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 , James Gallagher was elected on June 2 to succeed the late Doug LaMalfa. In , 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.
Lieutenant governor
Incumbent Democratic Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis is term-limited and ineligible to seek re-election; she is instead running for state Treasurer. Democratic State Treasurer Fiona Ma and former Republican state Senator Gloria Romero advanced to the general election to succeed her.https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/state/a-job-about-nothing-meet-the-candidates-for-california-lieutenant-governor/article_110cba92-0ea9-4502-ba50-fa38eda07888.html
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.https://www.sbsun.com/2026/05/05/michael-gates-california-attorney-general-candidate-2026-primary-election-questionnaire/
Secretary of state
Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Shirley Weber is running for re-election. She advanced to the general election alongside Republican Orange County Supervisor Donald Wagner.https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2026/05/04/2026-primary-election-california-secretary-of-state-race-explainer
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.
Controller
Incumbent Democratic Controller Malia Cohen is running for re-election. She advanced to the general election alongside Republican financial advisor Herb Morgan,https://www.ocregister.com/2026/05/14/2026-california-controller-candidates-weigh-in-on-government-audits-divestments-and-property-taxes/ a former President of the San Diego Employees Retirement System.https://californiaglobe.com/author/herb-morgan/
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.
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.https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-05-01/2026-california-election-state-superintendent-public-instruction-voter-guidehttps://www.independent.com/2026/05/14/california-voters-are-about-to-elect-a-new-state-superintendent-its-barely-on-the-radar/
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. State Senator Shannon Grove and Fresno City Councilman Nelson Esparza are running to succeed him.
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.
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.
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.
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. This year, the state legislature has only placed propositions on the November ballot.
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.
Proposition 1, a legislatively-referred measure allowing the state to bond $11.25 billion for affordable housing. 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%. 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. 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. 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. 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%. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Proposition 43, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the state legislature as a compromise with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. It would restore the two-thirds voter approval requirement under Proposition 13 for new or increased citizen-initiated local special taxes (taxes dedicated for specific purposes). 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.