Randy's Guide 5-8-5: 2026 Primary Election

California's Election Day is two weeks away. If you haven't registered (or re-registered) to vote, you can register provisionally at a polling place or county elections office to cast your ballot. Ballots must be postmarked or submitted at a polling place by Election Day.

(Other states with primaries or runoffs in the near future include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Texas, Utah, and Washington... so check your county or state websites for more details.)

California has not had turnout of registered voters in a non-presidential primary election above 40% since 1990. Current stats show that county offices have received about 6% of all ballots to date.


- California Governor -
With Governor Gavin Newsom termed out, the race is relatively wide open. Only the top-two candidates advance to the fall election, regardless of party. The candidates below are ordered based on the Real Clear Politics polling average, for those receiving at least 5% in the polls.

Steve Hilton (R): former Fox News host and strategy director for British Prime Minister David Cameron
- Endorsed by President Donald Trump, Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA), entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, golfer Phil Mickelson, actor Jon Voight

Xavier Becerra (D): former House of Representative, U.S. Senator, and Health and Human Services Secretary under President Joe Biden
- Endorsed by Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), City Attorney David Chiu, Equality CA, Planned Parenthood CA, SEIU-CA

Tom Steyer (D): billionaire-turned-activist who founded a San Francisco hedge fund during the 1980s
- Endorsed by former SF Mayor Willie Brown, CA Teachers, SEIU-CA, Sierra Club CA, SF Bay Guardian

Chad BIanco (R): Riverside County Sheriff
- Endorsed by former Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA), SF Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, actor Lorenzo Lamas, American Independent Party, CA Rifle & Pistol Assn.

Katie Porter (D): former House of Representative who previously taught law at UC Irvine and UNLV
- Endorsed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), EMILYs List, International Brotherhood of Teamsters CA, SF Chronicle

Matt Mahan (D): San Jose Mayor who worked for Teach for America and founded a civic engagement startup
- Endorsed by Gov. Jared Polis (D-CO), Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-CA), Google co-founder Sergey Brin, businessman Andrew Yang, GrowSF


- U.S. House, District 11 -
After the close 1987 Special Election, Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi never received less than 68.5% in either a primary or general election race as the House of Representative for San Francisco.

Saikat Chakrabarti: former Chief of Staff for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), former director of organizing technology for Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), former second engineer of payment processor Stripe

Connie Chan: two-term Board of Supervisor (District 1), former aide to SF District Attorney Kamala Harris, former spokesperson for the SF Recreation & Parks Dept. and City College of SF
- Endorsed by SF Green Party, House Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), former SF Mayors Willie Brown and Art Agnos, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters, SF Teachers, SF Tenants Union

Marie Hurabiell: former President Trump appointee to the Presidio Trust Board of Directors, founder of ConnectedSF, and leading voice in recalls for District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Supervisor Joel Engardio
- Endorsed by Chinese American Democratic Club, Israeli American Civic Action Network

Scott Wiener: State Senator who previously served on the County Transportation Authority, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation District Board, and Metropolitan Transportation Commission
- Endorsed by CA Democratic Party, CA Attorney General Rob Bonta, City Attorney David Chiu, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, GrowSF, Human Rights Campaign, Sierra Club, Bay Area Reporter


- Local Propositions -
Proposition A: Earthquake Safety and Emergency Bond
Improve infrastructure for public safety and emergency response by issuing $535 million in bonds.
YES - SF Democratic Party, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Mayor Daniel Lurie, State Sen. Scott Wiener, Assm. Matt Haney and Catherine Stefani, Supervisor Connie Chan, GrowSF, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters, SF Firefighters, Sierra Club
NO - SF Green Party, SF Republican Party

Proposition B: Lifetime Term Limits
Set a lifetime limit of two four-year terms for the Major and Board of Supervisors.
YES - SF Democratic Party, SF Republican Party, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Mayor Daniel Lurie, State Senator Scott Wiener, Assm. Matt Haney, tech billionaire Chris Larsen, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, GrowSF
NO - SF Green Party, former Gov. Jerry Brown (D-CA), former Mayor Willie Brown, Supervisor Connie Chan, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Women Voters - SF, League of Pissed Off Voters, SF Tenants Union, SF Bay Guardian, SF Chronicle, Sing Tao Daily

Proposition C: Business Tax Decrease
Exempt more businesses from business taxes, while accelerating the income disparity tax forward by one year, with anticipated lower overall tax revenue
YES - SF Republican Party, tech billionaire Chris Larsen, GrowSF, SF Chamber of Commerce
NO - SF Democratic Party, SF Green Party, Mayor Daniel Lurie, League of Pissed Off Voters, SF Tenants Union

Proposition D: Business Tax Increase
Increase the existing income disparity tax on businesses, with anticipated higher overall tax revenue
YES - SF Green Party, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Supervisor Connie Chan, former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, billionaire Tom Steyer, former Rep. Katie Porter, CA Nurses, Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters, League of Women Voters - SF, SEIU 1021 Local, SF Tenants Union, Sing Tao Daily
NO - SF Democratic Party, SF Republican Party, Mayor Daniel Lurie, State Sen. Scott Wiener, tech billionaire Chris Larsen, Alice B Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, GrowSF, PG&E, SF Chamber of Commerce, SPUR, Uber, Visa