Lieutenant Governor of California
✦ AI Race Summary
Open-seat race as Eleni Kounalakis terms out and runs for Treasurer. The position has limited statutory power — sits on the State Lands Commission, the UC Regents, the CSU Trustees, the Community Colleges Board, and the Commission for Economic Development — but is a traditional stepping stone to higher office. Four major Democrats are competing along with one Republican; higher-education and housing-on-public-land are recurring themes.
Candidates · sorted by endorsements
Two-term State Treasurer (2019–2026), former Board of Equalization member, and former member of the State Assembly (Speaker pro Tempore). Won the most delegate support at the 2026 Democratic Party Convention and is endorsed by the California Labor Federation.
BAJC-Action · Endorsed
Hindu United Vote · Endorsed
United Democratic Club · Endorsed
Association for the Advancement of Asians · Endorsed
Heads Governor Newsom's volunteer office (California Volunteers) since 2019; previously mayor of Novato and COO of NextGen America. U.S. Navy veteran. Has detailed plans tied to each statutory tool of the office, including a target of one million housing units committed or permitted on UC, CSU, and community college campus land.
Environmental attorney and former Sausalito city councilmember and mayor. Runs on climate and coastal-resilience credentials.
Elected mayor of Stockton at age 26 — the youngest and first Black mayor in the city's history. Now leads a nonprofit on poverty. Stockton's homicides dropped roughly 40% under his tenure; he piloted an early guaranteed-income program. Stanford graduate.
Former state senator (2001–2010) who switched from the Democratic to Republican Party in 2024. Long-time education-reform advocate; previously ran for Superintendent of Public Instruction.