Californians will have an extensive ballot for the November 2026 election, featuring a governor’s race, congressional positions, and 14 propositions. Ensure your vote counts!
Reported by Lynn La, CalMatters
This piece was initially published by CalMatters. Subscribe to their election newsletter to receive critical updates on ballot propositions and election races.
It’s essential to finalize your plans for Election Day, especially if you haven’t already sent in your ballot.
Voters in California are facing significant decisions, including selecting the next state leader, determining the makeup of the U.S. House (and possibly the controlling party in Congress), and deciding whether California will be the first state to implement a billionaires’ tax.
Additionally, there are a staggering 14 propositions on our statewide ballots, addressing intricate subjects such as environmental regulations and healthcare funding.
Furthermore, President Donald Trump and his administration have challenged the procedures of California elections for several months, starting with an executive order intended to restrict mail-in voting, which is widely utilized in the state. Although that initiative was dismissed in court, it has raised concerns about the delivery of ballots.
Currently, the administration is litigating against California to compel election officials to exclude up to 20,000 ballots that the federal government claims might have been mailed to noncitizens. Additionally, they have indicted 28 immigrants for allegedly voting or registering illegally. In response, Democratic congressional leaders and affiliated organizations have also filed suits against the administration.
Here’s what you need to know to catch up and ensure your vote is counted.
Voting Instructions
Early voting is already underway in various areas across all counties. You can locate nearby voting centers here to cast your vote in person or drop off your ballot.
You also have the option to mail your ballot, which needs to be postmarked by or on Election Day and received by election offices within seven days after. Authorities encourage voters to send their ballots early to avoid any postal delays.
After submitting your ballot, you can track its status here. County election officials must start reporting results to the Secretary of State on Election Night, no more than two hours after counting begins. They have 30 days to complete counting and finalizing results, followed by 38 days for the Secretary of State to certify them. Additional details about California’s vote-counting procedure can be found here.
Governor’s Race in California
In a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by two to one, Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra is the frontrunner. Unlike his opponent, Republican Steve Hilton, Becerra has not disclosed specific policies he would pursue as governor.
The son of Mexican immigrants, Becerra boasts a long history of public service: he has served multiple terms in Congress, made history as California’s first Latino attorney general, and became the first Latino U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Becerra encourages voters to review his past actions, such as suing the first Trump administration to maintain the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration policy and collaborating with Texas to uphold the Affordable Care Act. He has also been an early advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and universal public healthcare.
Conversely, Hilton aims to be the first Republican to secure a statewide office in two decades and is backed by Trump. Born in the U.K. to Hungarian immigrants, Hilton’s political stance doesn’t fit neatly into any one ideology. While he worked in London to reform the British Conservative Party’s image, he advocated for welfare cuts, reducing government jobs, and privatizing state services. Nevertheless, he also supported a higher national living wage in the U.K. and criticized the right for often blaming China and immigration for economic inequality in the U.S.
He has campaigned in a lighthearted manner, promoting ambitious promises like eliminating the California DMV, lowering gas prices to $3 per gallon, and cutting electricity bills in half.
The two candidates debated just once, in September, during which Becerra repeatedly associated Hilton with Trump, while Hilton claimed Becerra was avoiding addressing California’s real issues.
For more information, see where the candidates stand on climate, healthcare, AI regulation, water management, and homelessness.
Numerous Propositions
By now, you’ve likely heard about the proposed billionaire tax. However, there are over a dozen other propositions for your consideration.
To streamline the process, we have a dedicated overview of the 14 ballot measures. You can also explore our detailed discussions on the five tax measures and another focusing on the three bond measures.
In addition to our voter guide descriptions and quizzes on propositions, our journalists have spent recent weeks investigating each measure, detailing what they entail and who supports or opposes them.
Take a look:
Midterm Congressional Contests
Many Californians will tune in on Election Night to see which party will control Congress during the last two years of the Trump administration. Several key races are underway in California. Here’s a summary of them.
- Congressional District 4, where longtime Democratic Representative Mike Thompson faces off against fellow Democrat Eric Jones in Napa and Sonoma wine country.
- Congressional District 7, where Democratic Representative Doris Matsui is being challenged from the left by Democrat Mai Vang for a Sacramento-area seat.
- Congressional District 11, where Democratic State Senator Scott Wiener is competing against Democratic San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan for U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco seat.
- Congressional District 13, where Democratic Representative Adam Gray is being challenged by former Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln, a Republican, to represent the Northern San Joaquin Valley.
- Congressional District 22, where progressive Democrat Randy Villegas is attempting to unseat Republican Representative David Valadao for a Southern San Joaquin Valley seat.
- Congressional District 48, where Democratic San Diego City Councilmember Marnie von Wilpert is vying against Republican San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond.
Insurance Commissioner and Additional Statewide Races
Voters will also select the state’s insurance commissioner, who oversees various types of insurance. Given that Californians face some of the highest insurance costs, the individual in this position could significantly impact your finances. If you’re a renter, you’ll want to pay attention, as the well-being of the state’s property insurance market can affect rent prices, housing availability, and the community’s ability to recover from disasters.
Two Democrats, State Senator Ben Allen of El Segundo and former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim, are contending for this role.
While they share similar views, both propose different solutions to California’s insurance challenges. Kim is advocating for more progressive measures, including public disaster insurance and expanding low-cost auto insurance coverage to all California drivers.
In contrast, Allen’s strategy for wildfire risk management includes pushing the insurance sector to take further actions in reducing fire hazards. Political action committees have poured a record amount exceeding $6 million into this election, with more than half, $3.2 million, directed in support of Allen.
The other races primarily feature traditional Democrat versus Republican contests. For further information on these elections, check out our voter guide:
CalMatters reporter Maya C. Miller contributed to this article.
