The Midterm Primary Elections for California in 2026 have commenced. Starting on Monday, May 4th, voters will begin receiving mail-in ballots. This election encompasses numerous federal, state, and local offices, with particular attention on the gubernatorial race in California.
California’s primary is scheduled for June 2nd this year, with the majority of seats following the “Top-2-Primary” election rule. This means that the top two vote-getters in the primary, regardless of party affiliation, will advance directly to the final round in November.
As per the timeline released by the California Secretary of State, in order to exercise their civic duty, voters must either mail their ballots on election day or personally cast their vote at polling stations within the designated time frame for their votes to be included in the final results.
Mail-in ballots have been sent out to active California voters since Monday, signaling the final 30-day countdown to the 2026 primary.
The primary covers a wide range of public offices including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. All California voters are eligible to participate in these elections.
Voters will also elect 52 Congressional Representatives from California, 40 Senate members from even-numbered districts, all 80 members of the State Assembly, and members of the California Board of Equalization. Each voter can only vote for candidates in their respective districts.
With current Governor Newsom unable to stand for re-election due to term limits, approximately 60 candidates are vying for the gubernatorial seat. The main contenders from the Democratic and Republican parties are fiercely competing for a spot in the November runoff.
The two prominent Republican gubernatorial candidates are Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, the incumbent Sheriff of Riverside County.
The four primary Democratic candidates include Xavier Becerra, former Health Secretary and State Attorney General, Katie Porter, former Congresswoman, billionaire Tom Steyer, and Matt Mahan, Mayor of San Jose.
The ‘Top-2-Primary’ rule does not fully apply to local elections. For instance, in the Los Angeles mayoral election, if a candidate receives over 50% of the votes in the primary on June 2nd, they win outright; otherwise, the top two candidates proceed to the November runoff.
As a significant metropolitan area in the US, the mayoral election in Los Angeles is also drawing attention. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is seeking re-election, but following the January 2025 fire, she faces challenges from a “Challengers Alliance” comprised of 15 candidates.
Among the key challenger candidates are:
1) Nithya Raman, incumbent City Council Member of the 4th District of Los Angeles, who holds a more left-leaning stance than Bass, focusing on tenant rights and progressive housing policies.
2) Spencer Pratt, a television personality who lost his home in the fire, emphasizing public safety and municipal spending issues in his campaign.
Polls also show stable voter support for Chinese-American candidate Rae Huang and tech executive Adam Miller.
The competition for county-level offices is equally intense. For instance, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna seeks re-election and will face challenges from former Sheriff Alex Villanueva and other candidates. Los Angeles County voters will also cast votes for two County Board supervisor seats, 15 Superior Court Judgeships, County Assessor, and more.
In Orange County, voters will decide on County Board Supervisors, School District Directors, Education Board members, County Recorder, and other positions. Not all local public offices will be up for election in this cycle, depending on the voter’s residing district.
County election offices have begun mailing out ballots since Monday, with the California Secretary of State reminding voters to take note of the following significant dates:
Official ballot drop box open: May 5, 2026
Voter registration deadline: May 18 (Online or by mail, postmark deadline)
Election day voting hours: June 2, 7 am – 8 pm
Traditionally, all active registered California voters will receive a primary mail-in ballot, which they can start voting upon receipt. Voters can drop off the filled ballots at official drop boxes, mail them via USPS, or deliver them in person to the county election office.
All mail-in ballots must be postmarked by or before June 2nd (with USPS postmark for verification) and received at the county election office within 7 days after the election day to be counted as valid votes; signed by the voter.
For those not opting for mail-in voting, voters can visit polling centers in person. The first batch of polling centers in all counties implementing the Voter’s Choice Act will open for early in-person voting on May 23.
Polling centers for in-person voting in California will open on May 30 (Saturday) and must not close later than 8 pm on June 2.
This article serves as informational reference only, for detailed election information, please refer to the California Secretary of State and respective county election office websites.