The 2024 United States presidential election in California took place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, as part of the 2024 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. California voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote. California has 54 electoral votes in the Electoral College, the most in the country.

The most populous state in the union, California is considered a strongly blue state, having voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1992. In these contests, it has supported Democratic candidates by double digits in each of them except for 2004, when John Kerry won it by 9.95 percentage points. It was widely expected that California voters would maintain this trend, particularly with Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. Harris, a native of California, served as the state's attorney general from 2011 to 2017 and later represented California in the U.S. Senate from 2017 to 2021 before assuming the vice presidency. She is the first Californian to lead a major party presidential ticket since Ronald Reagan in 1984 and the first Democrat from the Western United States.

Although Kamala Harris won in California by a margin of 20 percentage points, it represented a significant decrease compared to Joe Biden's 29-point victory in the state in 2020. This trend of diminished Democratic voter turnout was also evident in other traditionally Democratic strongholds, including Massachusetts, New York and Illinois. Harris's performance in California was the worst for a Democratic candidate since 2004, failing to receive at least 60% of the vote in the state for the first time since then.

Primary elections Democratic primary

The California Democratic primary was held on Super Tuesday, March 5, 2024. President Biden won all 424 pledged delegates with nearly 90% of the vote, the largest share of delegates awarded by any contest in the 2024 primaries.

The electors of the Democratic Party are chosen by the candidates who received the most votes in the primary election in their respective congressional district.

Republican primary

The California Republican primary was held on Super Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Former president Donald Trump was challenged by Nikki Haley, the only other major candidate remaining in the Republican primaries. Trump won the state in a landslide, defeating Haley by 60 points and earning all 169 delegates.

The state was the site of the second Republican primary debate, held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on September 27, 2023.

The electors of the Republican Party are their nominees for the main offices of the State of California and for senator at the last two elections, as well as their leaders in the state legislature and party committee.

Libertarian primary

Charles Ballay was the only candidate to qualify for the Libertarian Party primary ballot. Chase Oliver later qualified as a write-in candidate.

+ 2024 California Libertarian primary Candidate Votes Percentage Charles Ballay 21,906 98.6% Chase Oliver (write-in) 313 1.4% Total: 22,219 100.0% The electors for the Libertarian Party were elected by the state party convention.

Green primary

Jill Stein, the Green Party's nominee for president in 2012 and 2016, was the only candidate on the California primary ballot, although she was followed by three write-in candidates. Stein won the primary and earned all 59 of the state's delegates.

+ 2024 California Green primary Candidate Votes Percentage Delegates Jill Stein 15,801 99.96% 59 Matthew Pruden (write-in) 3 0.02% Jorge Zavala (write-in) 3 0.02% Davi (write-in) 1 0.00% Total: 15,808 100.0% 59

Peace and Freedom primary

Three candidates successfully achieved ballot access in the Peace and Freedom Party non-binding presidential primary: Claudia de la Cruz, the nominee for the Party for Socialism and Liberation; Cornel West, who ran an independent campaign after withdrawing from the Green nomination; and Jasmine Sherman. The party's presidential nominee was chosen by the state central committee in August.

+ 2024 California Peace and Freedom primary Candidate Votes Percentage Claudia de la Cruz 6,430 47.0% Cornel West 5,455 39.9% Jasmine Sherman 1,795 13.1% Total: 13,680 100.0%

American Independent Party The sole candidate of the American Independent Party primary was James Bradley, who was simultaneously running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican in the blanket primary held on the same day. Andrew George Rummel also qualified as an official write-in candidate.

+ 2024 California American Independent primary Candidate Votes Percentage James Bradley 45,565 99.96% Andrew George Rummel (write-in) 16 0.04% Total: 45,581 100.0%

General election Candidates

In California, six political parties have qualified for ballot access in the 2024 election. On August 29, 2024, California secretary of state Shirley Weber published the certified list of candidates for the general election: Kamala Harris / Tim Walz — Democratic Donald Trump / JD Vance — Republican Robert F. Kennedy Jr. / Nicole Shanahan — American Independent Jill Stein / Butch Ware — Green Chase Oliver / Mike ter Maat — Libertarian Claudia De la Cruz / Karina Garcia — Peace and Freedom Weber's office published the list of write-in candidates on October 25, in which Peter Sonski was the only certified candidate listed, alongside his running mate Lauren Onak.

