2026 California lieutenant gubernatorial election

See also: 2026 United States lieutenant gubernatorial elections

2026 California lieutenant gubernatorial election
November 3, 2026
Incumbent Lieutenant Governor

Eleni Kounalakis
Democratic



The 2026 California lieutenant gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the lieutenant governor of California. Incumbent Democrat 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

Withdrawn

Republican Party

Declared

Withdrawn

No party preference

Declared

  • Rakesh Christian, business owner, candidate for mayor of Antioch in 2024[5]
  • Sean Collinson, mediator[16]

Peace and Freedom Party

Declared

Primary election

Endorsements

Josh Fryday (D)
Executive branch officials
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
State legislators
Labor unions
Organizations
Janelle Kellman (D)
Organizations
Fiona Ma (D)
Statewide officials
State legislators
Municipal officials
Labor unions
Organizations
Oliver Ma (D)
Municipal officials
Organizations
Gloria Romero (R)
Individuals
Michael Tubbs (D)
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
State legislators
County officials
Municipal officials
Individuals
Political parties
Labor unions
Organizations
Declined to endorse
Organizations

Polling

Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Brian
Dahle
(R) 		Fiona
Ma
(D) 		Gloria
Romero
(R) 		Michael
Tubbs
(D) 		Other Undecided
Tulchin Research (D)[50][A] January 29 – February 4, 2026 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 20% 18% 10% 5% 13%[b] 34%

Results

Primary election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Tubbs
Democratic Tim Myers
Democratic Fiona Ma
Democratic Oliver Ma
Democratic Jeyson Lopez
Republican Ebie Lynch
Republican David Collenberg
No party preference Sean Collinson
No party preference Rakesh Christian
Democratic Janelle Kellman
Democratic Josh Fryday
Republican David Fennell
Republican Skip Shelton
Democratic Abdur Sikder
Peace and Freedom Alice Stek
Republican Gloria Romero
Total votes 100.0%

Notes

  1. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ Janelle Kellman (D), Oliver Ma (D), and Tim Myers (D) with 3%; Josh Fryday (D) and Alice Stek (PFP) with 2%

