California voters are heading into one of the most consequential elections in recent memory, with decisions that could shape the state's approach to affordability, housing, healthcare, crime, immigration and voting rights for years to come.
On the ballot are a closely watched governor's race between Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton, nationally scrutinized measures on a proposed billionaire tax and voter ID requirements, congressional contests that could help determine which party controls the U.S. House, and a high-profile Los Angeles mayoral runoff between Karen Bass and Nithya Raman that will influence the future of the nation's second largest city.
Here's what voters need to know before casting their ballots in November.
Hilton, Becerra battle to become California's next governor
Californians are months away from voting for the Golden State's next governor, an outcome that will shape the state's direction on issues ranging from housing and homelessness to crime, climate change and the economy.
The next governor will oversee a budget of more than $300 billion and lead policy on housing, education, immigration and climate. Because California is the nation's most populous state, decisions made in Sacramento often influence policy debates across the country.
Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hiltonadvanced to the general election through California's top-two primary system, in which all candidates compete on the same ballot regardless of party, and the two highest vote-getters move on to November. Becerra finished first in the June primary with 28% of the vote, while Hilton placed second with 24.6%.
Hilton, a former Fox News host and U.K. political strategist, is running on a platform centered on reducing taxes, easing regulations and challenging Democratic leadership in California. He has argued that the state needs a new direction on issues including energy, crime, education and housing affordability.
"California means to America what America means to the world," Hilton said when announcing his candidacy. "Let's make California the land of opportunity again."
Becerra, the former California Attorney General who most recently served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Biden Administration, is campaigning to strengthen the economy, protect civil rights, and address affordability challenges facing working families.
"California is at a crossroads," Becerra said when launching his campaign. "The California Dream is slipping away."
Becerra has entered the fall campaign as the favorite. An August pollfrom the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies found him leading Hilton 55% to 37% among likely voters, with 7% undecided. The survey also found sharp partisan divisions, with most Democrats backing Becerra and most Republicans supporting Hilton.
The candidates are expected to debate before November's election, though details had not been announced as of late August. Details of those debates have yet to be announced.
California voters face major ballot measure decisions
Voters will decide on 14 ballot measures this November. Among the most contentious are the billionaire tax and voter ID initiatives.
The state’s wealth tax initiative, Proposition 40, is a proposed one-time 5% tax on the wealth of the Golden State's billionaires. Most of the revenue generated (90%) from the measure would go toward health care, while the remainder would go to education and food assistance programs.
The tax would be due in 2027, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Taxpayers, however, could opt to pay over time with payments spread out over five years at a higher cost.
The state would likely collect tens of billions of dollars, but the exact amount would be difficult to predict given several factors, the LAO said.
The SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, the primary union driving the measure, has argued it is necessary “to prevent the collapse of California healthcare and help fund California public K-14 education and state food assistance programs.”
The labor union says the measure is in response to President Donald Trump's H.R. 1, or the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which "slashes $100 billion from California’s healthcare funding over the next five years, pushing our state towards a healthcare collapse." The labor union has called the measure "a commonsense solution to a looming crisis."
The tax "would be paid only by Californians worth more than $1 billion,” the SEIU‑UHW says.
An estimated 250 billionaires live in California, with more than $2 trillion in total wealth, according to Forbes' Real-Time Billionaires data compiled by the California Billionaire Wealth Tracker.
The SEIU‑UHW says the proposed tax would raise $100 billion for the state.
The measure has divided the state’s top Democrats.
The California Democratic Party has endorsed the measure, while Gov. Gavin Newsom and gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra oppose it, citing concerns that it will drive billionaires to flee the state.
Newsom vowed to fight the proposed measure in an interview with the New York Times.
“This will be defeated — there’s no question in my mind,” Newsom told the Times in January. “I’ll do what I have to do to protect the state.”
Earlier this year, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page had reduced their “California presence," The New York Times reported. At the same time, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was reportedly eyeing purchasing a mansion in Florida, the Wall Street Journal reported in February.
“This is my fear," Newsom told POLITICO of his worries about California billionaires preparing to flee the state in response to the proposed measure. "It’s just what I warned against. It's happening."
