The Green Papers: California 2025 General Election
 
Flag images courtesy of The World Flag Database. Copyright http://www.flags.net/ California
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Senators:2(Electoral Classes 1 and 3)
Governor:1 
2020 Census:39,576,757 (12.78% of 309,785,186)
2024, 2028 Electoral Votes:54(0.00% of 538)
2022-2030 Representatives:52(11.95% of 435)
Capital:Sacramento
 

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California State and Local Government


California has a "Top-Two" primary system:

  • Regular Elections: All candidates, both party members and independents, participate in a non-partisan Primary. The top two vote getters, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the General Election.
  • Special Elections: All candidates, both party members and independents, participate in a non-partisan Special Primary. If one candidate receives a majority (50% + 1) of the primary vote, that candidate is elected. Otherwise, the top two vote getters, regardless of party, advance to the Special General Election.
 
           

U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 119th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes

Class 1 Democratic Senator  Adam B. Schiff
Previously served in the US House being first elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2022.
First elected to the US Senate in a concurrent Special Election and General Election: 5 November 2024 [re: passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein on 28 September 2023].
Member of Congress and Senator-elect Adam B. Schiff resigned from the U.S. House effective 8 December to be seated as US Senator Class 1 on 9 December.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2030

Class 3 Democratic Senator  Alex Padilla
Appointed 22 December 2020 [re: Election of Senator Kamala D. Harris (Democratic) as Vice President]
First elected in a concurrent Special Election and General Election: 8 November 2022.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2028

Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 4-year terms, All Governors

  Democratic Governor  Gavin Newsom
First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022.
Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
The current Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election.
Open Chair - At term limit
 Candidate list (10)
  Candidate Democratic     state Senator  Toni G. Atkins
  Candidate Democratic     Stephen J. Cloobeck
  Candidate Republican     Michael R. Huizar
  Candidate Green     Raymond Jenkins
  Candidate Democratic     Lieutenant Governor  Eleni Kounalakis
24 April 2023: Candidate for Governor in 2026.
  Candidate Democratic     Public Instruction Superintendent  Tony K. Thurmond
23 September 2023: "I didn't come from money, power, or influence. I'm running for Governor to be a voice for those who need one ...."
  Candidate Democratic     former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
  Candidate Green     Butch Ware
  Candidate Democratic     former state Controller Betty Yee
First elected as Comptroller: 2014, re-elected: 2018
  Candidate Republican     Leo Zacky

Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 4-year terms

  Democratic Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis
First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
The current Lieutenant Governor is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election.
Open Seat - At term limit.
24 April 2023: Candidate for Governor in 2026.
 Candidate list (3)
  Candidate Democratic     state Senator  Steven "Steve" Bradford
  Candidate Democratic     Treasurer  Fiona Ma
  Candidate Democratic     former Mayor of Stockton Michael Tubbs

119th U.S. House of Representatives  2-year term. Election Cycle 2026, 2028. No Term Limit. 119th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
9 Republican (9 Undetermined);
43 Democratic (43 Undetermined)

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 1 Republican Member of Congress  Doug LaMalfa
First elected: 2012
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 2 Democratic Member of Congress  Jared W. Huffman
First elected: 2012
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 3 Republican Member of Congress  Kevin Kiley
First elected: 2022.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 4 Democratic Member of Congress  C. Michael "Mike" Thompson
First elected: 1998
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 5 Republican Member of Congress  Thomas "Tom" McClintock
First elected: 2008
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 6 Democratic Member of Congress  Amerish "Ami" Bera
First elected: 2012
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 7 Democratic Member of Congress  Doris K. Matsui
First elected in a special election 8 March 2005
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 8 Democratic Member of Congress  John Raymond Garamendi
First elected in a special election: 3 November 2009 to fill the seat of Member of Congress Ellen O. Tauscher
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
 Candidate list (1) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Republican     Rudy Recile
FEC H2CA00153; 25 Nov 24; Tot $21,112; Dsb $20,872
 8 July 2024: Member of Congress John Raymond Garamendi (Democratic) announced that he has been been diagnosed with early-stage multiple myeloma (a cancer affecting the white blood cells) and will be undergoing chemotherapy.

