California

California Voter Guide 2026

Browse tracked California jurisdictions, compare candidate profiles, and enter your ZIP code to see the exact races on your ballot.

State hubs preview the places and candidate profiles we’re tracking now. A ZIP code shows your statewide and congressional races; a street address adds county and city contests.

State Snapshot

Primary ElectionJune 2, 2026

General ElectionNov. 3, 2026

StateCalifornia

Places Listed36

Profiles726

2026 Statewide Races

Candidates The Ballot Brief is tracking for California's statewide contests. Tap a name for their bio and campaign link, or enter your address for the full ballot with finance data.

Governor

2 candidates

Steve Hilton (R)
Steve Hilton is a Republican candidate for California governor, a former senior adviser to U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, and a conservative media commentator. His campaign argues that California needs a change from Democratic one-party rule and frames its agenda around jobs, housing, schools, and public safety.
Priorities: Cut taxes and reduce regulatory barriers for workers and businesses · Lower housing costs and expand the ability to own a single-family home · Raise school standards and strengthen public safety
Campaign site →
Xavier Becerra (D)
Xavier Becerra is a Democratic candidate for California governor. He has served as U.S. secretary of health and human services, California attorney general, and a longtime member of Congress representing Los Angeles, and his campaign centers on protecting opportunity and making the California Dream more attainable.
Priorities: Make California more affordable for working families · Protect health care access and civil rights · Build, protect, and lead California through effective government
Campaign site →

Attorney General

2 candidates

Rob Bonta (D)Incumbent
Rob Bonta is California's incumbent attorney general and a candidate for re-election. A former state assemblymember from Alameda, he is California's first Filipino American attorney general and has emphasized consumer protection, civil rights enforcement, public safety, and defending Californians in court.
Priorities: Protect civil rights and constitutional freedoms · Hold powerful interests accountable through consumer and environmental enforcement · Improve public safety while supporting justice system reform
Campaign site →
Michael Gates (R)
Michael Gates is a Republican candidate for California attorney general and former Huntington Beach city attorney. His campaign is built around law-and-order messaging, local government legal experience, and opposition to state policies he argues have weakened public safety.
Priorities: Strengthen public safety and criminal law enforcement · Support local control against state overreach · Defend families, victims, and communities in the justice system
Campaign site →

Lieutenant Governor

2 candidates

Fiona Ma (D)
Fiona Ma is California's state treasurer, a CPA, and a candidate for lieutenant governor. As treasurer, she manages state banking, investments, bond financing, and public finance programs that support schools, housing, infrastructure, hospitals, and local governments.
Priorities: Expand housing and infrastructure financing · Strengthen fiscal transparency and public finance oversight · Support economic opportunity through state investment programs
Gloria Romero (R)
Gloria Romero is a former California Senate majority leader, former Democratic legislator, and Republican candidate for lieutenant governor. Her campaign emphasizes school choice, education reform, and challenging the state's current political establishment.
Priorities: Expand school choice and education accountability · Increase government accountability in Sacramento · Improve public safety and quality of life
Campaign site →

Secretary Of State

2 candidates

Shirley N. Weber (D)Incumbent
Shirley N. Weber is California's incumbent secretary of state and a candidate for re-election. A former Assembly member and San Diego State University professor, she oversees statewide elections, business filings, archives, campaign and lobbying disclosure, and key transparency functions.
Priorities: Protect secure and accessible elections · Support voting access and civic participation · Improve government transparency and public records stewardship
Campaign site →
Donald P. (Don) Wagner (R)
Donald P. Wagner is an Orange County supervisor, former Irvine mayor, former state assemblymember, and Republican candidate for California secretary of state. His campaign brings county election oversight, legislative experience, and public administration experience to the race.
Priorities: Strengthen election integrity and voter confidence · Improve business and voter services · Run the secretary of state's office with efficient public administration
Campaign site →

Controller

2 candidates

Malia M. Cohen (D)Incumbent
Malia M. Cohen is California's incumbent state controller and a candidate for re-election. The controller is the state's chief fiscal officer, responsible for accountability over payments, audits, fiscal reports, and independent oversight of public dollars.
Priorities: Protect fiscal accountability and independent oversight · Use audits and transparency to track public spending · Modernize responsible state payments and financial reporting
Campaign site →
Herb W Morgan (R)
Herb W Morgan is a Republican candidate for California state controller and a finance professional. His campaign emphasizes auditing state spending, surfacing waste and fraud, and making California's finances easier for taxpayers to understand.
Priorities: Audit government waste and spending · Bring transparency to state accounting · Strengthen financial accountability for taxpayers
Campaign site →

