2026 is shaping up to be a dramatic election year in California and across the U.S.
The governor’s race is wide open. Gavin Newsom is term-limited, which means he can’t be governor for a third term in a row. There’s no shortage of candidates trying to take his place. In fact, there are so many Democrats in the race that some experts say they could split the vote enough in June’s primary to allow the two Republicans to advance.
California’s midterm congressional elections will be using redrawn maps. After Proposition 50 passed, the state redrew its district boundaries, giving the advantage to Democrats in five of the nine California congressional seats currently represented by Republicans. Flipping enough of those seats could hand Democrats control of the U.S. House for the second half of President Donald Trump’s second term, effectively halting his legislative agenda. Midterm elections traditionally punish the party in power.
All 80 California Assembly seats are up for reelection, as well as 20 Senate seats (those from even-numbered districts). And in the November general election there will be a lot of ballot propositions, including the so-called “billionaires tax” and a potential measure to require voter ID.
CalMatters’ 2026 Voter Guide is here to help. We’ll help you register to vote and find your polling place, and soon, we’ll break down each key race in the state, tell you who’s bankrolling each campaign, and give you all the information you’ll need to make your vote count. Be the first to know every time we update this voter guide.
Why trust us? CalMatters has been reporting on what voters need to know in California elections for more than a decade. Our journalism is nonpartisan and independent from commercial or political interests.