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 9 Democratic Member of Congress  Josh Harder
First elected: 2018
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 10 Democratic Member of Congress  Mark DeSaulnier
First elected: 2014
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 11 Democratic Member of Congress  Nancy Pelosi
First elected: 2 June 1987- in Special Election re: death of Member of Congress Sala Burton, 1 February 1987
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 12 Democratic Member of Congress  Lateefah Simon
First elected: 2024.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 13 Democratic Member of Congress Adam C. Gray
First elected: 2024
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
 Candidate list (1) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     Angelina Sigala
FEC H6CA13173

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 14 Democratic Member of Congress  Eric Michael Swalwell
First elected: 2012
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 15 Democratic Member of Congress  Kevin Mullin
First elected: 2022.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 16 Democratic Member of Congress Sam T. Liccardo
First elected: 2024.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 17 Democratic Member of Congress  Rohit "Ro" Khanna
First elected: 2016
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 18 Democratic Member of Congress  Zoe Lofgren
First elected: 1994
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 19 Democratic Member of Congress  James Varni "Jimmy" Panetta
First elected: 2016
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 20 Republican Member of Congress Vince Fong
First elected in a Special Election: 21 May 2024 [re: resignation of Member of Congress Kevin McCarthy]
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 21 Democratic Member of Congress  Jim Costa
First elected: 2004
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 22 Republican Member of Congress  David G. Valadao
First elected: 2012; re-elected: 2014, 2016; unsuccessful candidate for reelection: 2018; re-elected: 2020.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
 Candidate list (1) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     former state Assemblyman Rudy Salas
FEC H2CA21233; 25 Nov 24; Tot $6,513,347; Dsb $6,142,793

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 23 Republican Member of Congress  Jay Obernolte
First elected: 2020
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 24 Democratic Member of Congress  Salud O. Carbajal
First elected: 2016
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 25 Democratic Member of Congress  Raul Ruiz
First elected: 2012
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 26 Democratic Member of Congress  Julia Brownley
First elected: 2012
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 27 Democratic Member of Congress George Whitesides
First elected: 2024.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 28 Democratic Member of Congress  Judy Chu
First elected in a Special Election 14 July 2009 to fill the seat of Member of Congress Hilda L. Solis
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 29 Democratic Member of Congress  Luz Maria Rivas
First elected: 2024.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 30 Democratic Member of Congress  Laura Friedman
First elected: 2024.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 31 Democratic Member of Congress  Gilbert "Gil" Cisneros
First elected: 2024.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 32 Democratic Member of Congress  Brad Sherman
First elected: 1996
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 33 Democratic Member of Congress  Pete Aguilar
First elected: 2014
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 34 Democratic Member of Congress  Jimmy Gomez
First elected: 6 June 2017 in a Special Election [re: resignation of Member of Congress Xavier Becerra (Democratic)].
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 35 Democratic Member of Congress  Norma J. Torres
First elected: 2014
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 36 Democratic Member of Congress  Ted W. Lieu
First elected: 2014
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 37 Democratic Member of Congress  Sydney K. Kamlager-Dove
First elected: 2022.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 38 Democratic Member of Congress  Linda T. Sánchez
First elected: 2002
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 39 Democratic Member of Congress  Mark A. Takano
First elected: 2012
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 40 Republican Member of Congress  Young Kim
First elected: 2020
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 41 Republican Member of Congress  Kenneth S. "Ken" Calvert
First elected: 1992
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 42 Democratic Member of Congress  Robert Garcia
First elected: 2022.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 43 Democratic Member of Congress Maxine Waters
First elected: 1990
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 44 Democratic Member of Congress  Nanette Diaz Barragán
First elected: 2016
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 45 Democratic Member of Congress Derek Tran
First elected: 2024
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 46 Democratic Member of Congress  Jose Luis "Lou" Correa
First elected: 2016
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 47 Democratic Member of Congress  Dave Min
First elected: 2024.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
 Candidate list (1) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Republican     Ryan "Sage" Lam
FEC H6CA47056

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 48 Republican Member of Congress  Darrell Edward Issa
First elected: 2000, re-elected 2002-2016; not a candidate for re-election: 2018; re-elected: 2020
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 49 Democratic Member of Congress  Mike Levin
First elected: 2018
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 50 Democratic Member of Congress  Scott Peters
First elected: 2012
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 51 Democratic Member of Congress  Sara Jacobs
First elected: 2020
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 52 Democratic Member of Congress  Juan Carlos Vargas
First elected: 2012
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

Secretary of State  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms

  Democratic Secretary of State  Shirley N. Weber
Appointed: 29 January 2021 by Governor Gavin Newsom (Democratic) [re: resignation of Secretary of State Alex Padilla following his appointment to the U.S. Senate]. First elected: 2022.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
The current Secretary of State is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Controller  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 4-year terms