Treasurer

2 candidates

Eleni Kounalakis (D)
Eleni Kounalakis is California's lieutenant governor, a former U.S. ambassador to Hungary, and a Democratic candidate for state treasurer. Her campaign connects public finance experience with housing, clean energy, infrastructure, and responsible investment.
Priorities: Use public finance to support housing and infrastructure · Invest in clean energy and long-term state resilience · Manage public money with transparency and fiscal responsibility
Campaign site →
Jennifer Hawks (R)
Jennifer Hawks is a Republican candidate for California state treasurer. Her campaign emphasizes transparency, accountability, oversight of public funds, and clearer public reporting on state debt and spending.
Priorities: Restore transparency in state finances · Increase accountability and oversight of public funds · Promote fiscal discipline in debt and treasury management
Campaign site →

Insurance Commissioner

2 candidates

Jane Kim (D)
Jane Kim is a former San Francisco supervisor, attorney, educator, and Democratic candidate for California insurance commissioner. Her campaign emphasizes holding insurance companies accountable, protecting consumers, and improving access to coverage in a state facing wildfire and affordability pressures.
Priorities: Hold insurance companies accountable to consumers · Improve access to affordable home, auto, and health-related coverage · Address wildfire and disaster insurance availability
Campaign site →
Ben Allen (D)
Ben Allen is a California state senator and Democratic candidate for insurance commissioner. His campaign highlights consumer advocacy, experience responding to wildfire-related insurance problems, and work on legislation affecting consumers, the environment, and state governance.
Priorities: Put consumers first in insurance disputes · Improve insurance availability after wildfires and disasters · Stabilize the insurance market with transparent oversight
Campaign site →

Superintendent Of Public Instruction

2 candidates

Sonja Shaw
Sonja Shaw is president of the Chino Valley Unified School District board and a candidate for California superintendent of public instruction. The nonpartisan office provides statewide public education leadership, and Shaw's campaign focuses on parental involvement, academic performance, and local school accountability.
Priorities: Increase parent involvement and local school accountability · Improve reading, math, and classroom performance · Refocus schools on student safety and academic basics
Campaign site →
Richard Barrera
Richard Barrera is a San Diego Unified School District board member and a candidate for California superintendent of public instruction. His campaign emphasizes public school investment, student support, workforce pathways, and collaboration with educators and families.
Priorities: Strengthen public school funding and student support · Improve student achievement and career pathways · Partner with educators, families, and districts statewide
Campaign site →

Statewide Ballot Measures

14 statewide measures are on California's 2026 ballot. Tap a measure for the plain-language summary.

Proposition 1: The Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026
Authorize $11.25 billion in general obligation bonds: $10 billion to fund affordable rental housing and homeownership programs, and $1.25 billion for farm, home, and mobilehome purchase assistance for veterans..
Bond issue (legislative referral, SB 417)
Full measures guide →
Proposition 2: Save for California's Future Act
Change how much the state must deposit into the Budget Stabilization Account (rainy-day fund), raise the cap on the account's balance from 10% to 20% of General Fund tax proceeds, and exclude reserve deposits from the state spending limit..
Constitutional amendment (legislative referral, ACA 20)
Full measures guide →
Proposition 3: Provides Permanent Funding for Schools and Healthcare by Extending Existing Tax on High Incomes
Make permanent the existing 2012 voter-approved tax rates on high incomes, currently set to expire in 2031. Allocates the revenues 89% to K-12 schools and 11% to community colleges, with local school boards deciding how revenues are spent..
Initiated constitutional amendment
Full measures guide →
Proposition 4: California Fair Elections Act of 2026 (Public Campaign Financing)
Allow public funds to be used for campaign financing when candidates abide by expenditure limits and strict qualifying criteria, and increase penalties for prohibited foreign contributions in connection with ballot measures and elections..
State statute (legislative referral, SB 42)
Full measures guide →
Proposition 5: Elections: Recall of State Officers
Eliminate the successor election when a state officer is recalled, leaving the office vacant until filled under the Constitution and state law; if the Governor is recalled, the Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor for the remainder of the term..
Constitutional amendment (legislative referral, SCA 1)
Full measures guide →
Proposition 37: Creates Loan Program for Middle-Income Buyers of Qualified New Homes
Authorize up to $25 billion in bonds to offer eligible buyers fixed-rate second mortgages for up to 17% of the purchase price of a qualified new home. Bonds are repaid by homeowners' mortgage payments, not the State..
Initiated state statute
Full measures guide →
Proposition 38: Authorizes Bonds for Immunology Research
Authorize $8.4 billion in state general obligation bonds for immunology and immunotherapy research, split between a University of California-affiliated nonprofit research institute and a grant program for public or nonprofit universities and institutions..
Initiated state statute
Full measures guide →
Proposition 39: Establishes Additional Voter Identification and Citizenship Verification Requirements
Require voters to present government-issued identification at the polls (or the last four digits of a government-issued ID number when voting by mail), require the State to provide voter ID cards on request, and require officials to annually report citizenship-verification rates..
Initiated constitutional amendment
Full measures guide →
Proposition 40: Imposes One-Time Tax on Certain Individuals and Trusts
Impose a one-time tax of up to 5% on taxpayers and trusts with covered assets valued over $1 billion, allocating 90% of the revenues to health care and 10% to food assistance or education-related programs..
Initiated constitutional amendment and statute
Full measures guide →
Proposition 41: Requires Audits of Programs Funded by New State Special Taxes
Require pre-election and recurring audits of programs funded by new statewide special taxes, and prohibit new state taxes enacted after January 1, 2026 that exclude their revenues from the existing voter-approved state spending limit..
Initiated constitutional amendment
Full measures guide →
Proposition 42: Prohibits New State Personal Property Taxes and Certain Retroactive State Taxes
Prohibit any new state tax on the ownership or control of personal property (including retirement accounts, financial assets, and business interests) or that applies retroactively, for taxes enacted or taking effect on or after January 1, 2026..
Initiated constitutional amendment
Full measures guide →
Proposition 43: Local Taxes: Limitation
Beginning January 1, 2027, require two-thirds voter approval for local special taxes, including those proposed by citizen initiative, and prohibit local ad valorem property taxes except as provided under existing constitutional provisions..
Constitutional amendment (legislative referral, ACA 22)
Full measures guide →
Proposition 44: Requires Community Health Clinics Spend 90% of Revenue on Program Services
Require nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Centers to spend at least 90% of their revenue on program services advancing their charitable purpose rather than management and overhead, with monetary penalties for noncompliance..
Initiated state statute
Full measures guide →
Proposition 45: Modifies Environmental Review for Certain Projects
Amend the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to expedite environmental review of specified project categories (including most housing, transportation, water, health, and clean energy projects), setting deadlines for review and limiting court review of project approvals..
Initiated state statute
Full measures guide →

