California: what's on the November 3, 2026 ballot
Every candidate below is listed alphabetically, with party shown as text only. Open a name for their stated positions, background and recent news, each with sources.
Open California on the mapKey dates
- Early voting and ballot drop-off: October 5, 2026 to November 3, 2026. Early voting sites and ballot drop-off locations open October 5. Vote centers in Voter's Choice Act counties open October 24.
- Vote-by-mail ballots mailed to all registered voters: October 5, 2026. California mails a ballot to every registered voter, so you do not have to request one. Counties start mailing ballots by October 5.
- Last day to register to vote (standard deadline): October 19, 2026. After this date, same-day conditional registration is available October 20 through November 3, 2026. You register and vote a provisional ballot.
- Election Day: November 3, 2026. Polls are open statewide from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Official election information: vote.gov
Who's running
Only the U.S. Senate and governor races are loaded so far. Other statewide offices, ballot measures, U.S. House and local races aren't loaded yet. Check your sample ballot for the full list.
State
Governor
The governor serves a four-year term. This is an open seat because Governor Gavin Newsom cannot run again. The lieutenant governor is elected in a separate race, not on a joint ticket.
- Xavier Becerra Democratic · Open seat
- Steve Hilton Republican · Open seat
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