You’ve got your 2026 general election ballot in the mail — now what?

There’s a lot to decide in this election, from picking California’s newest governor to deciding who would best represent you in an executive branch office you may have never heard of before.

Our 2026 voter guide for the Nov. 3 general election is here, a one-stop shop where you can find candidates’ platforms, FAQs on how to cast your ballot and track it, our editorial board’s endorsements and more.

It’s an easy way to get to know the people on your ballot who are vying for your vote. Candidates, including those for governor, insurance commissioner, Congress, the state legislature, city councils, school boards and special districts, have answered your questions about a variety of topics, such as how to drive down costs in California, what the future of housing looks like locally, how the state can better regulate data centers and warehouses and what schools can do to better teach civics.

Find our voter guide at one of the sites below, and read what candidates have to say about the most pressing issues facing Orange County, in their own words, before you choose who is best to represent you at ocregister.com/voter-guide.

Click on candidates’ names to see their questionnaires and answers in full. Candidates vying for the same seat received the same questions, and answers were only edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove offensive language.

This will be the first general election with the new congressional seats after California voters agreed to a midcycle redistricting plan in November. Our guide includes maps showing what cities and communities are included in those new congressional districts, and we’ve got maps highlighting state Senate and Assembly districts as well, although those boundary lines did not change with Proposition 50.

There is information about each race and district, such as how long terms last and why you wouldn’t see a Republican, Democratic or other party marker next to the names of candidates who are running to be the next superintendent of public instruction. And for congressional and legislative races, you can find information about the district’s voter makeup.

The guide is available for all readers and can be shared. Happy voting!