Places We’re Tracking

Open a local guide to preview candidate profiles by county, city, or jurisdiction. A ZIP code lookup is the fastest way to narrow this to a specific ballot.

Los Angeles County

28 candidates

28 tracked candidate profiles
4 office types represented

Santa Clara County

37 candidates

37 tracked candidate profiles
34 office types represented

San Diego

36 candidates

36 tracked candidate profiles
7 office types represented

San Bernardino County

34 candidates

34 tracked candidate profiles
8 office types represented

Balance of Santa Clara County

31 candidates

31 tracked candidate profiles
31 office types represented

Fresno

29 candidates

29 tracked candidate profiles
2 office types represented

Long Beach city

25 candidates

25 tracked candidate profiles
10 office types represented

Fresno County

24 candidates

24 tracked candidate profiles
10 office types represented

San Bernardino

23 candidates

23 tracked candidate profiles
3 office types represented

Sutter County

23 candidates

23 tracked candidate profiles
19 office types represented

Orange city

22 candidates

22 tracked candidate profiles
11 office types represented

Riverside County

22 candidates

22 tracked candidate profiles
13 office types represented

Sacramento

19 candidates

19 tracked candidate profiles
3 office types represented

Stanislaus County

19 candidates

19 tracked candidate profiles
13 office types represented

Orange County

18 candidates

18 tracked candidate profiles
7 office types represented

San Diego city

18 candidates

18 tracked candidate profiles
6 office types represented

Santa Clara

18 candidates

18 tracked candidate profiles
2 office types represented

Balance of Los Angeles County

16 candidates

16 tracked candidate profiles
4 office types represented

Nevada County

16 candidates

16 tracked candidate profiles
13 office types represented

Ventura County

16 candidates

16 tracked candidate profiles
7 office types represented

San Mateo County

15 candidates

15 tracked candidate profiles
10 office types represented

Carson city

14 candidates

14 tracked candidate profiles
11 office types represented

Imperial County

13 candidates

13 tracked candidate profiles
7 office types represented

Sacramento County

13 candidates

13 tracked candidate profiles
5 office types represented

San Benito County

13 candidates

13 tracked candidate profiles
8 office types represented

Santa Barbara County

13 candidates

13 tracked candidate profiles
8 office types represented

Torrance city

13 candidates

13 tracked candidate profiles
6 office types represented

Richmond city

12 candidates

12 tracked candidate profiles
4 office types represented

Chula Vista city

11 candidates

11 tracked candidate profiles
3 office types represented

Merced County

11 candidates

11 tracked candidate profiles
6 office types represented

Orange

11 candidates

11 tracked candidate profiles
3 office types represented

Balance of Kern County

10 candidates

10 tracked candidate profiles
6 office types represented

Tehama County

10 candidates

10 tracked candidate profiles
7 office types represented

Mendocino County

9 candidates

9 tracked candidate profiles
5 office types represented

Monterey County

9 candidates

9 tracked candidate profiles
5 office types represented

Find Your Exact Ballot

Enter an address to narrow statewide, congressional, county, and municipal races.

Voting Resources

Registration, deadlines, and official election links for voters.

Election Calendar

Track major 2026 dates and upcoming election milestones.

Note: State hubs summarize tracked places; exact ballot results depend on address and district boundaries.Profiles: Candidate data updates as official filings and campaign materials publish.