The measure qualified for the November ballot in June after clearing the signature hurdle in late April. Newsom failed to stop the measure from heading to the ballot after talks with union backers at SEIU‑UHW collapsed.
An August Berkeley IGS poll found that while 48% of voters said they would support the measure, 41% said they would oppose it.
Support and opposition are largely tied to political ideology, with about 7 in 10 Democrats and 86% of strong liberal voters in favor of the measure, and 8 in 10 Republicans and conservatives opposed.
Two countermeasures to the proposed wealth tax, Propositions 41 and 42, have also qualified for the November ballot. The initiatives are intended to limit the effects of Proposition 40 if voters approve it.
If approved by voters, Proposition 41 would require the California State Auditor to review programs funded by any new special tax proposed through the initiative process before the measure appears on the ballot and to conduct audits every four years of programs funded by special taxes approved by voters or the Legislature, according to the LAO. The proposal would also limit the state's ability to exempt spending from new special taxes from California's spending cap. If Propositions 41 and 40 both pass, Proposition 41 could prevent the wealth tax measure from taking effect if it receives more votes.
Meanwhile, Proposition 42 would prohibit new state taxes on financial assets, such as stocks and investment accounts, as well as other personal property, according to the LAO. If approved by voters, and if it receives more votes than Proposition 40, the measure could block the wealth tax initiative from taking effect.
The two counter measures, however, are not well known among voters, many of whom remain undecided, the Berkeley IGS poll found.
Another contentious ballot measure that divides voters sharply along partisan lines is the voter ID initiative, Proposition 39.
California is one of 14 states in the country that do not require voters to present identification to cast a ballot. This is something President Donald Trump’s administration aims to change with the SAVE Act, which would require voters to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote and a photo ID to vote in federal elections.
Both the Campaign Legal Center and the Brennan Center for Justice, however, say the bill would create new barriers for Americans who are otherwise eligible to vote.
The House has passed the SAVE Act, but the proposed legislation is currently stalled in the Senate.
California's Proposition 39 proposal would amend the California Constitution to require voters to show a government-issued ID when voting in person or provide the last four digits of a government-issued ID number when voting by mail. The measure would also require the state to issue voter ID cards upon request and require election officials to annually report the percentage of voters in each county whose citizenship has been verified.
If passed, the measure would increase state and local government costs each year by tens of millions of dollars to low hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the LAO.
San Diego Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio is leading the initiative's effort, calling it a way to improve “public trust and confidence in our elections.”
Opponents, including the ACLU and League of Women Voters of California, argue the measure would create additional barriers for voters.
The IGS poll found that 51% of voters would vote against the measure, compared with 42% who would support it. Like the billionaire tax measure, the voter ID initiative is highly partisan and ideologically based, with 80% of Democrats and greater than eight in ten liberals voting against it. On the other end of the political spectrum, more than 9 in 10 Republicans and voters identifying as strongly conservative say they would vote for the measure.
Congressional races that could shape House control
California congressional races could play a pivotal role in determining control of the House.
With newly drawn congressional districts in the wake of Proposition 50 — the voter-approved measure that redrew the state’s districts, creating as many as five new pickup opportunities for Democrats to offset Republican-led redistricting in states such as Texas — it could reshape the battle for control of the U.S. House.
All 52 House seats are up for election, and several have emerged as key Democratic targets. The outcomes of those races will help determine the balance of power in Washington.
Here's a look at key congressional races to watch in the Golden State.
13th Congressional District: An ultra-close agricultural Central Valley battleground
California's 13th Congressional District is a critical swing district in the Central Valley, which is currently represented by Democrat Adam Gray. The district has a history of extremely close elections. In the 2024 election, Gray unseated incumbent John Duarte by just 187 votes.
In November, Gray will face off against Republican Kevin Lincoln II. Gray led the June primary with 42% of the vote, and Lincoln followed with 27.7%.
Gray was elected to serve the 13th Congressional District in November 2024 and assumed office in January 2025. He previously served on theState Assembly from 2012 to 2022, representing the 21st Assembly District. Gray is also a political science instructor at the University of California, Merced. Gray, who was endorsed by the California Teachers Association, is running on a platform of bipartisanship, lowering the cost of living, increasing water access for Central Valley farms and families, and expanding local economic investments.