Partisan and media clients

  1. ^ Poll sponsored by Fiona Ma's campaign

References

  1. ^ "Eleni Kounalakis drops out of California governor's race, pivots to downballot campaign". POLITICO. August 8, 2025. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  2. ^ "Dates and Deadlines". Close the Gap California. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  3. ^ Cadelago, Christopher (March 5, 2025). "Newsom's 'Sargent Shriver' running for California lieutenant governor". Politico. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  4. ^ Bajko, Matthew (December 13, 2023). "Out Sausalito councilmember Kellman runs for CA lt. gov". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e "2026 California Primary Notice to Candidates - Lieutenant Governor" (PDF). California Secretary of State. March 21, 2026.
  6. ^ Flores, Hilda (June 2, 2023). "State Treasurer Fiona Ma formally announces bid for CA lieutenant governor". KCRA-TV. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Belcher, Phyllis (October 13, 2025). "Democrats to hold meet-and-greet with Ma". Tehachapi News. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Contreras, Russell (July 17, 2024). "Progressive hero seeks political comeback in California". Axios. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  10. ^ 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
  11. ^ Kym Kemp (December 11, 2025). "David Collenberg running for governor - Mad River Union". Mad River Union. Retrieved March 21, 2026. A locally raised farmer and businessman currently living in Siskiyou County but operating Lost Coast Hay and Feed in Eureka, David Collenberg, is carrying out a conservative, grassroots campaign for governor of California.
  12. ^ "California Secretary of State - CalAccess - Campaign Finance - David Fennell for Lieutenant Governor 2026". cal-access.sos.ca.gov. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  13. ^ Mehta, Seema (January 12, 2026). "Democrat-turned-Republican Gloria Romero announces run for lieutenant governor". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  14. ^ Symon, Evan (March 5, 2025). "Chief Service Officer Josh Fryman Announces Run For Lt. Governor". California Globe. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  15. ^ "David Serpa for Governor". www.davidserpaforgovernor.com. May 26, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  16. ^ Allen, Drew (March 18, 2026). "Don't Sleep on the CA Lieutenant Governor's Race". California Globe. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  17. ^ "https://www.peaceandfreedom.us/index.php/news/elections-campaigns/alice-stek-endorsed-by-pfp-for-lieutenant-governor". Peace and Freedom. August 11, 2025. Retrieved March 21, 2026. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  18. ^ Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (January 30, 2026). "The Mahan factor and Newsom's shade". Politico. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  19. ^ "Newsom blasts shutdown deal". Politico. November 10, 2025.
  20. ^ a b c d e Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake; Mason, Melanie (February 4, 2026). "Dumpster diving and DNA: How Newsom writes about local media". Politico. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  21. ^ a b Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake; White, Jeremy (February 17, 2026). "California's 'crazy' ballot measure economy and Newsom's world tour". Politico. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  22. ^ a b Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (January 27, 2026). "Republicans navigate Alex Pretti's killing". Politico. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  23. ^ Gardiner, Dustin; Mason, Melanie; Jones, Blake (March 18, 2026). "Chavez allegations jolt California's labor movement". POLITICO. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  24. ^ a b Baustin, Noah; Nieves, Alex; Von Kaenel, Camille (March 5, 2026). "Everyone wants a piece of the budget". Politico. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  25. ^ Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (December 19, 2025). "Predictions we got right (or wrong)". Politico. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  26. ^ "East Area Progressive Democrats: Endorsements". East Area Progressive Democrats. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (August 12, 2025). "Why a gerrymandering critic wants to toss out California's maps". Politico. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ a b c Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin (February 20, 2025). "Can Valadao avoid his health care Kryptonite?". Politico. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  31. ^ Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (February 5, 2026). "Caruso reconsiders and a Newsom critic cools down". Politico. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  32. ^ a b c "Over 30 Current and Former California Mayors Endorse Fiona Ma, CPA for Lieutenant Governor". The Los Angeles Post. March 10, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  33. ^ a b c d e Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin; Norman, Nicole (December 11, 2025). "The shadow campaign for attorney general kicks into gear". Politico. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  34. ^ Holden, Lindsey (October 23, 2025). "Donald Trump, Daniel Lurie and San Francisco's eventful week". Politico. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  35. ^ "California's Largest Labor Federation Backs Fiona Ma for Lieutenant Governor". Redheaded Blackbelt. March 20, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  36. ^ Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (January 28, 2026). "The case for (and against) a Matt Mahan run". Politico. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  37. ^ Sinogui, Florencio (September 11, 2025). "Teamsters Local 665 & Teamsters California Endorse State Candidates". Teamsters Local 665. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  38. ^ a b "California — UAW Region 6". UAW Region 6. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  39. ^ a b c d Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin; White, Jeremy (January 6, 2026). "The tax fight dividing California Democrats". Politico. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  40. ^ https://oliverma2026.com/#endorsements
  41. ^ "CA DSA Endorses Oliver Ma for Lieutenant Governor of California". California DSA. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  42. ^ Barth, Megan (January 13, 2026). "Steve Hilton Selects Former Democrat Gloria Romero as Lt. Governor Running Mate in Push to End One-Party Rule in California". California Globe. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  43. ^ a b c Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (February 5, 2025). "Rob Bonta is keeping his day job". Politico. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  44. ^ Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (January 29, 2026). "Mahan jumps in and Rivas draws a line". Politico. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  45. ^ 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.
  46. ^ a b c Jones, Blake; Gardiner, Dustin; Norman, Nicole (July 16, 2025). "Valadao challenger makes it official". Politico. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  47. ^ Mason, Melanie; Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (October 15, 2025). "Rick Caruso isn't ruling anything out". Politico. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  48. ^ Gardiner, Dustin; Jones, Blake (December 10, 2025). "Gavin Newsom looks back". Politico. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  49. ^ Bajko, Matthew S. (November 17, 2025). "LGBTQ caucus passes on CA Lt. Gov. 2026 primary endorsement". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  50. ^ Tulchin, Ben; O’Neil, Corey; Teter, Corey; Joseph, Caroline (February 10, 2026). "Poll Shows Fiona Ma Strongly Positioned in the Race for Lieutenant Governor" (PDF). Retrieved February 16, 2026.

Official campaign websites

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