In California, elections happen every even-numbered year. There are primary elections, held in March or June and general elections held in November. Gubernatorial elections occur every four years but are staggered from presidential years. This year, in 2026, we are not only voting for California, but also in the midterms.
In California there are multiple positions within the executive branch:
California Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Secretary of State
Attorney General
State Controller
State Treasurer
Insurance Commissioner
Superintendent of Public Instruction
California Governor:
The California Governor is the state's Chief Executive and highest ranking official who is responsible for signing voting bills passed by the state's legislature. They propose an annual state budget every January, as well as filling vacancies for state judges and appointing officials to head various state agencies and commissions. In addition, they make sure to enforce state laws.
Lieutenant Governor:
A Lieutenant Governor is the second-highest executive officer. They step in as the chief executive whenever the Governor is out of the state or unable to serve. They serve as the president of the State Senate and have the ability to cast a tie-breaking vote. A Lieutenant Governor is also able to be a voting member on key educational boards.
Secretary of State:
The Secretary of State is the state's chief elections officer. They oversee all federal and state elections, certify results and maintain the statewide voter registration database. A Secretary of State manages the state's archives. In addition, a secretary of state manages specialized registries such as domestic partners, advanced health care directives and commissioned public notaries.
Attorney General:
An Attorney General is the state's chief of law enforcement and head of the department of justice.
State Controller:
A State Controller is the chief fiscal officer who manages the state's cash, writes checks, and audits government agencies.
State Treasurer:
A state treasurer acts as the state's banker and asset manager. They oversee investments and the sale of state bonds.
Insurance Commissioner:
An insurance commissioner leads the Department of Insurance to regulate the insurance industry and protect consumers.
Superintendent of Public Instruction:
The superintendent of Public Instruction is a nonpartisan statewide officer who is responsible for directing California's Department of Education.
Governor: Gavin Newsom - Democrat
Lieutenant Governor: Eleni Kounalakis - Democrat
Attorney General: Rob Bonta - Democrat
Secretary of State: Dr. Shirley N. Weber — Democrat
State Controller: Malia Cohen - Democrat
State Treasurer: Fiona Ma - Democrat
Insurance Commissioner: Ricardo Lara - Democrat
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Tony Thurmond — Nonpartisan
Assembly Speaker: Robert Rivas - Democrat