2026 California lieutenant gubernatorial election
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The 2026 California lieutenant gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the lieutenant governor of California. Incumbent Democratic Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term in office; she is instead running for state treasurer.[1] Candidates must declare by March 6 with primaries being held on June 2.[2]
Candidates
Democratic Party
Declared
- Josh Fryday, chief service officer for governor Gavin Newsom and former mayor of Novato[3]
- Janelle Kellman, Sausalito city councilor (2020–present)[4]
- Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer (2019–present) (previously ran for governor)[5]
- Tim Myers, musician and record producer (previously ran for CA-41)[6]
- Michael Tubbs, former mayor of Stockton (2017–2021)[7]
Withdrawn
- Steven Bradford, former state senator from the 35th district (2016–2024) (endorsed Ma, running for insurance commissioner)[8]
Filed paperwork
- Mike Schaefer, member of the California State Board of Equalization (2019–present) and perennial candidate[9]
Potential
- Toni Atkins, former President pro tempore of the California Senate (2018–2024) from the 39th district (2016–2024) and former Speaker of the California State Assembly (2012–2016) from the 78th district (2010–2016) (currently running for governor)[10]
Republican Party
Potential
- Gloria Romero, former Democratic state senator from the 35th district (2001–2010) and candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2010[11]
Withdrawn
- David Serpa, businessman and runner-up for California's 39th congressional district in 2024 (running for governor)[12][13]
Primary election
Endorsements
Fiona Ma (D)
- Statewide officials
- Eleni Kounalakis, outgoing Lieutenant Governor of California (2019–present)[15]
- State senators
- Steven Bradford, SD-35 (2016–2024)[8]
- Cathleen Galgiani, SD-05 (2012–2020)[16]
- Scott Wiener, SD-11 (2016–present)[16]
- State assemblymembers
- Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, AD-04 (2016–present)[17]
- Robert Garcia, AD-50 (2024–present)[17]
- Mark Gonzalez, AD-54 (2024–present)[17]
- Corey Jackson, AD-60 (2022–present)[14]
- Evan Low, AD-26 (2014–2024)[16]
- José Solache, AD-62 (2024–present)[14]
- Chris Ward, AD-78 (2020–present)[14]
- Rick Zbur, AD-51 (2022–present)[16]
- Municipal officials
- London Breed, former mayor of San Francisco (2018–2025)[14]
- Willie Brown, former mayor of San Francisco (1996–2004)[14]
- Ken Carlson, Contra Costa County supervisor from the 4th district (2022–present)[16]
- Matt Dorsey, San Francisco supervisor from the 6th district (2022–present)[16]
- Rafael Mandelman, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (2025–present) from the 8th district (2018–present)[16]
- John Pérez, Regent of the University of California (2014–present) and former Speaker of the California State Assembly (2010–2014) from AD-53 (2008–2014)[16]
- Jeffrey Prang, Los Angeles County Assessor (2014–present)[16]
Michael Tubbs (D)
- U.S. senators
- Laphonza Butler, California (2023–2024)[18]
- U.S. representatives
- Sam Liccardo, CA-16 (2025–present)[18]
- Lateefah Simon, CA-12 (2025–present)[18]
- State senators
- Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, SD-28 (2022–present)[19]
- State assemblymembers
- Isaac Bryan, AD-51 (2021–present)[19]
- Sade Elhawary, AD-57 (2024–present)[19]
- Matt Haney, AD-17 (2022–present)[19]
- County officials
- Lindsey Horvath, Los Angeles supervisor from the 3rd district (2022–present)[20]
- Bilal Mahmood, San Francisco supervisor from the 5th district (2024–present)[19]
- Holly Mitchell, Los Angeles supervisor from the 2nd district (2020–present)[20]
- Vicente Sarmiento Orange County supervisor from the 2nd district (2023–present)[19]
- Shamann Walton, San Francisco supervisor from the 10th district (2019–present)[19]
- Municipal officials
- Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Los Angeles City Councilmember from the 8th district (2015–present)[20]
References
- ^ "Eleni Kounalakis drops out of California governor's race, pivots to downballot campaign". POLITICO. August 8, 2025. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
- ^ "Dates and Deadlines". Close the Gap California. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ Cadelago, Christopher (March 5, 2025). "Newsom's 'Sargent Shriver' running for California lieutenant governor". Politico. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
- ^ Bajko, Matthew (December 13, 2023). "Out Sausalito councilmember Kellman runs for CA lt. gov". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ Flores, Hilda (June 2, 2023). "State Treasurer Fiona Ma formally announces bid for CA lieutenant governor". KCRA-TV. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ Melhado, William (July 7, 2025). "Can this former rock star help California resist Trump as the second-in-command?". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ Contreras, Russell (July 17, 2024). "Progressive hero seeks political comeback in California". Axios. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (June 9, 2025). "Major escalations in LA as Newsom, Trump fight over Guard troops". Politico. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
Former state Sen. Steven Bradford is out of the race for lieutenant governor, but he's still hoping to boost a political ally's fortunes in the contest. Bradford will today endorse State Treasurer Fiona Ma
- ^ "California Secretary of State - CalAccess - Campaign Finance - Schaefer for Lt Governor 2026". cal-access.sos.ca.gov. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (March 10, 2025). "Aftershocks from a possible Harris run". Politico. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ^ Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (February 3, 2025). "Don't call it a sanctuary city". Politico. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
Former California Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero...is considering a run for lieutenant governor in 2026, Playbook has learned.
- ^ Symon, Evan (March 5, 2025). "Chief Service Officer Josh Fryman Announces Run For Lt. Governor". California Globe. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ "David Serpa for Governor". www.davidserpaforgovernor.com. May 26, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Bajko, Matthew S. (March 26, 2025). "Political Notebook: LPAC nod buoys out CA lt. gov candidate Kellman". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
- ^ Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (August 12, 2025). "Why a gerrymandering critic wants to toss out California's maps". Politico. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Bajko, Matthew S. (August 11, 2025). "Political Notes: LGBTQ leaders take sides in CA lt. gov race". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (February 20, 2025). "Can Valadao avoid his health care Kryptonite?". Politico. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (February 5, 2025). "Rob Bonta is keeping his day job". Politico. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (March 20, 2025). "Daniel Lurie calls in A-list CEOs". Politico. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin; Norman, Nicole (July 16, 2025). "Valadao challenger makes it official". Politico. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
External links
Official campaign websites