Lincoln, who holds President Donald Trump's endorsement, is a pastor who served as mayor of Stockton from 2021 to 2025. He is also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served on Marine One. His campaign platform is centered on border security, tax cuts, support for law enforcement, opposition to DEI initiatives and transgender policies, and measures to expand the artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency industries.
22nd Congressional District: A highly watched Central Valley flip opportunity
California's 22nd Congressional District, a major agricultural hub, is a highly competitive swing district in the southern and central San Joaquin Valley. Historically, the seat has seen competitive races featuring both Republican incumbents, such as David Valadao, and Democratic challengers.
Republican incumbent Valadao is seeking reelection, facing off against Democrat Randy Villegas. The pair advanced from the June primary after a close race: Valadao held 40.7% of the vote, while Villegas captured 32.4%.
Valadao has served six terms in Congress. He served his first three terms from 2013 to 2019, but lost reelection in 2018. He returned to office after winning the 2020 election and was sworn in in January 2021. Valadao, who is running on a platform of agricultural support, water security, and local economic development, is endorsed by the California Republican Party.
Villegas is a community college instructor and school board member from Visalia, a Tulare County city and major agricultural hub in California. Villegas, who is focused on labor issues and economic inequality, is endorsed by independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and the California Democratic Party.
27th Congressional District: Key Southern California swing seat
California's 27th Congressional District is a competitive swing district that covers northern Los Angeles County. The area has experienced demographic and voter shifts in recent years as families relocate to the suburbs.
In November, Democratic incumbent George Whitesides will face Republican Jason Gibbs after a razor-thin June primary. Whitesides earned 41% of the vote, while Gibbs secured 40.6%.
Whitesides was elected to serve the 27th District in 2024 and assumed office in 2025. Whitesides served as Chief of Staff at NASA under the Obama administration, then became the CEO of the aerospace company Virgin Galactic. Whitesides is running on a platform that focuses on lowering living costs, addressing wildfire and housing challenges, strengthening border security, supporting public safety, and promoting government ethics reforms and innovation. Whitesides is endorsed by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and the California Democratic Party.
Gibbs is a Santa Clarita City Council Member who was first elected in 2020 and served as mayor for one term in 2023. Gibbs' campaign is centered on lowering the cost of living, supporting law enforcement, increasing local control over government decisions, and expanding educational and workforce opportunities. The California Republican Party has endorsed Gibbs.
48th Congressional District: Redrawn Southern California battleground
California's 48th Congressional District is considered a high-stakes, newly redrawn battleground seat in Southern California.
Republican Jim Desmond and Democrat Marni von Wilpert advanced to the general election after current Republican Rep. Darrell Issa announced in March that he would not seek reelection. During the June primary, Desmond captured 38.9% of the vote, while von Wilpert pulled in 20.8%.
Desmond has been serving as a member of theSan Diego County Board of Supervisors since 2019. He served as themayor of San Marcos for 12 years and is a retired Delta Air Lines pilot. He is also a U.S. Navy veteran. Desmond says he is running to help address the state's issues surrounding affordability, public safety, homelessness, immigration enforcement, and support for families and seniors. In addition to holding Issa's endorsement, Desmond is also endorsed by Assemblymember Carl DeMaio.
Meanwhile, von Wilpert is a San Diego city council member and former civil prosecutor for the San Diego City Attorney's Office. If elected, von Wilpert says she would focus on an array of issues, including lowering costs for working families, expanding affordable housing and healthcare, defending abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, and addressing climate change. She is endorsed by former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer and Rep. Adam Schiff.
45th Congressional District: A premier Orange County toss-up
The 45th Congressional District spans parts of Orange and Los Angeles counties and is considered a competitive seat, as Democratic Derek Tran won theseat in 2024 by a razor-thin margin over Michelle Steel.
Now, Tran is facing off against Republican Chuong Vo after the pair advanced from the June primary. Tran captured 53.8% of the vote, while Vo held 15.3%.
