CS Knowledge Base

The 2026 California general election will take place on November 3, 2026. The statewide direct primary election was held on June 2.

California voters will elect all of California's seats to the United States House of Representatives, all of the seats of the California State Assembly, all even-numbered seats of the California State Senate, and the Governor of California and various statewide offices.

Pursuant to Proposition 14 passed in 2010, California uses a nonpartisan primary for its races. All the candidates for the same elected office, regardless of respective political party, run against each other during the primary. The candidates receiving the most and second-most votes in the primary election then become the contestants in the general election.

All four seats on the California State Board of Equalization are up for election, with three of four incumbents term-limited and ineligible for re-election.

Since the enactment of Senate Bill 202 in 2011, only state propositions placed on the ballot by the state legislature may appear in the June primary election, and all measures placed via a petition signed by registered voters are automatically moved to the general election ballot.^[12][13] This year, the state legislature has only placed propositions on the November ballot.^[14]

On June 25, 2026 (2026-06-25), Secretary of State Shirley Weber announced that the following propositions had qualified (or "eligible" for those placed via a petition) for and would appear the November ballot:^[14][15][a]

• Proposition 3, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot via petition that would make permanent the top marginal income tax rates first enacted via Proposition 30 in 2012, and their expiration date extended to 2031 via Proposition 55 in 2016. Under the 2024 levels (adjusted annually for inflation), the rates would apply to single filers earning at least $360,000, joint filers earning at least $721,000, and $490,000 for heads of household. 89% of the revenue generated would fund K-12 schools, and 11% on community colleges. Although local school boards would decide how these revenues are specifically spent, they cannot use them for any administrative costs.^[16]
• Proposition 4, a state statute placed on the ballot by the state legislature. It would repeal the 1988 ban on public financing of campaigns and allow for state and local governments to create programs that provide candidates with public funds under spending limits and eligibility rules.^[17]
• Proposition 5, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the state legislature. It would eliminate the election of a successor when a state officer is recalled, thereby leaving the office vacant until it is filled according to state law; allowing for the recalled officer to run again for the same office at the special election, if one is held; and authorize the lieutenant governor to fill the gubernatorial vacancy until the expired term, unless the vacancy occurred before the close of the nomination period for the next statewide election during the first two years of the governor’s term, in which a special election would be called and which the winner would serve the remainder of the term.^[18]
• Proposition 37, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition. It would establish a second mortgage homebuyer program for qualified homebuyers on qualifying homes administered by the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), and authorize the CalHFA to issue up to $25 billion in bonds to fund the program. The second mortgages would cover up to 17% of the home's price for those making a down payment of at least 3%.^[19]
• Proposition 39, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot via petition. It would mandate voter identification requirements, specifically voters would have to either present a government-issued ID when voting in-person or the last four digits of a government-issued ID number when voting by mail. The state would also need to provide free voter ID cards upon request to those who do not already have a government-issued ID. County election officials would further be required to report the percentage of voters who have been verified.^[20][21]
• Propositon 40, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot via petition. It would require the state's billionaires would pay a one-time 5% tax on their accumulated wealth, including businesses, securities, art, collectibles, and intellectual property. Real property and some pensions and retirement accounts would be exempt. 90% of the revenue generated would fund health care, and 10% on food assistance or education-related programs. It also mandates that the revenue would supplement, not replace, the existing funding for these programs.^[22]
• Proposition 43, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the state legislature. It would mandate that citizen-initiated constitutional amendments proposing a higher vote threshold for future state or local ballot measures to meet the same higher threshold to pass (for example, a ballot initiative proposing a 60% requirement for certain other measures would itself require a 60% vote to pass).^[23]
• Proposition 44, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition. It would require nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and FQHC Look-Alikes to spend at least 90 percent of their annual total revenue on expenses advancing their respective health center's mission.^[24]
• Proposition 45, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition that would amend the California Environmental Quality Act to allow an expedite environmental review process for certain essential projects, including most of those for housing, transportation, water, health, and clean energy. Specifically, the measure would establish deadlines for public agencies for them to complete the environmental review and take the required actions, limit public agencies' existing requirements to consider alternatives to reduce the environmental impacts, and limit the court review process for project approvals by setting deadlines for filing and resolving lawsuits and limiting the evidence and relief the court can consider.^[25]