Elections

Tom Steyer’s arguably equally famous older brother Jim is a well known force in Sacramento working on tech regulations and protecting kids online. Does that mean he’d have an open ear in the governor’s office on a hot-button issue if Tom wins?

Vulnerable Republican incumbents are seeking to distance themselves from President Donald Trump as they try to hang on to 2024 gains in the state Legislature.

The fight for control of the U.S. House runs through California’s 52 congressional districts, many of which were dramatically restructured by Proposition 50 last year. Democrats especially are jockeying for position in several races pitting them against each other.

Five major candidates, including state Treasurer Fiona Ma and former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, are competing for the notoriously anticlimactic gig of lieutenant governor.

California's top vote-counter, Secretary of State Shirley Weber, faces a challenge from Republican Don Wagner in the 2026 election.

In a chaotic debate Tuesday night in Claremont, Democrats targeted Steyer and Becerra and everyone sought a breakout moment. No one broke out of the pack.

CalMatters interviewed five leading candidates who want to regulate one of the world’s biggest insurance markets. Here’s what they said.

California makes it easy to vote, with mail-in ballots and registration at the DMV. An upcoming ballot measure would add new voter ID requirements compelling people to prove their citizenship before they cast a ballot.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan dominated fellow Democrats in fundraising, bringing in $13 million. Katie Porter raised $2.8 million, Xavier Becerra brought in $1 million, Antonio Villaraigosa raised $707,000 and Tony Thurmond raised just $62,000. 

California’s notoriously long ballot-counting process has sown distrust in the state’s election systems. But experts can’t agree on how to speed up the process; some say a delayed result is better than potentially disenfranchising voters.