You might not have realized it until you looked at your ballot, but governor wasn’t the only statewide office being contested in Tuesday’s primary election.
In addition to deciding the top two candidates to head the state, California voters had the chance to winnow down the contenders for seven other state offices, including attorney general and treasurer. Among those, three included incumbents running for reelection; the other four races were wide-open affairs.
Here’s how those races were shaping up in early returns Tuesday night with about 52% of precincts partially reporting as of about 9:30 p.m.
Lieutenant governor
In the battle to succeed Eleni Kounalakis, who’s termed out, state Treasurer Fiona Ma, a former San Francisco supervisor, and Gloria Romero, the former Democratic leader of the state Senate who switched parties in 2024, have taken an early lead. Ma has 779,305 votes, or 20.6% of the total, with Romero at 743,488 votes (19.7%).
Ma and Romero were two of the 19 candidates in the race. The most prominent other contenders on the Democratic side were former Novato Mayor Josh Fryday, who’s in third with 542,738 votes (14.4%), and former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, who’s in fourth with 411,882 votes (10.9%).
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – December 7 – Fiona Ma attends Mariya Milovidova: A Night of Art & High Fashion on December 7th 2025 at Artittud Art Gallery in San Francisco, CA.
Drew Altizer Photography
Secretary of state
Shirley Weber, who has held the office since Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed her in 2021 to replace Alex Padilla, was running well ahead in her reelection effort. She’s garnered nearly 2.1 million votes (55.8%).
Her chief rival, Republican Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner, stood at about 1.5 million votes, or 40.2%.
Former Santa Monica Mayor Michael Feinstein, one of two Green Party candidates, was running a distant third with 86,566 votes (2.3%).
State controller
Former San Francisco Supervisor Malia Cohen, who is running for a second term after being elected to the position in 2022, was leading the small field with 2.1 million votes (54.8%).
Her Republican challenger, Herb Morgan, the former president of the San Diego City Employees’ Retirement System, had garnered 1.3 million votes (41%).
San Francisco school-bus driver Meghann Adams, who’s a member of the Peace and Freedom Party, was trailing far behind with 139,573 votes (4.5%).
State treasurer
Six candidates were running to replace Ma, who is termed out. Democrat Kounalakis was the early leader with 1.4 million votes (36.3%). Republican Jennifer Hawks, a Silicon Valley businesswoman, was the runner-up, with 1 million votes (26.6%).
State Sen. Anna Caballero of Merced was in third with 566,339 votes, (14.8%), while Republican David Serpa was in fourth with 519,056, or 13.5%.
Eleni Kounalakis — seen at her election-night party at John’s Grill in The City — was the leader in early returns from Tuesday’s primary election for state treasurer.
Craig Lee/The Examiner
Attorney general
Rob Bonta, who’s held the office since Newsom named him in 2021 to replace Xavier Becerra, was leading a small field with nearly 2.1 million votes (54.1%).
Michael Gates, a Republican who served as a deputy assistant attorney general in President Donald Trump’s second term and is a former city attorney of Huntington Beach, was in second with 1.6 million votes (41.4%).
Green Party candidate Marjorie Mikels, an attorney, had 175,030 votes (4.5%).
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, pictured speaking in Sacramento on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, is reviewing OpenAI’s restructuring plan. Gary Mendoza, the state’s former commissioner of corporations, contends Bonta could quickly ensure OpenAi’s for-profit and nonprofit arms are adequately separated.
Damian Dovarganes
Insurance commissioner
Former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim was leading a crowded field of 11 candidates aiming to succeed Ricardo Lara, who’s termed out. Kim has 915,355 votes (24.1%).
State Sen. Ben Allen of Santa Monica stood in second place with 771,014 votes (20.3%).
Stacy Korsgaden, a Republican insurance broker, was in third with 662,437 votes (17.5%).
Former Supervisor Jane Kim speaks to volunteers and supporters for Connie Chan, a candidate for San Francisco Board of Supervisors District 1 election in the Richmond District, at Argonne Playground on Oct. 18, 2020 in San Francisco.
Chris Victorio/Special to The Examiner
Superintendent of public instruction
Tony Thurmond, who is running for governor, is termed out. Sonja Shaw, the president of the Chino Valley Unified School District’s Board of Education, who has put her opposition to transgender girls competing in girls’ sports front and center, was the early leader with 847,884 votes (24.7%).
In second was San Diego Unified School District Board of Education President Richard Barrera, who has worked closely with Thurmond. Barerra has 676,713 votes (19.7%).
In third was Wendy Castaneda Leal, superintendent of Kern County’s Semitropic Elementary School District, with 344,293 votes (10%).