Tran is an attorney and U.S. Army Reserve veteran who received an honorable discharge. Among the issues highlighted on Tran's campaign website are support for small businesses, education, health care, veterans' services, immigration reform, public safety, and environmental policies. His endorsements include U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and the California Democratic Party.
Vo, on the other hand, holds endorsements from Assemblymember Carl DeMaio and the California Republican Party. Vo is a retired police officer who served on the Cerritos City Council between 2020 and 2025, serving as mayor from April 2022 to May 2023. Vo is campaigning on public safety, lowering the cost of living, addressing homelessness and fentanyl abuse, improving education outcomes, and increasing government transparency and accountability.
11th Congressional District: High-profile open-seat successor race after Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi's retirement
The open 11th District seat has drawn significant interest after Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced in November that she would retire following a 40-year House career.
Two Democrats are facing off in the general election: Scott Wiener, who garnered 40.75% of the vote in the June primary, and Connie Chan, who captured 29.7%.
Wiener was elected to the State Senate in 2016 to represent the 11th District. Prior to that, Wiener practiced law for 15 years, including a stint as the deputy city attorney at the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office. Some of the issues Wiener is campaigning on include housing affordability, healthcare access, public transit, climate action, criminal justice reform, gun violence prevention, and protections for immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities. He is endorsed by Assemblymember Matt Haney and Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Chan has been a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for District 1 since 2021. Prior to serving on the Board of Supervisors, she spent more than a decade working in local and state government administration, public policy, and communications. She is running on a platform that focuses on affordability, support for working families and labor unions, economic opportunity, immigrant rights, and progressive policies to improve the quality of life for working-class communities. Chan has been endorsed by Pelosi and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff.
Karen Bass faces Nithya Raman in Los Angeles mayoral runoff
Angelenos will soon decide who will lead the Golden State's most populous city.
The 2026 Los Angeles mayoral race between incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman has become a closely watched and contentious contest between two former political allies.
The election comes in the wake of the January 2025 Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Since then, Bass has faced intense scrutiny over her handling of the disaster and recovery efforts.
Both candidates advanced to the November runoff after neither secured a majority of the vote in the June primary. Bass led with 34.27% of the vote, while Raman received 29.02%.
Reality television personality Spencer Pratt ran for Los Angeles mayor, launching his campaign out of anger and frustrationafter losing his Pacific Palisades home in the January 2025 fire. He ultimately finished third with 25.53% of the vote.
Bass made history in 2022, becoming the first woman and second Black person to serve as the mayor of Los Angeles. She previously served in the California State Assembly from 2004 to 2010 and was Assembly Speaker in her final term. Bass went on to represent California's 33rd and 37th congressional districts in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2022, including as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from 2019 to 2021.
Bass' mayoral campaign largely focuses on her executive experience, including her tenure as mayor of Los Angeles. If re-elected, she says she will focus on several issues, including reducing homelessness, improving public safety and crime reduction, and expanding housing.
"I'm running for Mayor to change Los Angeles — to tackle the longstanding challenges that past leaders avoided because the fights were too hard and the politics were too risky," Bass says on her campaign website. "I don’t take the easy way. That’s who I am, and it’s how I lead every single day."
Bass is endorsed by former Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and the California Black Women’s Collective PAC.
Raman is an urban planner and progressive activist who is currently serving as the Los Angeles City Council Member for the 4th District. She was first elected in December 2020, becoming the first South Asian to sit on City Council. She was re-elected in 2024.
Raman's campaign is focused on affordability and government reform. If elected, Raman says she will work to expand housing, protect renters, address homelessness, improve public safety, support local businesses, and make City Hall more accountable to residents.
"Over the past few years, I’ve had a growing sense that our city is falling behind. That feeling sharpened after last January’s fires, the city’s slow response, and the lack of accountability at City Hall. ... I’m running because Los Angeles needs leadership that takes responsibility for results. We cannot keep asking people to pay more and expect less," Raman says on her campaign website.
Raman is endorsed byLos Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, former Pasadena Mayor and City Councilmember Rick Cole, and Climate Action California.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California voters weigh in on 2026 election races
