2026 California lieutenant gubernatorial election
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November 3, 2026
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The 2026 California lieutenant gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the lieutenant governor of California. Incumbent Democrat Eleni Kounalakis is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term in office; she is instead running for state treasurer.[1] Candidates must declare by March 6 with primaries being held on June 2.[2]
Candidates
[edit]Democratic Party
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Josh Fryday, chief service officer for governor Gavin Newsom and former mayor of Novato[3]
- Janelle Kellman, former mayor of Sausalito and founder of The Center for Sea Rise Solutions[4]
- Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer (2019–present) (previously ran for governor)[5]
- Oliver Ma, civil rights attorney, immigrant and tenant rights advocate[6]
- Tim Myers, musician and record producer (previously ran for CA-41)[7]
- Michael Tubbs, former mayor of Stockton (2017–2021)[8]
Withdrawn
[edit]- Steven Bradford, former state senator from the 35th district (2016–2024) (endorsed Fiona Ma, running for insurance commissioner)[9]
Filed paperwork
[edit]- Mike Schaefer, member of the California State Board of Equalization (2019–present) and perennial candidate[10]
Republican Party
[edit]Withdrawn
[edit]- David Serpa, businessman and runner-up for California's 39th congressional district in 2024 (running for governor)[11][12]
Primary election
[edit]Endorsements
[edit]Fiona Ma (D)
- Statewide officials
- Eleni Kounalakis, lieutenant governor of California (2019–present)[14]
- State legislators
- Steven Bradford, SD-35 (2016–2024)[9]
- Cathleen Galgiani, SD-05 (2012–2020)[15]
- Scott Wiener, SD-11 (2016–present)[15]
- Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, AD-04 (2016–present)[16]
- Robert Garcia, AD-50 (2024–present)[16]
- Mark Gonzalez, AD-54 (2024–present)[16]
- Corey Jackson, AD-60 (2022–present)[13]
- Elihu Harris, AD-13 (1978–1990) and former mayor of Oakland (1991–1999)[17]
- Evan Low, AD-26 (2014–2024)[15]
- José Solache, AD-62 (2024–present)[13]
- Chris Ward, AD-78 (2020–present)[13]
- Rick Zbur, AD-51 (2022–present)[15]
- Municipal officials
- London Breed, former mayor of San Francisco (2018–2025)[13]
- Willie Brown, former mayor of San Francisco (1996–2004)[13]
- Ken Carlson, Contra Costa County supervisor from the 4th district (2022–present)[15]
- Matt Dorsey, San Francisco supervisor from the 6th district (2022–present)[15]
- Rafael Mandelman, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (2025–present) from the 8th district (2018–present)[15]
- John Pérez, Regent of the University of California (2014–present) and former Speaker of the California State Assembly (2010–2014) from AD-53 (2008–2014)[15]
- R. Rex Parris, mayor of Lancaster (2008–present) (Republican)[17]
- Jeffrey Prang, Los Angeles County Assessor (2014–present)[15]
- Raj Salwan, mayor of Fremont (2024–present)[17]
- Helen Tran, mayor of San Bernardino (2022–present)[17]
- Labor unions
- California Building & Construction Trades Council[18]
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters - California and Local 665[19]
- Party chapters
- Santa Monica Democratic Party[20]
Michael Tubbs (D)
- U.S. senators
- Laphonza Butler, California (2023–2024)[21]
- U.S. representatives
- Sam Liccardo, CA-16 (2025–present)[21]
- Lateefah Simon, CA-12 (2025–present)[21]
- State legislators
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, SD-28 (2022–present)[22]
- State assemblymembers
- Isaac Bryan, AD-51 (2021–present)[22]
- Sade Elhawary, AD-57 (2024–present)[22]
- Matt Haney, AD-17 (2022–present)[22]
- County officials
- Lindsey Horvath, Los Angeles supervisor from the 3rd district (2022–present)[23]
- Bilal Mahmood, San Francisco supervisor from the 5th district (2024–present)[22]
- Holly Mitchell, Los Angeles supervisor from the 2nd district (2020–present)[23]
- Vicente Sarmiento Orange County supervisor from the 2nd district (2023–present)[22]
- Shamann Walton, San Francisco supervisor from the 10th district (2019–present)[22]
- Municipal officials
- Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Los Angeles City Councilmember from the 8th district (2015–present)[23]
- Political parties
Declined to endorse
- Organizations
References
[edit]- ^ "Eleni Kounalakis drops out of California governor's race, pivots to downballot campaign". POLITICO. August 8, 2025. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
- ^ "Dates and Deadlines". Close the Gap California. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ Cadelago, Christopher (March 5, 2025). "Newsom's 'Sargent Shriver' running for California lieutenant governor". Politico. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ^ Bajko, Matthew (December 13, 2023). "Out Sausalito councilmember Kellman runs for CA lt. gov". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ Flores, Hilda (June 2, 2023). "State Treasurer Fiona Ma formally announces bid for CA lieutenant governor". KCRA-TV. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ Belcher, Phyllis (October 13, 2025). "Democrats to hold meet-and-greet with Ma". Tehachapi News. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
- ^ Melhado, William (July 7, 2025). "Can this former rock star help California resist Trump as the second-in-command?". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ Contreras, Russell (July 17, 2024). "Progressive hero seeks political comeback in California". Axios. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (June 9, 2025). "Major escalations in LA as Newsom, Trump fight over Guard troops". Politico. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
Former state Sen. Steven Bradford is out of the race for lieutenant governor, but he's still hoping to boost a political ally's fortunes in the contest. Bradford will today endorse State Treasurer Fiona Ma
- ^ "California Secretary of State - CalAccess - Campaign Finance - Schaefer for Lt Governor 2026". cal-access.sos.ca.gov. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ Symon, Evan (March 5, 2025). "Chief Service Officer Josh Fryman Announces Run For Lt. Governor". California Globe. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ "David Serpa for Governor". www.davidserpaforgovernor.com. May 26, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Bajko, Matthew S. (March 26, 2025). "Political Notebook: LPAC nod buoys out CA lt. gov candidate Kellman". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
- ^ Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (August 12, 2025). "Why a gerrymandering critic wants to toss out California's maps". Politico. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Bajko, Matthew S. (August 11, 2025). "Political Notes: LGBTQ leaders take sides in CA lt. gov race". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (February 20, 2025). "Can Valadao avoid his health care Kryptonite?". Politico. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Over 30 Current and Former California Mayors Endorse Fiona Ma, CPA for Lieutenant Governor". The Los Angeles Post. March 10, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
- ^ Holden, Lindsey (October 23, 2025). "Donald Trump, Daniel Lurie and San Francisco's eventful week". Politico. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
- ^ Sinogui, Florencio (September 11, 2025). "Teamsters Local 665 & Teamsters California Endorse State Candidates". Teamsters Local 665. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
- ^ Newton, Damien (September 18, 2025). "Santa Monica Democratic Club Endorses Sion Roy for State Senate". Santa Monica Next. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (February 5, 2025). "Rob Bonta is keeping his day job". Politico. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (March 20, 2025). "Daniel Lurie calls in A-list CEOs". Politico. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin; Norman, Nicole (July 16, 2025). "Valadao challenger makes it official". Politico. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
- ^ Mason, Melanie; Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (October 15, 2025). "Rick Caruso isn't ruling anything out". Politico. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
- ^ Bajko, Matthew S. (November 17, 2025). "LGBTQ caucus passes on CA Lt. Gov. 2026 primary endorsement". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
External links
[edit]Official campaign websites