California Globe". California Globe. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  29. ↑ "ACA-21 Withdrawal of Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 13 of the 2023–24 Regular Session". California Legislative Information. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
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