California voters are narrowing the field for several statewide offices, from the state’s top law enforcement post to the official who will help oversee California’s strained insurance market.
Under California’s primary system, the two candidates with the most votes in each contest advance to the November general election, when voters will make the final decision.
Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, is headed to the general election, where he will face Republican Michael Gates in the race to become California’s top criminal justice official. Gates is a former trial attorney who previously served as Huntington Beach city attorney and as an assistant U.S. attorney. Bonta, along with his predecessor Xavier Becerra, has used the attorney general’s office to file numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration.
In the race for state superintendent of public instruction, several veteran Democratic lawmakers sought the job, including Anthony Rendon, Josh Newman and Al Muratsuchi. But two of California’s most influential education groups — the California Teachers Association and the California Charter Schools Association — bypassed the longtime legislators and endorsed Democrat Richard Barrera, president of the San Diego Unified School District. Sonja Shaw, the former president of the Chino Valley Unified School Board, was backed by both Republican candidates for governor.
As of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, with 46% of ballots counted, Shaw was leading the superintendent race with 24.7% of the vote. Barrera was second with 19.7%.
The lieutenant governor’s office, while largely ceremonial, carries several responsibilities, including stepping in when the governor is absent, serving on state boards and commissions, and casting a tie-breaking vote in the state Senate. The leading Democratic fundraisers in the race were Josh Fryday, a member of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s cabinet; state Treasurer Fiona Ma; and former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs.
With 46% of ballots counted as of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Ma was ahead with 20.6% of the vote. Romero followed with 19.6%, while Fryday had 14.3%.
State Controller Malia M. Cohen, a Democrat and the current officeholder, will move on to the November election as she seeks another term as California’s chief fiscal officer. She will face Republican Herb W. Morgan, who campaigned on a pledge to expose government fraud. Meghann Adams, a San Francisco school bus driver from the Tenderloin, also ran for the office on a progressive platform as a Peace and Freedom Party candidate.
Secretary of State Shirley Weber, a Democrat who serves as California’s chief elections officer, will also advance to the general election. Her opponent will be Republican Donald P. Wagner, an Orange County supervisor. Wagner supports requiring voter identification and criticized Weber over the pace of vote counting. Weber was appointed by Newsom in 2021 after serving eight years in the Assembly, then won a full four-year term in 2022. She has overseen California’s universal vote-by-mail system and has said she wants to further expand voting access.
The race for state treasurer drew major fundraising from Democratic candidates, who far outpaced Republicans. The treasurer manages and invests unspent taxpayer money and oversees state borrowing and debt. Anna Caballero, who recently chaired the powerful state Senate Appropriations Committee, and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from major donors, including labor unions, tribes and businesses. Kounalakis initially ran for governor but left that race in late 2025.
With 47% of ballots counted as of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Kounalakis led the treasurer’s race with 36.3% of the vote. Republican Jennifer Hawks, a retired business owner, was second with 26.6%.
California voters are also weighing in on who should regulate the state’s insurance industry, a closely watched office as insurers pull back from the market amid growing wildfire risk. Candidates for insurance commissioner include Democratic state lawmakers Ben Allen and Steven Bradford, as well as Democrat Patrick Wolff, a financial analyst whose campaign has been largely self-funded. The Republican Party endorsed insurance agent Stacy A. Korsgaden.
With 47% of ballots counted as of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim led the insurance commissioner’s race with 24.1% of the vote. Allen followed with 20.3%, and Korsgaden had 17.5%.
Four seats are also up this year on the State Board of Equalization, the five-member panel that is the only elected tax board in the country. The board advises county assessors, sets taxable values for utility and railroad properties, and hears some taxpayer appeals. The seats on the ballot include District 1, covering much of inland California; District 2, representing coastal California north of Los Angeles; District 3, covering the Los Angeles area; and District 4, covering the San Diego area.
In District 1, with 45% of ballots counted by 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove led with 36.1% of the vote. Democrat Nelson Esparza was second with 30.5%.
In District 2, incumbent Democrat Sally J. Lieber was ahead with 53.7% of the vote, with 45% of ballots counted. Democrat John Pimentel was second with 14.5%.
In District 3, with 53% of ballots counted, Democratic Assemblymember Mike Gipson led with 27% of the vote. Democrat Yvonne Yiu was second with 13.9%.
In District 4, with 49% of ballots counted, Republican Denis Bilodeau led with 47% of the vote. Democratic state Sen. Tom Umberg was second with 20.8%.
Original source: CalMatters
