California 2026 Primary Election Candidate Research Guide

Comprehensive candidate profiles compiled from CalMatters, Ballotpedia, EdSource, local newspapers, and campaign websites.

June 2, 2026 Primary Election — Polls open 7am–8pm

Top-Two Primary Nonpartisan Offices Vote-by-Mail

How to Use This Guide

Each page below provides in-depth research on every candidate running in a competitive race. Click through to see background, platform positions, key endorsements, fundraising, and an assessment of each candidate's strengths and weaknesses — all sourced from public records and news reporting.

Statewide offices appear on every California ballot — Governor (Democratic primary), Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Board of Equalization
Congressional and legislative races are district-specific — check your voter registration for your districts
County offices are specific to Riverside County — other counties have their own elections
California uses a top-two primary system — all candidates appear on one ballot regardless of party; the top two vote-getters advance to the November 3 general election
For judicial offices, if a candidate receives more than 50% in the primary, they win outright and no general election is held for that seat

Statewide Offices 6

Executive and constitutional offices that appear on every ballot in California

State Controller

Malia Cohen (inc) • Herb Morgan • Meghann Adams • 3 candidates

Insurance Commissioner

Open seat • 11 candidates

Secretary of State

Open seat • 4 candidates

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Open seat (Thurmond termed out) • 10 candidates

State Treasurer

Open seat (Ma termed out) • 6 candidates

Board of Equalization — District 4

Open seat • 5 candidates

Partisan Primaries 2

Democratic primary races for Governor and Lt. Governor — voters registered with a party can vote in that party's primary

Governor — Democratic Primary

Open seat (Newsom termed out) • Democratic candidates

Lt. Governor — Democratic Primary

Open seat (Kounalakis running for Treasurer) • Democratic candidates

Congressional 1

U.S. House of Representatives — district-specific races

CA-48 — U.S. House of Representatives

Orange County coastal district • 8 candidates

State Legislative 2

California State Senate and Assembly — district-specific races

State Senate — District 32

Inland Empire • 2 candidates

State Assembly — District 71

Inland Empire • 2 candidates

Riverside County Offices 3

County-level races for Riverside County voters

Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder

Peter Aldana (inc) vs. Jared McBride • 2 candidates

Auditor-Controller

Ben Benoit (inc) running unopposed • 1 candidate

Superior Court — Office 10

Nonpartisan judicial election • 3 candidates

Key Dates & Voting Information

May 4 — Vote-by-mail ballots begin arriving

May 5–19 — Early voting at county election offices

May 19 — Voter registration deadline (same-day registration available at polling places)

May 26 — Last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot

June 2 — Primary Election Day — polls open 7am to 8pm

November 3 — General Election — top-two runoff where needed

Check your registration and find your polling place at registertovote.ca.gov. For Riverside County voters: voteinfo.net.