California’s 2026 primary elections are more than just a prelude to choosing Governor Gavin Newsom’s successor. Voters are also deciding who will fill several critical statewide positions, from the fiscal general to the insurance commissioner. The top two vote-getters in each race will advance to the general election in November, where the final decisions will be made.
The primary elections are a crucial step in determining the future direction of California’s governance. With early results coming in, the political landscape is taking shape, and the stakes are high for each contested position.
Fiscal General: A Battle of Legal Titans
The race for California’s fiscal general is heating up, with incumbent Rob Bonta securing his spot in the general election. He will face off against Michael Gates, a seasoned republican and former trial attorney with experience as the fiscal municipal of Huntington Beach and a deputy United States Attorney. Bonta, following in the footsteps of his predecessor Xavier Becerra, has made a name for himself by filing numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration.
Early Leaders and Surprises
In a surprising turn of events, the race for state superintendent of public instruction saw two influential education organizations, the Asociación de Maestros de California and the Asociación de Escuelas Chárter de California, endorse Richard Barrera, the president of the San Diego Unified School District, over veteran democratic lawmakers. Meanwhile, Sonja Shaw, former president of the Chino Valley Unified School Board, received endorsements from both republican gubernatorial candidates.
With 46% of the votes counted as of 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Shaw is leading with 24.7% of the vote, while Barrera has secured 19.7%. The race is far from over, but these early results indicate a shift in the educational landscape of California.
The Vicegobernador Race: A Ceremonial Role with Significant Impact
The position of vicegobernador, primarily ceremonial, plays a crucial role in substituting for the governor when necessary and casting tie-breaking votes in the state Senate. The race features three prominent democrats: Josh Fryday, a member of Newsom’s cabinet, Fiona Ma, the state treasurer, and former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs.
With 46% of the votes counted, Ma is leading with 20.6%, followed closely by Romero with 19.6% and Fryday with 14.3%. The outcome of this race will have significant implications for the governance of California.
The Controlador State Race: A Clash of Ideologies
The race for controlador state features incumbent democratic Malia M. Cohen, who is defending her seat as the state’s chief accountant. Her challengers include republican Herb W. Morgan, who is running on a platform of exposing government fraud, and Meghann Adams, a school bus driver from San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, running on a progressive platform as a member of the Peace and Freedom Party.
The Secretary of State and Treasurer Races: Ensuring Financial Stability
The race for secretary of state features incumbent democratic Shirley Weber, who was appointed by Governor Newsom in 2026 and won a four-year term in 2026. She will face republican Donald P. Wagner, an Orange County supervisor who supports requiring voter ID and has criticized Weber for the state’s slow ballot-counting process.
The treasurer race is dominated by democratic candidates, with Anna Caballero and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis raising significant funds from large donors, including unions, tribes, and businesses. Kounalakis, who originally ran for governor but dropped out at the end of 2026, is leading with 36.3% of the vote, while republican candidate Jennifer Hawks has 26.6%.
The Insurance Commissioner Race: Addressing the State’s Insurance Crisis
The race for insurance commissioner is crucial for addressing the state’s embattled insurance market, which is grappling with insurers leaving amid growing wildfire risks. The candidates include current and former state democratic lawmakers Ben Allen and Steven Bradford, as well as democrat Patrick Wolff, a financial analyst whose campaign is largely self-funded. The republican party has endorsed insurance agent Stacy A. Korsgaden.
With 47% of the votes counted, former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim is leading with 24.1% of the vote, followed by Allen with 20.3% and Korsgaden with 17.5%. The outcome of this race will have significant implications for the state’s insurance market.
The Junta de Igualación: A Unique Tax Board
The Junta de Igualación, the nation’s only elected tax board, plays a crucial role in advising county assessors, setting the taxable value of property owned by utilities and railroads, and hearing taxpayer appeals. Four districts are up for election this year, with early results indicating a mix of republican and democratic leaders.
In District 1, republican state Sen. Shannon Grove is leading with 36.1% of the vote, followed by democrat Nelson Esparza with 30.5%. In District 2, democratic incumbent Sally J. Lieber is leading with 53.7%, followed by democrat John Pimentel with 14.5%. In District 3, democratic Assemblyman Mike Gipson is leading with 27%, followed by democrat Yvonne Yiu with 13.9%. In District 4, republican Denis Bilodeau is leading with 47%, followed by democratic State Sen. Tom Umberg with 20.8%.
