In summary
Californians are voting on more than just the next governor. They’ll determine the general election candidates for eight other statewide offices.
Californians have more to vote on today than just deciding who they want to be Gov. Gavin Newsom’s successor.
They’re also voting on several statewide offices, ranging from the governor’s second in command to the regulator for the state’s insurance market.
The top two vote-getters will go on the general election ballot, and voters will make the final call in November.
Attorney general: Democratic incumbent Rob Bonta faced a challenge from Republican Michael Gates for the role of California’s top cop. Gates, a former trial attorney who served as Huntington Beach city attorney and a deputy United States Attorney, raised less than half of what Bonta raised to keep his seat. Bonta and his predecessor, Xavier Becerra, used their office to file dozens of lawsuits against the Trump administration.
Superintendent of public instruction: The state superintendent manages the state’s Department of Education, overseeing school districts throughout the state. However, local school districts largely control budget and curriculum decisions, and the superintendent role could dwindle to chiefly advocacy if the governor can convince the Legislature to shift some of the offices’ responsibilities to the State Board of Education. The uncertain future for the role didn’t stop former and current Democratic lawmakers like Anthony Rendon, Josh Newman, and Al Muratsuchi from jumping into the race. In a surprise, two of the most influential education organizations in the state — the California Teachers Association and the California Charter Schools Association — bypassed the veteran lawmakers and instead endorsed Democrat Richard Barrera, the president of the San Diego Unified School District. Sonja Shaw, the former Chino Valley Unified School Board President, was endorsed by both Republican gubernatorial candidates.
Lieutenant governor: The role of gubernatorial second in command is largely ceremonial, with the largest responsibility involving standing in when the governor is out. The lieutenant governor also sits on several boards and commissions, and has the ability to cast a tie-breaking vote if the state Senate is gridlocked. Three Democrats netted the most money: Josh Fryday, a member of Newsom’s cabinet, followed by state Treasurer Fiona Ma and former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs.
Controller: Democratic incumbent Malia M. Cohen faced two challengers for her seat as the state’s chief accountant. Meghann Adams, a school bus driver from San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood ran on a progressive platform as a member of the Peace and Freedom Party. Herb W. Morgan, a Republican, ran on a promise of exposing fraud in government.
Board of Equalization: This five-member group is the nation’s only elected tax board. It advises county assessors, sets the taxable value of property owned by utilities and railroads, and hears some taxpayer appeals. Four districts are up for election this year: District 1, covering much of inland California; District 2, coastal California north of Los Angeles; District 3, representing the Los Angeles area; and District 4, which encompasses the San Diego area.
Secretary of state: Republican Donald P. Wagner, an Orange County supervisor, is challenging Democratic incumbent Shirley Weber for the role of the state’s top elections official. Wagner supports requiring voter ID at the polls and criticized Weber for the state’s slow ballot-counting process. Weber was appointed to her role by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021 after eight years in the Assembly, and won a four-year term in 2022. She has overseen the implementation of universal mail-in voting in the state, and has pledged to further expand voter access.
Treasurer: Democratic candidates dwarfed Republicans in fundraising for the role of state treasurer, California’s chief banker. The role requires managing and investing unspent taxpayer money and overseeing the state’s borrowing and debts. Anna Caballero, most recently the chair of the state Senate’s powerful Appropriations Committee, and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis both raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from large donors, including unions, tribes, and businesses. Kounalakis originally ran for governor, but dropped out at the end of 2025.
Insurance commissioner: Californians get a chance to weigh in on who should regulate the state’s embattled insurance market, which has been grappling with how to cope with insurers leaving the state amid growing wildfire risks. Current and former state Democratic lawmakers Ben Allen and Steven Bradford are among the candidates, as is Democrat Patrick Wolff, a financial analyst whose campaign is largely self-funded. The Republican Party has endorsed insurance agent Stacy A. Korsgaden.