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report December 19, 2023 Inside Elections April 26, 2023 Sabato's Crystal Ball June 29, 2023 Decision Desk HQ/The Hill December 14, 2023 CNalysis December 30, 2023 CNN January 14, 2024 The Economist June 12, 2024538 June 11, 2024 NBC News October 6, 2024

Polling Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KamalaHarris DonaldTrump Other /UndecidedResearch Co.November 2–3, 2024450 (LV)± 4.6%64%32%4%Competitive Edge ResearchOctober 28–30, 2024517 (RV)± 4.3%53%38%8%UC Berkeley IGSOctober 22–28, 20244,341 (LV)± 2.0%57%35%8%ActiVoteOctober 7–27, 2024400 (LV)± 4.9%63%37%–Rose Institute/YouGovOctober 7–17, 20241,139 (RV)± 3.4%60%33%7%63%34%3%1,139 (LV)63%34%3%Emerson CollegeOctober 12–14, 20241,000 (LV)± 3.0%59%35%6%61%37%2%ActiVoteSeptember 22 – October 10, 2024400 (LV)± 4.9%63.5%36.5%–ActiVoteAugust 22 – September 21, 2024400 (LV)± 4.9%64%36%–Emerson CollegeSeptember 3–5, 2024815 (LV)± 3.4%60%36%4%61%38%1%ActiVoteAugust 2–19, 2024400 (LV)± 4.9%65%35%–UC Berkeley IGSJuly 31 – August 11, 20243,765 (LV)± 2.0%59%34%7% July 21, 2024 Kamala Harris declares her candidacy.Emerson College/Inside California ElectionsNovember 11–14, 20231,000 (RV)± 3.0%47%38%15% Kamala Harris vs. Donald Trump vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vs. Cornel West vs. Jill Stein vs. Chase Oliver Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KamalaHarris DonaldTrump Robert F.Kennedy Jr. CornelWest JillStein ChaseOliver Other /UndecidedCygnal (R)October 27–30, 2024611 (LV)± 4.0%55%31%4%–2%1%7%Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaOctober 7–15, 20241,137 (LV)± 3.7%59%33%3%–1%0%4%UC Berkeley IGSSeptember 25 – October 1, 20243,045 (LV)± 2.5%57%35%2%1%1%0%4%University of Southern California/CSU Long Beach/Cal Poly PomonaSeptember 12–25, 20241,685 (LV)± 2.4%58%36%2%–2%0%2%Capitol WeeklySeptember 11–16, 20241,054 (LV)–59%34%3%0%2%–2%Capitol WeeklyAugust 23–26, 20243,154 (LV)–58%36%4%0%2%–– August 23, 2024 Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. suspends his presidential campaign and endorses Donald Trump.Capitol WeeklyAugust 13–15, 20241,738 (LV)–57%37%5%0%1%––Capitol WeeklyJuly 25–27, 20241,904 (LV)–59%35%5%0%2%–– July 21, 2024 Kamala Harris declares her candidacy.Capitol WeeklyJuly 19–22, 20242,121 (LV)–54%33%7%0%4%–2%Capitol WeeklyJuly 12–14, 20241,044 (LV)–54%35%7%0%3%–2%

Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JoeBiden DonaldTrump Other /Undecided July 21, 2024 Joe Biden withdraws from the race.Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaJune 24 – July 2, 20241,261 (LV)± 3.7%55%30%15%Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaMay 23 – June 2, 20241,098 (LV)± 3.9%55%31%14%The Bullfinch GroupApril 16–23, 2024250 (RV)± 6.2%59%34%7%John Zogby StrategiesApril 13–21, 2024740 (LV)–56%38%6%Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaMarch 19–25, 20241,089 (LV)± 3.9%54%31%14%Mainstreet Research/Florida Atlantic UniversityFebruary 29 – March 3, 2024740 (RV)–54%36%10%692 (LV)56%37%7%Emerson College/Inside California ElectionsFebruary 24–27, 20241,000 (RV)± 3.0%57%35%8%UC Berkeley IGSFebruary 22–26, 20246,536 (LV)± 1.5%52%34%14%Emerson College/Inside California ElectionsFebruary 16–18, 20241,000 (RV)± 3.0%55%33%12%Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaFebruary 6–13, 20241,075 (LV)± 3.9%55%32%13%Emerson College/Inside California ElectionsJanuary 11–14, 20241,087 (RV)± 2.9%54%34%12%UC Berkeley IGSJanuary 1–4, 20244,471 (LV)± 2.0%56%37%19%Emerson College/Inside California ElectionsNovember 11–14, 20231,000 (RV)± 3.0%50%37%13%Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaNovember 9–16, 20231,113 (LV)± 3.2%54%30%16%UC Berkeley IGSOctober 24–30, 20234,506 (LV)± 2.5%46%31%23%Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaOctober 3–19, 20231,377 (LV)± 4.0%60%29%12%Data ViewpointOctober 1, 2023533 (RV)± 4.3%67%33%–Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaAugust 25 – September 5, 20231,146 (LV)± 3.7%57%26%17%UC Berkeley IGSAugust 24–29, 20236,030 (RV)± 2.0%51%31%18%Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaJune 7–29, 20231,089 (LV)± 3.8%57%31%12%Emerson College/Inside California ElectionsJune 4–7, 20231,056 (RV)± 2.9%54%32%14%Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaMay 17–24, 20231,062 (LV)± 3.9%58%25%17%UC Berkeley/Los Angeles TimesFebruary 14–20, 20237,512 (RV)± 2.0%57%27%16%5,149 (LV)59%29%12%

Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vs. Cornel West vs. Jill Stein Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JoeBiden DonaldTrump Robert F.Kennedy Jr. CornelWest JillStein Other /UndecidedCapitol WeeklySeptember 11–16, 20241,054 (LV)–51%34%4%0%3%8%Capitol WeeklyAugust 23–26, 20243,154 (LV)–52%35%4%0%3%5%Capitol WeeklyAugust 13–15, 20241,738 (LV)–51%36%6%2%1%5% July 21, 2024 Joe Biden withdraws from the race.Capitol WeeklyJuly 19–22, 20242,121 (LV)–52%35%6%0%4%3%Capitol WeeklyJuly 12–14, 20241,044 (LV)–51%33%6%0%5%5%The Bullfinch GroupApril 16–23, 2024250 (RV)± 6.2%48%28%12%2%2%8%Emerson College/Inside California ElectionsFebruary 24–27, 20241,000 (RV)± 3.0%51%32%6%2%1%8%UC Berkeley IGSFebruary 22–26, 20246,536 (LV)± 1.5%40%28%11%3%2%16%Emerson College/Inside California ElectionsFebruary 16–18, 20241,000 (RV)± 3.0%49%31%8%1%1%10%USC Dornsife/CSU Long Beach/Cal Poly PomonaJanuary 21–29, 20241,416 (LV)± 2.6%53%25%7%3%1%9%Emerson College/Inside California ElectionsJanuary 11–14, 20241,087 (RV)± 2.9%47%32%6%1%1%13%UC Berkeley IGSJanuary 1–4, 20244,471 (LV)± 2.0%47%31%7%2%2%11%Emerson College/Inside California ElectionsNovember 11–14, 20231,000 (RV)± 3.0%43%31%8%1%2%15%UC Berkeley IGSOctober 24–30, 20234,506 (LV)± 2.5%43%29%9%4%–15%

Joe Biden vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JoeBiden Robert F.Kennedy Jr. Other /UndecidedJohn Zogby StrategiesApril 13–21, 2024740 (LV)–51%40%9%

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vs. Donald Trump Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Robert F.Kennedy Jr. DonaldTrump Other /UndecidedJohn Zogby StrategiesApril 13–21, 2024740 (LV)–47%35%18%

Joe Biden vs. Ron DeSantis Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JoeBiden RonDeSantis Other /UndecidedEmerson College/Inside California ElectionsJune 4–7, 20231,056 (RV)± 2.9%54%28%18%UC Berkeley/Los Angeles TimesFebruary 14–20, 20237,512 (RV)± 2.0%54%31%15%5,149 (LV)56%34%10%

Joe Biden vs. Nikki Haley Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JoeBiden NikkiHaley Other /UndecidedData ViewpointOctober 1, 2023533 (RV)± 4.3%58%42%–

Gavin Newsom vs. Donald Trump