  Democratic Controller  Malia M. Cohen
First elected: 2022.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
The current Controller is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Treasurer  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 4-year terms

  Democratic Treasurer  Fiona Ma
First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
The current Treasurer is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election.
Open Seat - At term limit.
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2026.
 Candidate list (1)
  Candidate Democratic     former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf

Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 4-year terms

  Democratic Attorney General  Rob Bonta
Appointed 22 April 2021 [re: ascension of Attorney General Xavier Becerra (Democratic) to the position of Health and Human Services Secretary in the Biden Administration.]. First elected: 2022.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
The current Attorney General is unaffected by the State's term limit.

Insurance Commissioner  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 4-year terms

  Democratic Insurance Commissioner  Ricardo Lara
First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
The current Insurance Commissioner is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election.
Open Seat - At term limit.
 Candidate list (1)
  Candidate Democratic     state Senator  Mike McGuire

Superintendent of Public Instruction  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 4-year terms

  Democratic Public Instruction Superintendent  Tony K. Thurmond
First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
The current Superintendent of Public Instruction is affected by a term limit and cannot run for re-election.
Open Seat - At term limit.
23 September 2023: "I didn't come from money, power, or influence. I'm running for Governor to be a voice for those who need one ...."
  

Candidates run as non-partisan. If a candidate receives the majority of the vote (50% + 1) in the June primary, that candidate is elected. When no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the primary, the top two vote-getters participate in the November runoff election. (Section 4180)

 

Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties   Those parties which received electoral votes through winning a plurality of a state's [or the District of Columbia's] popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
  Democratic (affiliates): 53 incumbents, 13 candidates
  Republican: 9 incumbents, 4 candidates
Major Third Parties   Any Party, other than a Major Party, receiving a minimum of 15/100ths of 1 percent of the nationwide popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
  Green (affiliates): 2 candidates
  Libertarian
  Reform (affiliates)
Other Third Parties
  American Independent (affiliate of America's Independent)
  Peace And Freedom
  The Humane Party
  Unity
 
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.

Primary dates marked "presumably" and polling times marked "reportedly" are based on unofficial or estimated data (especially as regards local variations from a jurisdictionwide statutory and/or regulatory standard) and are, thereby, subject to change.

"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.


Links Links to other web sites

Constitution   Links to State Constitutions
  http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/const.html
Election Authority
  California Secretary of State
  California Secretary of State - Elections
Legislature   Links to State Legislatures
  California State Assembly
  California State Legislature
  California State Senate
Democratic
  California Democratic Party
  California Senate Democratic Caucus
  California Senate Democratic Caucus
Third Party
  American Independent Party (prefers NOT to be allied with the national Constitution Party)
  California Peace and Freedom Party
  Green Party of California
  Libertarian Party of California
  Libertarian Party of California
  Reform Party of California
  The Humane Party
  The Unity Party of California
Media & others
  @LA - the guide to Greater Los Angeles and Southern California
  Alameda Times-Star
  Antelope Valley Press
  Beverly Hills Weekly
  California Voter Foundation
  Calraaces.com - Insider Commentary on California Politics
  Chico Enterprise-Record
  Daily Breeze - Torrance
  Daily Democrat - Woodland
  Daily Republic - Fairfield
  East Bay Times - Walnut Creek
  ElectionVolunteer.com - California Candidate and Election Information
  FlashReport
  Fort Bragg Advocate-News
  Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - Ontario
  Join California Election History for the State of California
  Los Angeles Daily News
  North County Times - San Diego and Riverside Counties
  OC Weekly - Orange County
  Pasadena Star-News
  Politics1.com - California
  Random Lengths News - San Pedro
  Redlands Daily Facts
  Ridgecrest Daily Independent
  Rough & Tumble
  San Bernardino Sun
  San Francisco Bay Guardian
  San Gabriel Valley Tribune - West Covina
  San Jose Mercury News
  Santa Rosa Press-Democrat
  Smart Voter - League of Women Voters
  Sonoma Index-Tribune
  The Bakersfield Californian
  The Davis Enterprise
  The Lompoc Record
  The Los Angeles Times
  The Mountain Democrat - Placerville
  The Orange County Register - Santa Ana
  The Reporter - Vacaville
  The San Diego Union-Tribune
  The Union - Grass Valley
  Times-Standard - Eureka
  Whittier Daily News

 


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